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Roof Rats: A Prolific, Destructive Problem
Prevent home destruction from black rats, roof rats aka Rattus rattus
Roof rats isn’t a video game; if it were a game, we might be losing to rattus rattus, the black rat or roof rat. Larger than mice, these nocturnal, cautious, quiet creatures live in attics, unlike bigger, ground-dwelling Norway rats. They breed prolifically, one mother giving birth to 900 – 1000 babies a year.
Historically, in the 1300’s, in Africa, Asia, and Europe, fleas on roof rats carried the Black Death or bubonic plague, killing more than a third of Europe’s population in 10 years; in England, 60% of people died. The kids game/ rhyme, “Ring around o’ rosy, pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes, we all fall down” refers to Black Death with red rings on an infected person’s skin, and pouches of sweet herbs carried to counteract the smell of death. Houses with dead bodies were burned, so ashes were everywhere. In England, the Great Fire of London in 1666 halted the plague by burning the houses where rats were living.
Rattus rattus jumped on boats to America, where they are disease free but still harmful. In homes, they chew through cable, internet, and phone lines; they also chew electrical wires which can lead to short circuits, power outages, or fire.
Prevention and Elimination
Prevention starts outside; a continuous canopy of green trees is their highway to your roof. Trim trees so they are 3-4 feet away from your neighbors’ trees and from your house so rats can’t jump onto your roof to enter. Outside your house, keep all animal food sealed. Caulk cracks, and cover all vents with stucco diamond mesh, especially the sewer vents on your roof. Spray rat areas with 10% bleach solution then clean up residue.
The most effective low-cost method of elimination is the snap-jaw trap smeared with peanut butter. To protect pets, put the trap inside a shoebox with an entry hole cut in it. Other options include a zapper that electrocutes them, or one bite poison that kills in 3-4 days. On the good side, thanks to roof rats, descendents of Black Death survivors have defective genes that make them HIV resistant.
Historically, in the 1300’s, in Africa, Asia, and Europe, fleas on roof rats carried the Black Death or bubonic plague, killing more than a third of Europe’s population in 10 years; in England, 60% of people died. The kids game/ rhyme, “Ring around o’ rosy, pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes, we all fall down” refers to Black Death with red rings on an infected person’s skin, and pouches of sweet herbs carried to counteract the smell of death. Houses with dead bodies were burned, so ashes were everywhere. In England, the Great Fire of London in 1666 halted the plague by burning the houses where rats were living.
Rattus rattus jumped on boats to America, where they are disease free but still harmful. In homes, they chew through cable, internet, and phone lines; they also chew electrical wires which can lead to short circuits, power outages, or fire.
Prevention and Elimination
Prevention starts outside; a continuous canopy of green trees is their highway to your roof. Trim trees so they are 3-4 feet away from your neighbors’ trees and from your house so rats can’t jump onto your roof to enter. Outside your house, keep all animal food sealed. Caulk cracks, and cover all vents with stucco diamond mesh, especially the sewer vents on your roof. Spray rat areas with 10% bleach solution then clean up residue.
The most effective low-cost method of elimination is the snap-jaw trap smeared with peanut butter. To protect pets, put the trap inside a shoebox with an entry hole cut in it. Other options include a zapper that electrocutes them, or one bite poison that kills in 3-4 days. On the good side, thanks to roof rats, descendents of Black Death survivors have defective genes that make them HIV resistant.
