How To Outsmart The Tennessee Roof Rat

The roof rat, otherwise known as the black rat, ship rat, house rat, and by its scientific name Rattus rattus, is a common household invader here in Tennessee. You may have had problems with these rodents in the past. You might have heard some rumors and are looking to keep them away throughout the winter months. Either way, we are here to help. Today we will be sharing with you five suggestions to outsmart roof rats this winter, and one bonus tip that you can use to keep them away.

What Will Attract Rats To Properties?

There is something you should know about rats. They prefer living with us over living in the wild, assuming your home meets their basic living requirements. Let us explain. Rats need four things to survive—food, water, warmth, and shelter.
 
Food: Food is their most valuable resource for survival. If rodents get into your home, they will look for this resource in a few ways. They will scavenge your floors for any dropped or forgotten food, such as apples under the couch, the meat you gave your cat that he didn’t eat, or even the scraps in your pet’s food bowl after everyone has gone to sleep. Rats will also climb on countertops and tables to look for left out food. Your trash is also an excellent resource for hungry rats; they aren’t picky. If all else fails, rats can even chew their way through walls and cardboard boxes to gain access to your food in storage.
 
Water: It is not to difficult for rats to find a source of water in or around your home. A leaky pipe or faucet is all they need.
 
Warmth: Although the weather outside doesn’t get too chilly here in Tennessee during the winter, it gets cold enough for rodents to want to seek out a warmer place to live, and why winter is prime time for rat invasions. You should prepare.
 
Shelter: Does your home have wall voids? If it does, rodents have everything they need for shelter. Commonly, roof rats will set up their nests in attics. Any space that you don’t have access to or rarely visit, rats will look to as safe shelter.
 
If rats can easily find the above necessities, your home will be a paradise for them, and they will not want to leave. The good news is, it is not too late to prevent rats.

How Do You Keep Rats Away?

The trick to keeping rats out of your home is by limiting the things they need to survive. Let us show you how you can do this with five steps.

  1. Start outside your home. Clear your yard of clutter and debris, trim bushes, and tree branches away from the sides of your house, and keep your lawn well maintained. The less attractive the exterior of your home is to rodents, the less likely they will be to find a way into your home.
  2. Seal your home. First, inspect your foundation for any gaps, cracks, or holes bigger than a nickel. Seal these off using wire mesh and a caulking gun. Next, check your roofline for damage. Roof rats are one of the few rodents that will climb up your house to find a way inside. Install metal screens over any vents leading into your home and make sure your window and door screens are free from rips. 
  3. Limit their access to food. Clean frequently, picking up pet food and water bowls before going to bed, storing leftover food inside of plastic containers, and investing in tight-fitting lids for all of your trashcans.
  4. Fix leaks around your home and make sure your gutters are in good working order. Make sure your home is not providing rodents with a source of water.

A Bonus Tip For Dealing With Rodents

If the above steps seem like too much work, or you would like to be proactive in your protection against rodents, we have a solution for you here at Proven Pest Management. Our pest technicians know how to remove and keep rodents out of your Tennessee home
 
If you suspect your home has a current rodent problem or you’d like to find out what high-quality rodent protection would mean for your home, reach out to us today. We have the answers you can depend on.