Roof Rats in Arizona: Signs and How to Get Rid of Them
Short answer: scratching in the attic at night or hollowed-out oranges on the tree almost always means roof rats. Getting rid of them takes sealing, trapping and cutting off their path, done together.
Do You Have Roof Rats? The Signs in Arizona Homes
Roof rats are rarely seen in daylight, so most Phoenix-area homeowners find the signs first. The City of Mesa and University of Arizona Cooperative Extension list these:
- Hollowed-out citrus or other fruit still hanging on the tree, with only the peel left.
- Scratching or running in the attic or walls, mostly at night.
- Droppings that are long with tapered ends, in the garage, attic or along walls (see rat vs mouse droppings).
- Gnaw marks at the eaves, chewed wire coverings, insulation, paper or cloth.
- Rats running along power lines, block walls, trees or the patio cover at dusk.
- Oily rub marks where they travel, and pets that are suddenly restless.
Seeing roof rats is not a sign your neighborhood is going downhill. The City of Mesa says they can arrive unnoticed in moving boxes and settle anywhere that has food, water and shelter.
How to Identify a Roof Rat
- Size: about 5–7 inches of body, roughly 12 inches with the tail (UA Extension).
- Tail: scaly, hairless and almost always longer than the body.
- Look: slender, dark brown to black, lighter underneath, pointed nose, big dark eyes and large, nearly hairless ears.
- Not a pack rat: Arizona's native pack rats have furry tails and build stick nests in cactus and under sheds. See rodent control for the difference.
- Not a mouse: young roof rats get mistaken for house mice, which get in low (under doors) instead of high at the roof.
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Why Roof Rats Get Into Phoenix-Area Attics
Roof rats are climbers. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension describes them running along overhead utility lines, climbing trees and rough walls, and squeezing through openings about the size of a dime. In the Valley that means mature citrus, palms and shade trees act as a bridge, and the gaps under roof tiles, at the eaves and around vents and pipe or wire entries become the door. Older neighborhoods like Arcadia in Phoenix, south Scottsdale, Maple-Ash in Tempe and the original streets of Sun City see the most of them.
How to Get Rid of Roof Rats: What to Do This Week
- Find the way in. Look at the roofline at dusk and check for gaps at roof tiles, eaves, vents and where lines enter the house.
- Trap the rats already inside. Snap traps in the attic or garage along walls, checked daily. Don't seal a hole while rats are still inside it.
- Seal the openings once activity stops, with hardware cloth, metal flashing or other chew-proof material, not foam alone.
- Cut the bridges. Prune branches so they don't touch the walls or roof, as UA Extension recommends.
- Remove the easy food. Pick up fallen fruit, nuts and seeds, keep trash and bin lids closed, and bring pet food in at night.
- Book roof rat removal if you still hear them after a week, or if they're in more than one part of the house.
The City of Mesa also asks residents to report roof rat activity to Maricopa County Vector Control.
Roof Rat Removal in Phoenix: What the Service Does and Costs
A roof rat visit starts at the roofline: we map where they're getting in, trap inside, set locked, tamper-resistant bait stations outside where it's appropriate, and show you the gaps that need sealing. Then we check back until the activity stops. A one-time diagnostic visit with treatment is $149. The plan is $50/month with treatment every 60 days and free callbacks. Start a plan the same day and your visit fee covers your first 3 months of the plan. See rodent control and roof rats and pest control cost.
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Roof Rats in Arizona: Questions
How common are roof rats in Arizona?
Roof rats are not native to Arizona, but University of Arizona Cooperative Extension says they are well established in some Arizona neighborhoods and, without a long-term area-wide program, are here to stay. In the Phoenix area they show up most in older neighborhoods with mature citrus, palms and shade trees.
How do I get rid of roof rats in Arizona?
Do three things together: find and seal the openings they use at the roofline, trap the rats already inside, and take away the easy bridges and food (branches touching the roof, fallen fruit, open trash). University of Arizona Cooperative Extension says exclusion has to be done alongside the other steps; sealing alone or trapping alone usually fails.
What time of year are roof rats most active in Phoenix?
Roof rats are active year-round. Many Phoenix-area homeowners first notice them in winter and spring, when citrus ripens and gets hollowed out on the tree, or when nights cool off and scratching in the attic is easier to hear.
Will cutting down my citrus tree get rid of roof rats?
Usually not. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension notes research showing roof rat numbers are not tied to food plants, so removing trees won't reduce them. Pruning branches away from the roof and picking up fallen fruit does help, because it cuts off their path and an easy meal.
Are roof rat droppings dangerous?
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension says roof rat droppings, urine and hair can be harmful and treats removing a severe indoor infestation as a health priority. Wear gloves, don't sweep or vacuum droppings dry, and have heavy attic contamination handled by a professional.
How small a hole can a roof rat get through?
About the size of a dime, according to University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. That is why the roofline gaps that matter (at roof tiles, eaves, vents and where pipes and wires enter) are often too small to notice from the ground.