Roof Rat Control in San Francisco
The roof rat is the one you see running along the top of the fence at night or across an overhead wire. The city's health department describes it as a skilled climber that's at home around wires and tall buildings. UC IPM says it usually nests above the ground in shrubs, trees and thick plants like ivy, and indoors it likes attics, wall and ceiling voids and cabinets.
In San Francisco backyards, that often means a wall of ivy on the back fence or a lemon tree heavy with fruit. Roof rats eat citrus and avocados while they're still on the tree, and UC IPM says they'll travel 300 feet or more for food. That's a lot of backyards.
Ivy, Jasmine and Honeysuckle
UC IPM tells homeowners to thin dense plants and pull climbing ivy, star jasmine and honeysuckle off fences and buildings. Those vines are roof rat apartments: thick, dry inside and connected to everything. If you have ivy covering a fence that runs from your yard to three others, rats can live in it and travel along it. Thin it hard or pull it out. Our ivy and fruit tree guide has more.
- Pull ivy and vines off walls, fences and the house
- Trim branches back from the roof and wires
- Pick ripe fruit and clear fallen fruit
- Keep compost in a closed bin
Traps Go Up High
Roof rats don't walk along the floor the way Norway rats do. UC IPM says traps for them should go off the ground as well: on ledges, shelves, branches, fence rails, pipes and beams, spaced about 10 to 20 feet apart. A company that only puts traps on the garage floor is working the wrong rat.
Roof rats also come back to the same nest site. UC IPM says nests need to be removed during cleanup or rats may move back in. If they've been in the attic, ask about attic cleanup.
Where They Get In
Up high: gaps at the roofline, attic vents with torn screen, the space where a wire or cable enters the building, and rear decks and stairs that touch the house. UC IPM recommends half-inch mesh on vents and never chicken wire. The full list is on our rodent exclusion page.
Questions We Get
Do roof rats ever live on the ground?
UC IPM says they sometimes burrow or use sewers when there's no good spot up high, but they'd rather nest above ground.
Serving Mission District, Bernal Heights, Noe Valley, Pacific Heights, Marina, SoMa, Richmond District, Sunset District, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Bayview, Excelsior, Glen Park, Castro.