Roof Rat

Signs You Have Roof Rat

What homeowners spot first

1. Spindle-shaped droppings with pointed ends
2. Sounds of running or scratching in attic
3. Fruit with gnaw marks on trees
4. Gnaw marks on wires, wood, and stored items
5. Greasy marks along rafters and beams
6. Hollowed-out fruit or citrus

Roof rats are excellent climbers and stick to high ground. They travel along tree branches, utility lines, and fence tops to reach your roof. They're less cautious than Norway rats, so they're easier to trap. They nest in attics, dense vegetation, and tree canopies, not basements or crawlspaces.

Roof rat control means treating where they actually live, not just the ground floor. We set traps in the attic, place bait stations along their travel routes, and seal entry points at the roofline. Trimming back tree limbs and ivy that touch the house cuts off their highway in. Miss one access point and they're right back the next week.

How do roof rats get in my attic?

They're agile climbers that reach attics by way of tree branches touching the roof, utility lines, vines on walls, or gaps at the roofline. They can squeeze through openings as small as a quarter, so even a half-inch gap around a vent or chimney flashing is plenty.

How do I tell roof rat droppings from Norway rat droppings?

Roof rat droppings are spindle-shaped with pointed ends, about 1/2 inch long. Norway rat droppings are larger (around 3/4 inch) and blunt on the ends, more capsule-shaped. If you're finding them up on rafters, beams, or attic insulation, it's almost always roof rats. Norway rats stay closer to the ground.

When are roof rats most active around Boise?

We get the bulk of our roof rat calls in fall and early winter, once the nights cool off and they push from yards into warm attics. They're year-round in the Treasure Valley, but September through December is when most homeowners first hear scratching above the bedroom ceiling. Neighborhoods with fruit trees or heavy ivy tend to see them earliest.