Four Ways to Identify Roof Rats
As a homeowner, few sounds are more chilling than scratching in the walls or attic. It’s an all-too-common sign that your home may have a roof rat problem.
If they aren’t taken care of quickly, roof rats can cause serious damage to your home. Homeowners across the country have experienced water damage from chewed pipes or—worse—electrical fires after roof rats destroyed wiring.
Luckily, it’s often easy to distinguish a roof rat from other rodents. Once you know what type of rat you’re dealing with, you can establish an effective plan for getting rid of them.
These are four of the top ways to identify these kinds of rats:
1. Unique Physical Features
At first, you might think all rats look the same. But when you start looking for a few distinguishing characteristics, you’ll quickly learn how to spot a roof rat from across the yard or attic.
These are a few features to watch for:
- Black-ish fur
- Size of about 13–15 inches long (including the tail)
- Pointed nose and long, nearly hairless ears
- Sleek body and smooth fur
A good point of comparison is the larger, furrier Norway rat (sewer rat). These big rodents are typically brown or grey, can reach 18 inches in length, and can weigh a full pound or more. Compared to a roof rat, these rodents seem like small cats.
2. Gnawing Habits
You may have already noticed evidence of the rats chewing on wood or wiring in your attic or garage. Roof rats typically chew holes that are fairly large—sometimes bigger than two inches in diameter—and rough around the edges.
These types of rats are also notorious for gnawing on eaves and roofs (hence the name). If you have fruit trees, look for hollowed-out fruit husks in the trees or on the ground.
3. Nesting Areas
Another name for these rats is “palm rats,” hinting at their reputation for being great climbers. They like to nest above ground, compared to other species that burrow.
If you suspect roof rats, tour your property and check likely nesting spots: attic, garage, patio, cabinets, and laundry room. Listen for scratching or gnawing inside walls, sheetrock, and ceilings—favorite spots for roof rats.
4. Review the Droppings
Keep an eye out for rat droppings in your attic, garage, cabinets, or near the patio and pool area. Roof rat droppings are smaller and more cylindrical than other species—about ½ inch long with pointed ends.
5. Eliminating Roof Rats
Now that you know what to look for, it should be simpler to determine whether you’re dealing with a roof rat. Use that knowledge to target them with an effective rat trap, such as the A24, a humane, self-resetting mouse and rat trap.
If you’ve spotted roof rats outside, install A24 traps near exterior vegetation, on a fence, or under palm trees. If the rats are inside, place traps in the attic or garage.
These rats are nocturnal, so a trap like the A24—which automatically resets and can kill up to 24 rats with a single CO₂ canister—will work through the night without manual resetting.
Although these rats can be a stressful, even dangerous pest, arming yourself with a little knowledge about their appearance and habits—and using the right trap—will help you take care of them quickly and decisively.