Do you have rats on the roof of your home? A roof is arguably the most important part of a building. There is a reason why we tend to have sayings like, “having a roof over your head”. Taking care of your home is important and should always include checking your roof. If you hear animals running around on your roof, you should get it checked as soon as possible. Rats can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time. The last thing you need to worry about is losing that “roof over your head”.

Rats usually get into a home around the roof line, which is why they are called roof rats. Rats tend to be one of the most destructive wildlife that I have seen so far. They can get in small spaces that most don’t even realize is there, to begin with. You may hear rats running up and down your walls and on the ceiling because they can climb very well.

The teeth of rats and mice are constantly growing so they have to constantly gnaw on everything they can find. If their teeth get too long, it could hinder their ability to chew and eat properly.  Rat teeth never stop growing, just like our nails. They have to always keep them maintained, which causes a lot of chewed-up wood among other things in your house.

Wire damage is a big concern when it comes to roof rats.  Chewed wires can cause electrical shortages which could start a house fire if there are any flammable materials close by. Rats can also chew into your HVAC and duct work to make nests.

The nests are often made of flammable material that can catch fire and then vent throughout your whole house. Not only do rats create hazardous situations, but also damage that is very expensive in the long run.

Did you know that rats are some of the fastest reproducing wild animals? The females can mate just a few short days after giving birth to a litter size of 6 to 12. The newborn rats can take care of themselves after 3 to 4 weeks. From then on the females go into heat every 3 to 4 days. As you can see, each new female can create more and more females which will keep giving birth.  A rat infestation can happen in just a matter of weeks.

Many homeowners don't realize that just two rats can have up to 1500 rats in a single year. This is why rat issues are also referred to as infestations. It is extremely hard to get it under control which is why exclusion services are so important when trapping.  Setting out rat or mouse traps without sealing up your home is like swatting flies and leaving the front door open.  It just defeats the purpose.  As long as rats or mice can come and go as they please, they will rarely be caught in traps.  The food they will find outdoors is much better and varied than bait in a trap.  

If you have seen any signs of wildlife on your roof , please get a professional inspection. Apex Wildlife Control offers interior and exterior inspections. Our technician will go into your attic and look for fecal droppings to verify the species. He will also check if there are any other animals in there. He will check for chewed wiring and damage to your HVAC and duct work. The technician also looks for insulation damage from urine and fecal droppings.

Next, the technician will perform the exterior inspection where he will look from your home's foundation all the way to the top of the roof. The technician will be checking for all possible and actual entry points.  He will also check for any rotted wood that would be easily chewed through.

Once the technician completes the full interior and exterior inspection of your home, he will provide you with the photos of his findings, plus an itemized estimate for not only trapping the animals, but also sealing your home against further entry of wildlife.

Our exclusion process is pretty straightforward. All of the exclusion work except for trapping inside your home, is typically performed from the outside of the property. This keeps you from having to miss work while we seal your property.

Rodents can carry several types of bacteria and germs that can make you and your family very ill.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a severe illness caused from exposure to the droppings or urine of deer mice that carry the virus. About 1- 5 hantavirus cases are reported each year in Washington State and about one third of the cases have been fatal. It is important to take precautions when cleaning up an enclosed space such as a shed, cabin or trailer where mice have nested or rodent droppings are present.  

Leptospirosis is a disease caused by bacteria called Leptospira that infects both humans and a wide range of animals. It occurs worldwide but is more common in temperate and tropical areas of the world. Some people infected with leptospirosis will have no symptoms at all, and some people will become severely ill. Some wild and domestic animals, such as cattle, pigs, dogs, raccoons, and rodents, carry the Leptospira bacteria and pass them in their urine. Soil or water contaminated with infected urine are the most common causes of human infection.



Plague is a serious infection of humans caused by a germ called Yersinia pestis. It is usually caused by the bite of a flea that has fed on an infected wild animal, such as a rat, chipmunk or prairie dog. It usually causes large sores and abscesses in the glands of the arms and legs. Dogs, and especially cats, can also become infected and can spread the disease to their human companions. People and domestic animals like dogs and cats could be bitten by infected fleas while traveling to other areas of the country. Plague is treatable with antibiotics.



Tularemia is a bacterial disease caused by Francisella tularensis and is most commonly found in wild animals (e.g., wild rodents, squirrels, rabbits, hares and beavers). People and their pets can become ill from tularemia by coming into contact with infected dead or ill animals through animal bites and exposure to contaminated blood or raw meat. Tularemia can also be transmitted by the bite of an infected arthropod (e.g. ticks, biting flies), exposure to contaminated water or soil, and inhalation of bacteria. One to 10 cases of tularemia in people are reported every year. To prevent exposures to tularemia, don't handle dead or ill animals; avoid animal bites, tick and deer fly bites; and avoid direct bare-hand contact with blood and raw meat from wild animals. Don't drink untreated water in areas where tularemia is known to occur in wild animals.

The longer you let the problem go the worse it will get and the more expensive it will be. Mice or rats can have up to 1500 offspring in a single year. The longer the problem persists the more they will chew, urinate and defecate in your attic. This can filter in through the walls and start to smell, and in turn attract more wildlife.

Anytime you hear rats or mice running across your roof or inside your walls, don’t hesitate to give us a call. There is no animal or issue too big or small for us. Let us help you get your home back to its former glory so you can have peace of mind.

So if you have some little late night visitors running through the walls of your home, reach out to Apex Wildlife Control.  We're here to help!