There are many different types of rats in the world, and today we will focus on a group of rats found in Cibolo, Texas. Roof rats in Cibolo homes can lead to property damage, wiring problems, and various health hazards for homeowners. Luckily, there are simple solutions that homeowners can take to rid themselves of roof rats that have taken root in their homes.
In this blog, we’ll take a deeper look at roof rats, how you can identify them, and what you can do to prevent them. As always, ultimately if the infestation is too much for you, don’t hesitate to contact Daniel Pest Control to help with your rat problem.
Identifying Roof Rats
First, let’s identify these roof rats. What do they look like, and where do they live? As a homeowner, there are certain traits you can use to identify roof rats:
- Long ears
- Body length of 5 to 7 inches
- A tail that measures up to 8 inches
- Black, medium, or light brown coloration, with a light underside
While roof rats are most commonly found in coastal areas and tropical climates, they are nevertheless widespread around Cibolo and our area of Texas. Their diet primarily consists of leaves, insects, fruits, and small animals, such as birds. Roof rats are especially attracted to the pet food let out for pets.
Roof Rats Could Destroy Wiring In Your Home
What damage can roof rats do to your home? We don’t generally consider rats to be outright dangerous, but can they do something as bad as destroying the wiring? Unfortunately, the answer is yes.
Rats can be a potential danger to your house because they will chew the wiring. Rats chew wire because their teeth are always growing, and the chewing of the wires allows the rats to get rid of that pain. There will never come a day when rats won’t seek out wires to chew. It is a part of who they are. A spark can happen with only some electrical current and an exposed chewed wire. As the rat chews the wire, the rodent is removing the protective insulation that prevents the wire from being dangerous.
Your house is at a higher risk of a fire because of the rats chewing on the wires. Fire danger, as any homeowner knows, is a highly dangerous situation. The chances of your house going up in flames triple with the broken wires caused by the roof rats.
Ways To Deter Roof Rats In Cibolo
What are some things you can do to deal with these rats as soon as possible? Here are some home remedies you can use to deter the rats and mice from being in your home.
If you’ve found the entry points you believe rodents are using to get inside your home, there are a number of repellents you can place nearby that will deter them. These include:
- Mothballs
- Peppermint Oil
- Ammonia
- Pepper Flakes
- Onion
- Garlic
While many people place traps around in their attics or crawl space, this is only a short-term solution at best, and is often ineffective. Unfortunately, this rodent control solution often doesn’t work; usually, the rats just keep coming back because the homeowner is unable to trap and remove them all. The simple truth is that DIY remedies are not always 100 percent successful, and if you have a large infestation, the rats may still be around your roof. So what do you do then?
Getting Rid Of Roof Rats For Good
The best way to get rid of rats fast and for good is to reach out to the pest control professionals at Daniel Pest Control. Our expert team has the experience and knowledge needed to solve your rodent problem. If you have roof rats in your Cibolo home, and they are attracted to your pet food and destroying the wiring in your house, increasing your threat of fire danger, contact us at Daniel Pest Control. We will take care of your rat problem efficiently and professionally so that the rodents don’t cause further damage to your home.