The most invasive species that is found living in the highest numbers is the roof rat.
Florida roof rat disease.
Bubonic plague was a scourge in europe several times throughout history.
Roof rats can have up to 8 litters per year each bearing 6 8 rats.
It was brought to america on the first ships to reach the new world and has spread around the world.
This rat is the same species that carried the bubonic plague around the world and is also the reservoir host for murine typhus.
The roof rat is an introduced species of rat native to southern asia.
Rodents are know to spread as many as 35 different diseases to humans worldwide.
These pests cause significant damage through their gnawing nesting and burrowing habits.
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.
Roof rats are the worst rodent pest in the.
However new information shows the pesky rodents are populating florida roofs.
When it comes to roof rats it is important to understand what they look like.
Roof rats are excellent climbers and they often prefer to build their nests up high in attics or in beams near the roof.
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.
They sometimes co exist with sewer rats though they like to be up high.
Types of roof rat diseases.
Roof rats get ferocious and tend to bite or scratch when threatened or cornered.
However roof rat diseases are the most serious concern for people and pets.
Terminix a company that deals with pest and rodent.
The sleek black roof rat is one of the most common species of rats in the united states.
They can transmit these diseases through physical contact bites by contamination or by fleas that are feeding on the rodent.
From rat bites and scratches to saliva and urine rats can cause many diseases.
Roof rats will invade homes any time of the year including in the summer season in order to escape the heat.
Roof rats will nest in trees woodpiles garbage and plants but they generally like inside high places like attics.
In south florida there are several species of rats.
They are good climbers and only need a hole the size of a quarter to gain entry.
When people think of rats they might not think of florida.
These diseases can be spread through direct contact with rodents or their feces urine or saliva or through rodent bites.
These bites or scratches can cause what is known as rat bite fever or even tetanus.
There are several diseases roof rats can transmit to humans.
Being bitten by ticks mites or fleas that have been feeding on sick rodents can also spread diseases.
Historically infected fleas have transmitted serious plagues from rats to humans.
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.
