Rattus rattus, also known as the roof rat, black rat or ship rat is one of the biggest nuisances you can have in your home. Normal Norwegian rats are hard to capture but these roof rats are even more difficult to trap. Roof rat removal, however, largely follows the same principles as what is involved in any other elimination of rats.
Where Do Roof Rate Live During the Day?
Roof rats climb trees or other high grounds during the day. They then make their way back into the house using their access points. The first step in roof rat removal is therefore to seal all points of entry and exit. Ventilations, holes, cracks in walls and other openings need to be sealed off using a mesh that is smaller than half an inch. This is the smallest size through which a roof rat can enter through. You should not underestimate how flexible they are. These barriers stop the rats from escaping once you start the extermination process. The greatest benefit, however, is that it stops the rats from entering your home which safeguards your home against future infestations.
Getting Rid of Roof Rat
When you are carrying out roof rat removal, the next step is to set the traps. It is recommended that you lay the traps without setting them for a while. This will help the rat to get used to the trap and the general environment. Rats are wary of new objects and therefore need to feel like they know an object before they can comfortably approach it. Place some bait and let the rat feed for a few days before baiting and setting the trap.
Roof Rat Removal Bait
Rats love the smell and taste of nuts. Roof rat removal would be most effective if you used peanut butter as bait. However, peanut butter can get messy. You can therefore also opt for other dry foodstuffs within the house such as pet food. After all, the rat has been feeding on these and has an acquired taste for whatever food is in the house. Use these foods to bait the trap as you set it in the areas where there is a lot of activity.
Roof Rat Traps
Some people prefer to keep roof rat traps at the door of the attic or next to the window if the attic has one. The logic behind this is solid. The method, however, is not. You ought to place the rats where there is a lot of rat activity. An indicator of this would be the area that has the most of the rat’s feces and urine. To increase the chances of capture, use multiple traps in the attic or roof. The rats may not be captured on the same day so keep checking your trap so you can dispose of the captured rats and reset the trap. After this, repeat the process until all the
The rats may not be captured on the same day so keep checking your trap so you can dispose of the captured rats and reset the trap. After this, repeat the process until all the roof rats have been removed. One of the ways to tell that you have eliminated all the rats is the fact that you do not hear any scratching or clawing in the roof anymore.