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How to Get Rid of Roof Rats

To get rid of roof rats, remove their food, cut back trees and vines that touch the house, seal every opening larger than 1/4 inch, and set snap traps up high where they travel. UC IPM says sealing is the longest-lasting fix. If rats are in your attic or walls, call (916) 712-7030 to reach an independent local exterminator.

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Step by step

  1. Confirm it's roof rats: look for a tail longer than the head and body, droppings in the attic or on ledges, and gnawed fruit in trees.
  2. Remove food: pick up fallen fruit and nuts, bring pet food in at night, and use garbage cans with tight lids.
  3. Cut off access: trim tree limbs back from the roof (UC IPM says within 6 feet), thin shrubs to 2 feet apart and away from walls, and pull ivy and other climbing vines off the house.
  4. Seal entry points: close every gap larger than 1/4 inch with steel wool, sheet metal or 1/2-inch galvanized hardware cloth, including attic vents, eaves, plumbing vents and pipe openings. Never use chicken wire.
  5. Trap: set rat-size snap traps along beams, ledges, fences and pipes, 10 to 20 feet apart, baited with a pea-size amount of nuts, dried fruit or peanut butter.
  6. Check traps daily, wearing disposable gloves, and seal dead rats in a plastic bag for the trash.
  7. Keep a few traps in the attic and keep monitoring, since new rats can move in from nearby yards.

Are roof rats dangerous?

Yes. UC IPM's Pest Notes say rats contaminate food and can spread diseases including typhus, leptospirosis, salmonella and rat bite fever. In attics, roof rats chew wires, which can cause sparks and fires, and they've been known to gnaw gas lines. They also chew car wiring.

Rats don't carry rabies, according to UC IPM. Even so, never handle rats or droppings with bare hands.

Why do roof rats like Sacramento backyards?

Roof rats love mature landscaping and fruit. UC IPM says they nest above ground in trees, shrubs and dense vines like ivy, and favor attics, wall voids and cabinets indoors. They eat fruit, nuts, snails and bird eggs, often leaving citrus rinds hollowed out on the tree, and they routinely travel 300 feet or more for food.

Riverbank and streamside vegetation is also good habitat. If you see rats running along fence tops or utility lines at dusk, they're likely roof rats.

How do you trap roof rats the right way?

Placement matters more than the trap. Roof rats travel up high, so UC IPM recommends traps both on the ground and on ledges, shelves, branches, fences, pipes and beams, fastened to the surface when possible. Keep them out of reach of children, pets and birds by using covered stations or barriers.

Rats avoid new objects, and UC IPM says roof rats are especially wary. Leave traps baited but unset until the bait has been taken several times, then set them all at once. Use plenty of traps; a heavily infested home may need a dozen or more. A rat that trips a trap without being caught becomes very hard to catch.

Should you use rat poison?

Use it carefully, if at all. UC IPM says most first- and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides are now prohibited for most uses in California. Baits sold to the public must come in ready-to-use bait stations. The registered active ingredients are bromethalin, cholecalciferol and zinc phosphide, and zinc phosphide is typically unavailable to the public. All rodenticides are toxic to pets, children and wildlife.

Poison also has practical problems. UC IPM notes that roof rats may not enter bait stations even on their regular runways, and that you should seal entry points before baiting outdoors so poisoned rats don't come inside to die in your walls.

Do repellents or ultrasonic devices work on rats?

No. UC IPM says rats quickly get used to repeated sounds, so high-frequency and ultrasonic devices don't control them, and no truly effective rat repellents are registered in California. The Federal Trade Commission has also warned sellers of ultrasonic pest devices that their claims need scientific evidence.

When should you call an exterminator for roof rats?

Call when rats are in the attic, walls or ceilings, when you can't find where they're getting in, or when trapping hasn't worked after a couple of weeks. UC IPM notes that sealing out roof rats usually takes more time than Norway rats because they climb and enter high on the house. Ask any company whether attic and roofline sealing is included, and check its Structural Pest Control Board license; rat work isn't covered by the wildlife-exclusion exemption in state law.

Fixr's 2025 national guide puts rat extermination with trapping and sealing at $500 to $750; This Old House's 2026 guide lists $395 to $1,500 or more. These aren't Sacramento prices. Call (916) 712-7030 to reach an independent local company for a written quote.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best bait for roof rats?
UC IPM lists nuts, dried fruit, bacon, dry pet food and peanut butter as good trap baits. Use only a pea-size amount, and tie dry bait to the trigger with light string or fine wire so the rat has to work at it and sets off the trap. Roof rats especially like fruit and nuts.
How do I know if rats are in my attic?
Listen for scratching or running at night, and look for droppings, greasy rub marks on beams and shredded insulation. UC IPM lists noises in the attic or drop ceilings among the main signs. Roof rats favor attics, wall voids and cabinets, so check those spaces with a flashlight and gloves.
Will a cat get rid of roof rats?
Not on its own. UC IPM says predators like cats and owls eat rats but can't significantly control animals that reproduce as fast as rats do. Feeding pets outdoors can even attract more rats, so bring pet food in at night.

Available across the Sacramento area

Sources

  1. Pest Notes: Rats (Publication 74106, updated 06/2025) — UC Statewide IPM Program, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
  2. FTC Warns Manufacturers and Retailers of Ultrasonic Pest-control Devices (May 3, 2001) — Federal Trade Commission
  3. Structural Pest Control Act and Rules and Regulations (Bus. & Prof. Code §§8505, 8516, 8538, 8550, 8555; 16 CCR §§1984, 1990), updated January 2026 — California Structural Pest Control Board
  4. Rat Extermination Cost (updated January 31, 2025) — Fixr
  5. Rat Exterminator Cost, updated 03/13/2026 — This Old House
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