Roof Rat Bites

Roof rats may be attracted to simple food scraps including pieces of fruit and bacon.

Roof rat bites.

Toxic baits or rodenticides are intended to kill the rats when they eat the bait. Diseases including rat bite fever can be transmitted through a roof rat bite or scratch. To make an ideal home roof rats need food water and a cozy nesting site so clean out wood piles rake up fallen vegetation and fruit and do not leave pet food or water outside especially overnight. Rats will bite or scratch if frightened or handled so leave them alone.

Symptoms of rat bite fever include vomiting headache fever and muscle and joint pain. You can also contract rat bite fever if you come in contact with a dead rat or end up ingesting food or water which has been contaminated by rat feces. Roof rats get ferocious and tend to bite or scratch when threatened or cornered. This will get the rat used to eating at that location.

While this plague is no longer as serious a threat to humans roof rats are still potential carriers of disease. These bites or scratches can cause what is known as rat bite fever or even tetanus. Similar to many other rodent species roof rats may show aggression when threatened. In self defense they may bite or chase.

To prevent rats from entering your home seal up any holes or cracks larger than a quarter. In addition try putting the attractant out for a few days before setting the trap. Sometimes the bite or scratch is already healed when symptoms begin so it s important to know what they are. Symptoms of rat bite fever occur within a few days to a few weeks.