Gilbert ranked 2nd and tempe ranked 5th on the list.
Gilbert arizona roof rats.
Phoenix residents may likely be seeing signs of these unwelcome visitors in their home.
Roof rats are actually black rats though they can be other colors and can be identified by their large ears and scaly tails that are almost always longer than their bodies.
Roof rats are small and only need a hole the size of a quarter to squeeze through and get into your attic or home.
Roof rats first invaded the east valley in 2001 in phoenix and from there spread throughout mesa chandler tempe and gilbert.
Head and body 6 8 inches.
Roof rats can be cautious.
Head and body 5 7 inches.
There are many reasons for this but one of the primary ones is that the citrus trees in many backyards in the valley provide a consistent food source for rats while attics are generally undisturbed by local.
According to the university of arizona aside from disease transmission roof rats eat and contaminate food chew on household wiring and tear up home insulation.
For rattus rattus the scientific name for what we call roof rats arizona is now home.
Why are they so common in the phoenix metro.
Roof rats as the name implies make their nests in phoenix area attics.
Gilbert and tempe are among the worst in the country for roof rats based on data compiled from more than 300 terminix branches.
Wood rat pack rat cotton rat.
Roof rats love warmer temperatures which is why their populations tend to explode during a warm spring.
Outside the home they eat plants tree bark and fruits.
Roof rats are a common pest throughout the phoenix metro and casa grande.
Head and body 7 8 inches.
There are three main types of pack rats within central arizona homes including the whitethroat pack rat mexican pack rat and stephen s pack rat.
About as long as head and body combined 5 8 inches.
Pack rats also known as a wood rat a pack rat is more commonly found within central arizona desert regions.
Those warm places are often located on the roofs and upper levels of residential homes.
Also known as the black rat this rodent poses a plague of hazards including the plague.
Gilbert and tempe are both in the top 5 for roof rats nationwide.
Roof rat black rat ship rat norway rat.
Roof rats have invaded gilbert az.
Head and body 8 10 inches.
A pack rat unlike most others has fur on the tail.
Half eaten citrus around your home.
They re a specialized rat that has adapted to the modern lifestyle of humans here in the desert.
Their ability to easily travel from home to home makes this rodent a headache for homeowners.
They get their name.