Roof Rats Citrus Trees

In nut orchards roof rats often nest around the base of trees.

Roof rats citrus trees.

How to get rid of fruit rats. In citrus it builds leaf and twig nests in trees or it can nest in debris piles thick mulch on the ground or in shallow burrows under the tree especially in hot weather. This provides the rats with a convenient food source close to warmth and shelter. The roof rat sometimes called the black rat is a common vertebrate pest in citrus and nut orchards.

The rats typically will target the lowest hanging fruit literally. They get their name. To attract the. What is a roof rat roof rats rattus rattus sometimes called black rats fruit rats or house rats are aerial very agile climbers and usually live and nest above ground in shrubs trees and dense vegetation such as ivy.

In apples peaches tomatoes carambolas bananas pineapples and mangos large sections of fruit are eaten away. Hollowed out fruit is the most common evidence of roof rats. Half eaten citrus around your home. As we progress through the citrus season from september through march the roof rats that may have been living quietly around your house or grove make themselves known.

Use a sheet metal or aluminum flashing that is at least 18 inches tall and wrap it around the base of the tree overlapping it by 2 or 3. 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. Place dropped or spoiled fruit into a secure garbage can. Set out live traps on ledges branches fences and pipes where fruit rats regularly climb.

Install rat guard around the trunks of the citrus trees. They have now settled into ideal habitat among old growth citrus trees palm trees and other mature landscaping and take advantage of abundant irrigation canals and food resources around homes. Pick up all dropped fruit on a daily basis. One of the reasons that roof rats have flourished in the east valley is because of the prevalence of backyard fruit trees especially citrus trees.

Roof rats are long and thin rodents that have large eyes and ears a pointed nose and a scaly tail. Place the dropped fruit in a garbage. In 2001 roof rats were documented in phoenix and likely introduced into the area through freight or shipment of food livestock feed or equipment. If there is shelter available in your yard or near your roof then rats may climb trees to get at the nuts and fruit from the tree.