Roof Rats: A Growing Concern in Las Vegas

What are roof rats?

The roof rat (Rattus Rattus) gets its name from its tendency to be found in the upper parts of buildings. According to the Southern Nevada Health District, roof rats have been documented in the Las Vegas valley since 1990. Initial identifications were made in areas including Spanish Trails and the Scotch 80’s, and were associated with imported palm trees.

Today, however, roof rats can be found in every neighborhood across our valley. From Anthem to Centennial Hills they can often be seen at night running along overhead utility lines or block walls. They may live in trees or attics, and climb down to a food source.

Roof rats are primarily nocturnal and usually begin searching for food shortly after sunset. If the food source is in an exposed area and can’t be eaten quickly, they will carry it to a hiding place before eating it. Many rats hoard considerable amounts of solid food, which they eat later in a dismantled wood pile, attic, shed or behind boxes in a garage.

To make your home less attractive to roof rats, follow these suggestions to reduce any type of rodent infestation:

  • Caulk all holes, cracks, crevasses, or gaps (any opening larger than a nickel) on the exterior walls and underneath the eaves of       block or wood constructed homes, sheds, etc.
  • Pet doors, vents, and exterior door and window screens should be secured at night.
  • Secure garbage in proper rodent-proof containers.
  • Remove attractants such as pet foods, bird feeders, and standing water. Since these rats usually require free water, any source of water can be a strong attractant.
  • Prune shrubs so that the ground below them is clearly visible.
  • Stack firewood, lumber and other materials at least one foot away from walls and fences and at least 18 inches off the ground.
  • Eliminate or severely prune back vines growing on buildings and fences.
  • Prune trees so that the branches do not touch roofs, fences, overhead wires, or the branches of adjacent trees.
  • Prune the skirts of trees so that the branches do not hang down to the ground.

If you live in Las Vegas or Henderson and roof rats have overtaken your home or you simply want to prevent a rodent problem, we welcome you to contact us by phone or fill out our form.  No matter how large a rodent problem you may have, our trained pest control technicians can curb your existing rodent activity and ensure that these pests are not an issue in the future. 

For residential and commercial rodent control and prevention in Las Vegas and Henderson, call Western Exterminator today!

How to Tell if There is a Mouse in Your House

You might be thinking mice and rats are not really a problem in the summertime but unfortunately they are a year round pest problem here in Las Vegas and Henderson and will not let up even when the temperatures are soaring.

Rodents are sneaky critters and often only come out at night when the house is at rest. Once they make their way inside and establish nests, you will start to see activity or at least signs of mice (or possibly rats). If you’re worried about a possible rodent problem in your home, check out a few of the more common signs of an infestation from our professionals at Western Exterminator.

  1. Droppings – Perhaps one of the easiest to recognize signs of a rodent problem in the home is finding their droppings around the home. Rodents often leave their droppings in cupboards or around walls in homes and garages.
  1. Rodent nests – Mice and rats will find debris from around the home to create a cozy nest for themselves in areas that are near food and water but safe from predators. Paper, twigs, grass, stuffing, and fabrics are all common nest materials as they are soft and warm.
  1. Chewed up food packages and containers – Hopefully you are storing your food in containers with lids to prevent rodents and other pests from getting inside. But even so, mice and rats are likely to attempt to access the food so you may find containers or original packaging with chew marks. This is a clear indication that you have an unwanted houseguest (or several) and that your snacks are in jeopardy.
  1. Gnawing marks on structures – For rodents to keep their teeth short they must gnaw on harder surfaces such as wood and other structures of the home. Their gnawing on electrical wiring has been blamed for many house fires making them a serious risk.
  1. Food debris – Rodents are not the cleanest guests. They may excel at staying out of sight but they are likely to leave behind piles of debris from feeding.
  1. Hearing noises at night – As mentioned, mice and rats are most active at night. If you are lying in bed and hearing the pitter patter of little feet overhead or hear noises coming from your walls then you have a problem.

If you’ve noticed any of the signs in your home, click here for more information and special promotions. We also welcome you to contact us by phone or fill out our form.

We’re ready to discuss your rodent issue and explain how our technicians are able to safely and effectively get rid of rodents in your home.