Rats in the roof

What the noise usually means

Roof rats are active from dusk. Scratching, running and the occasional thump or dragging sound between about 8 PM and 2 AM, concentrated over one part of the ceiling, points to rats in the roof void. Possums are heavier, slower and thump; birds start at dawn, not dusk. Where it isn't obvious, the droppings and rub marks in the void settle it.

How they get up there

• Overhanging branches, fences and pergolas touching the roofline.
• Gaps at the eaves, barge boards and where the gutter meets the fascia.
• Lifted or broken roof tiles and unsealed valley ends.
• Broken or missing whirlybird, vent and flue collars.
• Cable, aerial and solar penetrations left open at the roof line.
• Climbing the external wall via downpipes, vines and service pipes.

What we do

We enter and inspect the roof void where it's safe to do so, identify the runs and nesting points, and set mechanical traps on that evidence. We then work the outside of the building and close the access points — the sealing work is done by us, not referred out. Where branches or vines are the route in, we'll tell you exactly what needs cutting back.

A return visit clears traps and confirms the noise has stopped. If insulation has been soiled or a rat has died in an inaccessible cavity, we'll say so and explain the options rather than pretend it isn't there.

Why it matters beyond the noise

Roof rats gnaw. In a roof void the things worth gnawing are electrical cabling, plumbing and water pipes, and insulation. Rats also urinate constantly along runs, which is what produces the smell that eventually comes through the ceiling. It's worth dealing with early, before the damage list grows.

Related: domestic rat control and rodent proofing.