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2. Modify the Habitat.
Modifying an area to make it less suitable and less attractive to roof rats, norway rats, and mice should be the next step in controlling these rodents. Rat survival and prosperity requires
three basic environmental conditions:
General sanitation can do much towards reducing any type of rodent infestation by eliminating food sources:
• Secure garbage in proper rodent-proof containers.
• Store materials properly.
• Repair leaky faucets and eliminate any other unnecessary standing water.
• Harvest citrus and other fruit in a timely manner and pick up fallen fruit promptly.
• Remove attractants such as pet foods (never leave uneaten pet food outside overnight), bird feeders, and outside standing water. Since these rats usually require free water, especially
during hot, dry weather, any source of water can be a strong attractant.
• Clean out waste and food from pet pens and enclosures.
• Do not through meat, bones, grease, fish, or other food scraps into the compost.
Eliminate or at least drastically reduce the protective cover that is crucial to these shy rodents:
• Prune shrubs so that the ground below them is clearly visible.
• Mow, trim, or remove ground cover plants that grow over one foot in height.
• Stack firewood, lumber and other materials at least one foot away from walls and fences and at least 18 inches off the ground.
• Prune the crowns of palm trees and remove dead fronds.
Roof rats will easily travel along vines, tree branches, fences, and utility wires. Eliminating these aerial pathways can dramatically reduce roof rat travel:
• Eliminate or severely prune back vines growing on buildings
and fences.
• Remove tree limbs that overhang roofs.
• Prune trees so that the branches do not touch fences, overhead wires, or the branches of adjacent trees.
• Prune the skirts of trees so that the branches do not hang down to the ground.
3. Exclusion.
Rat and mice often enter homes where pipes or utility wires enter a building or through garage doors that do not fit tightly, or through pet doors. Because roof rats are excellent climbers and
can get through very small openings, excluding them from an area or structure is difficult, but still recommended. Rodent-proofing a home or other building requires sealing all possible entry points, especially
where pipes or wires enter a building:
• Seal openings 1/2-inch wide or greater to the outside of a structure with concrete mortar, steel or copper wool, or metal flashing. Pay close attention to possible entry points on the roof
and along the roof line.
• Cover attic and foundation vents with 1/4-inch wire mesh or heavy wire screen and check periodically for rust and other damage.
• Build sheds on concrete slabs.
• Use rat guards made from sheet metal 18–24 inches wide to prevent roof rats from climbing trees and walls. Rats will not be able to gain any footing and will be unable to climb on
the smooth surface of the sheet metal.
Form the sheet metal into a cylinder around tree trunks. Because roof rats are capable of jumping a vertical distance of over 3 feet, rat guards should be placed 4 feet above the soil and
above adjacent shrubs or other items the rats could use to climb or jump above the metal guard.
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