Florida Roof Rat Disease

Types of roof rat diseases.

Florida roof rat disease.

Also known as black rats as well as palm rats fruit rats or citrus rats because of their largely vegetarian diets roof rats are the most common type of rat that is found in florida. Rodents are know to spread as many as 35 different diseases to humans worldwide. Roof rats can be carriers of diseases. These diseases can be spread through direct contact with rodents or their feces urine or saliva or through rodent bites.

There are several diseases roof rats can transmit to humans. The sleek black roof rat is one of the most common species of rats in the united states. Roof rats will invade homes any time of the year including in the summer season in order to escape the heat. When people think of rats they might not think of florida.

They can transmit these diseases through physical contact bites by contamination or by fleas that are feeding on the rodent. Roof rats can have up to 8 litters per year each bearing 6 8 rats. Roof rats will nest in trees woodpiles garbage and plants but they generally like inside high places like attics. Roof rats are the worst rodent pest in the.

When it comes to roof rats it is important to understand what they look like. It was brought to america on the first ships to reach the new world and has spread around the world. From rat bites and scratches to saliva and urine rats can cause many diseases. Terminix a company that deals with pest and rodent.

These bites or scratches can cause what is known as rat bite fever or even tetanus. Historically infected fleas have transmitted serious plagues from rats to humans. Bubonic plague was a scourge in europe several times throughout history. Step 1 in order to assess the severity of the rat problem and to get a better idea of where to bait and trap you will first need to perform a thorough inspection of the premises.

The roof rat is an introduced species of rat native to southern asia. Roof rats are a health hazard being one of the oldest transmitters of diseases. Get rid of roof rats in four basic steps. They sometimes co exist with sewer rats though they like to be up high.

The most invasive species that is found living in the highest numbers is the roof rat. Roof rats get ferocious and tend to bite or scratch when threatened or cornered. What you ll want to look for are any signs that the rats are present including droppings tracks gnaw marks burrows runways and rodent sounds. In south florida there are several species of rats.

This rat is the same species that carried the bubonic plague around the world and is also the reservoir host for murine typhus. Roof rats are excellent climbers and they often prefer to build their nests up high in attics or in beams near the roof. However new information shows the pesky rodents are populating florida roofs. They are good climbers and only need a hole the size of a quarter to gain entry.