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cause the most damage in Charlotte County, it would
have to be the roof rat.
If I were to identify one rodent pest that seems to
cause the most damage in Charlotte County, it would
have to be the roof rat. Originally from
southern Asia, this rodent has been in our country since
explorers landed with ships hundreds of years ago.
This type of rat is in fact the worst rodent pest in
Florida and should not be confused with the bigger
and rarer Norway rat. Roof rats have a very long
tail that is longer than the head and body length
combined. As with all pests, we can find a way to
confound and eliminate roof rats from our homes and
property.
Roof rats need to be controlled for several reasons
including their consumption and destruction of human
and animal food, and fruit crops such as citrus,
melons and papaya. These rats also tend to live in
attics, soffits and hollow walls, chew though wires,
and gnaw through plastic water pipes. Hollowed out
fruit is very typical rat evidence each with a half
dollar-sized hole. Fruits seem to be a particular
favorite. These rats will travel up to one hundred
and fifty yards from their home den (skirts of old
fronds on palm trees, hollow trees, attics, and
plies of debris) in search of food. With a great
ability to climb and swim as well as the
reproductive potential of up to eight babies per
litter per year starting at four months of age, this
pest is a formidable opponent. Control will be
multi-step approach that will work with time and
effort.
First, try to keep your fruit trees away from
fences, overhead wires or branches from other
trees. These above ground "bridges" will allow roof
rats a roadway to access fruit. Proper pruning will
help keep the area below the tree open and visible.
Roof rats don't like open areas where predators can
attack. Rat guards made from twenty-four inch sheet
metal pieces that are secured around tree trunks and
fastened with wire at each end provide a barrier.
Hand-in-hand make sure to pick up any fallen fruit
that may attract rats.
Trapping is often a better option than poisoning.
Poisoned rats may die in inaccessible locations
causing an odor problem. Place traps, with their
triggers pointed down, by tying them directly to
tree trunks at dusk. Remove the traps at dawn.
This will help avoid trapping squirrels, protected
birds and other non-target animals. Snap traps can
also be nailed onto fence stringer boards and
secured to poles with eye screws and heavy rubber
bands. In areas where snap traps would not work,
substitute them with small live traps. It may take
several days to a week for the naturally cautious
roof rat to visit a trap site.
Encouraging natural predators to feed on roof rats
is a valuable effort. Snakes such as gray rat
snakes, corn or red rat snakes, black racers, king
snakes, coachwhips and indigo snakes are excellent
biological control tools. Even venomous snakes such
as rattlesnakes and cottonmouths regularly eat
rats. In fact, people who have eliminated snakes
from their area have rued the day when, as a result,
the roof rat population exploded and caused
significant damage and money to get under control.
Birds of prey such as the barn owl are also
excellent ratters that should be encouraged and
protected. Cats and dogs don't make the impact that
many people think they do. As roof rats are tree
dwellers by nature, they are often able to avoid
these potential predators. Cats may kill young
rats, but adult roof rats can easily avoid such
encounters.
A final option is the use of ultrasonic and
electromagnetic devices. There is no scientific
evidence that they work in driving out rats, and
accordingly these devises are not recommended.
For more information on general rodent control
please contact
our
Master Gardeners
on the Plant Lifeline at 764-4340 from 1 p.m. to
4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Our office is located
at
25550 Harborview Road,Suite 3
in Port Charlotte.
Reference: Kern, Jr., W. H. (1997) Control of Roof
Rats in Fruit Trees, The
University of
Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Ralph E. Mitchell is a Horticulturist
and Charlotte County Extension Agent
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