As the weather begins to change in the Pacific Northwest, roof rats in Bellevue will be on the move! They’ll be looking for warmer areas, often making their nests in attics of homes because they offer protection from the cooler temperatures outside, as well as sufficient room to nest. These unwelcome houseguests can cause damage to a home, and any other place they nest due to their destructive nature. These annoying rodents chew on anything from pipes, electrical wiring, to structural beams, drywall, and more. They constantly eat away at just about anything to keep their front teeth from growing too long.

How Do Roof Rats in Bellevue Get Into Your Home?

Roof Rats, as their name suggests, prefer living higher of the ground. These rodents can travel via power lines, treetops, roofs, and even by ground nesting and breeding to create ever-growing populations, which can spread at a profound rate. If you’re a homeowner, or business that’s been pest-ridden by Roof Rats, it’s a pretty good bet that the homes or businesses around you have the same problem.

Signs of a Roof Rat Problem

If you’re not paying attention, a Roof Rat infestation can go unnoticed for a while, but will eventually become apparent in one way or another, and often end with costly repairs to your home or even your vehicle. Understanding the telling signs of a Roof Rat problem early can help you decide quickly the best solution for your specific issue.

Examining your home or business property. Understanding the signs you’re looking for can make it much easier to identify if you have a problem.

Signs of nesting. Roof Rats again are looking for shelter, especially when nights get cooler. Bellevue residents often will find signs of nesting activity in: BBQs, vehicles parked for longer periods, boats, and storage areas. If these rodents take up nesting in one of these areas, they almost always will cause destruction as they can chew through expensive electrical cords, circuits, hoses, fiberglass, and more.
Foul smell. Where Roof Rats lives, they will also die. If you smell a foul smell, often described as a rotten asparagus smell, you may have a Roof Rat infestation. This smell will often get worse when a homes HVAC system is turned on as the smell will circulate throughout a home or section of the home, it is notable to say this isn’t always the case depending on what type of heating and cooling system you use.
Noises in the evening. Roof Rats are mostly active during the evening and night hours, as they prefer to move around when there is less human activity. Many have reported that they hear scratching in the ceiling/attic areas, as well as walls, and in storage areas.
Chew or gnaw marks in or around your homes exterior. Roof Rats will enter your home any way they can. Chew marks and holes on roof vents, crawlspace vents, siding, garage doors, and HVAC ducting can point to entry into the home by these rodents. Chew and gnawing marks on trees also can point to Roof Rats being on your property as they like to hang out in the tops of trees. Roof Rats can enter your home through a hole as small as a quarter, so often a comprehensive inspection is required.

How To Prevent A Roof Rat Infestation

Rats in general are very robust rodents, and resourceful, so taking away basic essentials such as food, water, and shelter are key to making them understand your property is not a suitable place for them to live. Keeping pet food secure, garbage cans secure, and cleaning up any food particles will keep them looking for food elsewhere. As for water, Roof Rats can survive on very little water, so making sure that your home does not possess a water source important to keeping them away. Water dishes, bird baths, fountains, leaky sprinklers / irrigation, and even leaky faucets all provide a readily available water source for rats.

Eliminating The Roof Rat Problem

Many homeowners are tempted to use over the counter poisons and treatments to get rid of these rodents from their homes. The problem is that toxins can produce three problems; first if you have pets and/or children, you must be extremely careful not to unintentionally pose a risk to those family members. Second, if you’re successful in getting the rats to consume the poison, most likely they will return to your home, their nesting place, to die, which can often leave home owners with a putrid smell to deal with. Third, how are you as a homeowner to know for sure that all of the Roof Rats have been eradicated?

Getting Help From A Roof Rat Extermination Professional

Homeowners in the Bellevue area will often opt to hire a professional extermination company that is trained to deal with Roof Rats. These professionals will understand the nesting, and feeding habits of this rodent, and know the telltale signs to look for when determining the entry points to your home. It’s this understanding, along with different removal techniques that allow a homeowner to choose the best option to fit their needs. This makes professional extermination an attractive option for people dealing with Roof Rat infestations. Along with the removal of the current Roof Rat problem, a qualified rodent control professional will be able to offer sound advice on how to make sure your home or business isn’t infested by these unwelcome houseguests in the future.