Citrus is a source of food and water for roof rats. Pick fruit, even if it’s not ripe, and pick up any that falls to the ground.
Don’t leave pet food out overnight, and pick up dog feces.
Limit use of bird feeders.
Indoors, store bulk food in sealed, rat-proof containers.
Keep garbage containers tightly covered.
Clean Up Your Yard:
Rake under trees and shrubs.
Prune fruit trees so the ground under them is visible.
Remove wood and brush piles.
Trim palm trees. They nest in the skirts of old palm fronds, in piles of debris and in hollow trees.
Thin out bushes, especially oleanders, so you can see daylight through them.
Seal Your Home:
Roof rats can enter through openings as small as a nickel so be diligent sealing cracks and crevices.
Check for holes in exterior walls and near water heaters, washers, dryers, dishwashers and under sinks.
Caulk cracks, screen the sewer stacks on the roof and stuff air-conditioning lines that run from outside into the attic with steel wool or copper mesh to prevent rats from entering.
Be Strategic With Traps:
Set traps baited with a little peanut butter.
Place traps away from places that can be found by pets or small children.
Leave in place for at least a week before moving them.
Be Careful With Poisons:
Bait stations are protected places for rats to feed without being accessible to non-target animals.
Don’t wire poison bait blocks directly to tree branches. That could lead to accidental poisoning of cats and birds.
Make sure your home is sealed before putting out poison bait so the rats don’t enter the house and die, creating a stench it might be hard to get rid of.
Find Out More: www.maricopa.gov/envsvc/VectorControl/
