Rodent Control Gilbert / Phoenix Metro

For more information about our rodent control and extermination services, please call us today at (480) 654-5888.

Roof rats (Rattus rattus) were first documented in Arizona in 2001 and were most likely introduced into the area through freight and shipments of food and livestock. Phoenix is an ideal habitat for these rats due to the citrus and palm trees, taking advantage of the old growth and abundant irrigation canals, even in the harsh summer months.

Similar to mice, rats are primarily active at night (nocturnal) and will begin roaming around during twilight hours. Roof rats are an arboreal species, and as such, they are agile climbers and prefer to be elevated, up off the ground often living in nests found in dense trees and shrubs. In buildings or structures, they can often be found nesting in the attic, false walls and ceiling; frequently using trees, utility lines and roof tops to gain entry.

Roof rats can have black, gray or brown fur and have a long “naked” tail. Compared to the Norway rat, Roof rats have larger ears and eyes with a pointed snout. Roof rats eat a variety of foods, but favor fruit, nuts and berries, especially fond of citrus. Homeowners will often locate evidence of roof rats when they find hollowed out citrus on their property. These rats establish a home range around their nesting site, typically not traveling any further than 300 feet for food.

The female roof rat has a very high reproductive rate, producing 5-8 pups a litter, averaging 3-5 litters a year. Young roof rats can start reproducing around 3 months old.

Sounds in the attic are typically the first indication of roof rats present in a house. At night when the house is quiet, rats can be heard traveling around the attic and rafters. One may also find droppings or scat in the attic space. Roof rat droppings are black, 6-12 mm in length and shaped like a banana. Grease and rub marks are also a common indication of roof rats and these smudges can often be found up high on structures due to their propensity to climb.

A successful rodent control strategy typically involves three elements: sanitation measures, habitat modifications (often including exclusion methods), and trapping/bait placement. Sanitation measures must be continuous, or the benefits of other methods will be useless. Sanitation includes removing debris in and around buildings, keeping garbage lids closed with tight fitting covers, and keeping vegetation pruned and off structures, including keeping fallen citrus fruit off the ground. Habitat modification is necessary as rats are incredibly sensitive to changes in their environment and slight modifications may cause these rats to redirect their activity patterns. Exclusion methods include screening off ventilation pipes, repairing ventilation screening around the foundation and eaves, sealing openings around pipes, cables and wires that enter through walls, etc. Trapping can be an effective control method when the rats are living indoors. Rats exterminated with rodenticide indoors may retreat to inaccessible locations and die, resulting in a terrible odor due to being in a difficult to remove area (like an interior wall). In situations when the rats or rodents are gaining access to the interior of a structure, snap traps are the best control method. Rodenticide is an effective control method when the number of rats or rodents around the structure is high, especially with continuous infestations. Anticoagulant rodenticides are typically used as they work by blocking the body’s ability to store vitamin K, in turn stopping blood clotting abilities, resulting in death. These rodenticides are slow acting and require multiple feedings before death occurs. To keep secondary and non-targeted poisoning from occurring, we follow all EPA safety standards, placing all rodenticides in a tamper proof, secure bait station.

Pricing is customized to each situation and requires an inspection.