Rats are notorious for taking refuge inside Florida properties to escape predators and the intense elements. While it’s no doubt stressful to discover you have rats living under your roof, trying to determine how the beady-eyed rodents got inside your home can drive you crazy. Fortunately, there are common roof entry points that you can safeguard to keep invasive rats from scurrying into your home.
Chimney Hideouts
If you hear squeaking coming from your chimney, it’s a safe bet a pack of rats are using it as a den. In most scenarios, rats like to settle into areas where they instantly feel protected from the outside world. To a rat, your chimney is the next best thing to either nesting in a tree or hiding out in a burrow. Regardless of the reason, if you suspect your chimney is harboring rats, then you must remain on high alert are investigate your chimney with caution.
Evidence of rats in and around your chimney include:
- Rat droppings in the area around your fireplace
- Distracting squeaking noises emanating from the chimney both day and night
- The visible sight of rats scurrying out of your fireplace or into your chimney from outside
If you’re aware of the presence of rats in your chimney, then it’s time to evict your unwanted guests immediately.
Exposed Utility Wire Openings
Evidence has shown that rats enjoy chewing on hard materials like electrical wiring and piping. This is due to the fact that rodents must chew incessantly to dull their constantly-growing front teeth. Their teeth and flexible bodies allow them to chew and squeeze their way through the small holes that feed your wiring into your residence. Such destructive gnawing not only allows rats into your home, but cab also be devastating to your indoor electricity and plumbing, so expect major damage if you notice the presence of chewed wires.
Fortunately, there are preventative measures you can implement to reduce your chances suffering an electrical blackout. For prevention, consider placing copper mesh around exposed holes and steel pipes to cover exposed wires since rats cannot chew through steel.
Tile Roof Entry Access
Quite often, vulnerabilities in your roof are the main cause of your rat fiasco. For instance, if your house includes a tile roof, then you’re generally providing open access to passing rats. As research shows, tile roofs leave gaps that rodents can easily shimmy their way through. Once they’ve settled, it will only be a matter of time before breeding season begins.
The only solution is to seal off all spaces that can attract possible rat entry. While alternative methods may be used for rat exclusion such as applying a special steel molding or sealant to any cracks or openings, it’s best to rely on an expert to properly animal-proof your home’s exposed areas of entry.
Call for Professional Back-up
As fast as it is for rats to invade your home, it’s just as fast for a professional wildlife removal expert to evacuate them to a different location. At Critter Control® of Tampa, our staff are heavily trained in removing wildlife critters from the premises and sealing off possible entry points around your home. Additionally, we’ll repair and repair areas where infestation-related damage has occurred. When you’re ready to schedule an appointment for a free in-home inspection, please give us a call.
