Basic Behavior & Biology
• Properly called: White-throated Wood Rat (Neotoma albigula)
• Nocturnal; common in the southwest desert.
• Tail is thick, round, blunt-ended, covered with short hairs and is shorter than the body. Ears are large and almost naked. Fur is soft and dense.
• Coloration is dark gray-brown on top with a lighter underbelly.
•Size: up to fifteen inches & eight ounces.
•Adult pack rats are solitary. 1 adult per nest.
•Great diggers and adept climbers.
• Primary foods are cactusand mesquite beans, but will eat just about anything.
• Obtain moisture from what they eat and therefore do not need free-standing water.
• Mature in 6 to 8 weeks. Life expectancy: 2 years.
• Gives birth to 2-3 youngevery 6 to 8 weeks.
• Must have shelter! Cannot survive when exposed to extreme heat, cold or direct sunlight.
• Will reuse existing empty nests before starting new nests.
• Potential nesting area is any sheltered area including: cacti, bushes, trees, rock crevices, pool heaters, spas, car engines, ceiling voids, gas grills, under sheds, and wood piles.
• Will fortify the nest with additional material including cactus, rocks, sticks, dog droppings and just about anything else they can find.
• The presence of additional fortification material is the telltale sign that distinguishes a pack rat nest from that of a squirrel or other rodent.
Problems Created By Pack Rats
Pack rats and people don’t go well together...
• Nests harbor blood sucking kissing bugs(conenose bugs), fleas, lice, brown spiders, scorpions, and mice.
• Damage and destroylandscapingfrom nesting and feeding.
• Offspring seek nesting opportunities in cars, pool equipmentand even get in to the ceiling voids of homes.
• Avid chewers, often chewing on and throughwires in cars, attics, spasand pool heaters.
• Urineand fecal materialbecome abundant.
• Nests attract snakes, skunks, foxes, coyotes and bobcats.
• Nests are vectors for disease including:
- Allergic reactions from kissing bugs
- Hantavirus from mice
- Plague from fleas
- Infections from Brown Spider bites
It Is Not Natural!
Compare the difference - natural desert versus near a home. If you were a rat, where would you want to live?...
In a balanced environment, pack rat populations are an important and beneficial part of nature.
Unfortunately even with “natural” landscaping around homes the balance of nature is changed and pack rat populations can increase to unnatural levels due to:
More Harborage(places to build safe nests)
• Rain run-off from roofs, patios, driveways and streets increasesavailable vegetation.
• Non-native plants provide nesting opportunities
• Irrigation leads to increased plant growth
• Non-natural nesting opportunities - pool equipment, AC's, cars, attics, sheds
• Large decorative rocks & rock retaining walls provide ideal harborage
• Poison bait boxes are a favorite place to hide and even build a nest in
Fewer Predators
• Many predators prefer to avoid homes, pack rats do not.
• Rattle snakes are often killed or removed
• Poison baits kill many raptors(owls & hawks) through secondary poisoning
• Bobcats choose easy to catch birds at bird feeders vs. pack rats
Enhanced Food Supply
• Irrigated plants are more attractive especially during dry spells (pack rats get moisture from what they eat, they don't need to drink water)
• Many decorative cacti species are more attractive than natural cacti (rats eat cactus)
• Bird seedand pet foodsare a favorite
Homes are attractive
Pack rats are naturally very curious and will investigate anything new in their environment. Our homes are especially attractive:
• Different smells. At night rats often sit by doors & windows smelling our homes.
• Fabric and stuffing from patio furniture and even grill covers makes excellent nesting material.
• Small toys and ballare pack rat favorites to collect. So are dog droppings.
The Solution
The solution to pack rats issues is creating and maintaining a pack rat-free “buffer zone” around your home. Eliminate existing nests and nesting opportunities within a 40-300 foot buffer zone around the home.
The ideal size of the buffer zone depends on:
• Surrounding pack rat population
• Vegetation type & density
• If vehicles are being parked outside
• Known allergies to kissing bugs
• Terrain – hilly, flat, rocky, sandy
If you live in ourprimary service areaMr. Pack Rat will provide a free, no obligation inspection and consultation on creating a buffer zone.
#1 Consideration — The Nest!
The key to eliminating and preventing pack rats is addressing their use and need for shelter.
Eliminating only the rats creates vacant nests soon to be reoccupied in an unending cycle until the nests are located and properly removed.
Potential nesting sites also need to be addressed. Pack rats are opportunists and will take advantage of any sheltered area. See thePreventionpage for more information
A pack rat needs a nest to survive. If you live in an area where there are pack rats:
• You cannot control the food supply - the desert provides all they need
• You cannot control how many rats are on neighboring properties
• Youcanonly control nest and nesting opportunities on your property!
Doing It Right — Step By Step
1. Inspection
Determine the buffer zone. Locate existing nests and potential nesting sites in the area.
Experience makes a difference. If you live in ourservice areaMr. Pack Ratwill provide a free, no obligation inspection and consultation with a fixed price quote.
2. Live Trap at the nest sites
The resident rat needs to be caught and removed before taking out a nest. A displaced pack rat must have shelter and may seek a car or your house for its new home.
3. Treat the Nest as needed
Once the resident pack rat is removed, parasites and other pests may be living in the nest. These pests can move outwards if the nest is not promptly treated.
4. Remove the Nest
Within 24 hours of removing the resident rat the nest needs to be completely removed before another rat moves in. All debris should be removed. Any hidden underground chambers need to be located and filled in.
Again, experience counts!Mr. Pack Ratknows how tocompletelyremove a nest in a neat, professional manner.
5. Change the Environment at the Nest Site
Rats like to go where rats have been and even after catching the resident rat and removing the nest, other rats may try to rebuild in the same area.Proper thinning and trimmingneeds to be done in the immediate area to prevent new nesting. In some cases physical exclusion (rat-proofing) is needed to keep rats out.
Mr. Pack Ratknows the proper prevention techniques and provides a long term guarantee the nest location will remain rat-free!
6. Prevention
Pack rats need a sheltered area to feel secure enough to start a new nest. Deny them protection and they will move on. Refer to thePreventionpage for details. Homeowners in high-risk areas may also want to consider preventative“rat-proofing”to protect their home,garage, pool heater, spa and other buildings before rats move in.
Mr. Pack Ratprovides prevention recommendations with each free inspection and also offersDeter-Scape, a natural landscaping nuisance wildlife prevention service.
The Wrong Way
Poison bait and random trapping are ineffective because they treat only the symptoms (rats) and do not address the source of the problem (nests).
Poison is also dangerous and may kill the very predators that naturally control the pack rat population. Again, rats like to go where rats have been and when poison kills a rat, a vacant home is left behind to bequickly occupied by another. The cycle will repeat until the actual nest is removed.
See theProblems with Poisonpage for full details.
Call us for an estimate: (520) 529-9191
