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Roof Rat Removal, Roof Rat Trapping & Roof Rat Exterminator Pest Control Services in Virginia. The roof rat’s body ranges from 6 to 8 inches long. There are two color phases: brown and gray-black to black. The belly may be gray or the same color as the upper body. The roof rat (Rattus rattus) in Virginia has a naked tail that is longer than its total body length. The muzzle is pointed, and the ears are large. Adult rat droppings are up to 1/2 inch long. They are spindle shaped with pointed ends.
The roof rat, or black rat, most often lives in seaports in Virginia and is sometimes called the ship rat. Roof rats are excellent climbers. They may build nests in trees or inside buildings, often 6 feet or more above floor level. They also nest in ground burrows and under piles of rubbish. Like the Norway rat, the roof rat will travel up to 150 feet from its nest to a feeding area or water source. Dark stains and rub marks left by these rodents can identify well-established travel paths.
Roof rats in Virginia prefer to eat seed, cereal grains, vegetables, or fruits – but they will eat almost anything. Like Norway rats, roof rats need water every day. As a result, they usually nest near a water source. Roof rats also hoard food.
Roof rats, like Norway rats, are cautious animals. They are suspicious of new things that appear in their territory. However, once they find an acceptable food source, they tend to return and feed in that place.
Roof rats in Virginia have a life span of about eight months to one year. The young rats attain sexual maturity by five months of age. Mature female rats can breed as often as once each month. A female rat may produce an average of four to six litters in her lifetime, with about six to eight young rats per litter. The number of litters and young rats depends on the available food supply and environmental conditions in Virginia. (Source: General Pest Control – A Guide for Pest Control Operators in Virginia).
The other common rat species found in Virginia is the Norway Rat.
We Are Your Local Experts in Rat Removal, Rat Control, Rat Trapping, Rat Extermination and Rat Management in Virginia.
Our Service Areas Include:
Afton, Albemarle County, Alexandria, Amelia County, Annandale, Arlington, Ashburn, Ashland, Barboursville, Bellwood, Belmont, Bensley, Bermuda Hundred, Bon Air, Boyd Tavern, Brandermill, Bumpass, Burke, Central VA, Centreville, Chamberlain, Charlottesville, Chesapeake, Chester, Chesterfield County, Colonial Heights, Crozet, Cuckoo, CVille, Dale City, Doswell, Dumbarton, Earlysville, East Highland Park, Enon, Ettrick, Fairfax, Fair Oaks, Ferncliff, Fluvanna County, Fredericksburg, Genito, Glen Allen, Glenora, Goochland County, Gordonsville, Gum Spring, Hadensville, Hampton, Hampton Park, Hanover County, Harrisonburg, Harrogate, Hening, Henrico County, Highland Springs, Hopewell, Innsbrook, Jefferson Davis, Kents Store, Keswick, Lake Anna, Lake Monticello, Lake Ridge, Lakeside, Laurel, Leesburg, Lewiston, Lignum, Locust Grove, Louisa County, Maidens, Manakin, Manakin-Sabot, Manassas, Manchester, McLean, Montrose, Motoaca, Meadowbrook, Mechanicsville, Midlothian, Mineral, Moseley, Newport News, Norfolk, North Courthouse, North Garden, Oilville, Orange County, Palmyra, Pantops, Petersburg, Portsmouth, Powhatan County, Reams, Reston, Richmond, Richmond County, Robious, Rockville, Rockwood, RVA, Salisbury, Sandston, Sandy Hook, Scottsville, Shannon Hill, Short Pump, South Rockwood, Spring Run, Staunton, Stoney Point, Suffolk, Tidewater, Troy, Tuckahoe, Va, Varina, Virginia, Virginia Beach, Waynesboro, Williamsburg, Winchester, Winterpock, Woodlake, Wyndham, and the surrounding areas of Virginia.
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