Rats in Florida are a big problem. And they’re getting bigger…literally. 16 years ago, an exotic animal breeder released Gambian pouched rats into the wild. Like so many non-native animal species here, they flourished. These rats can grow to nearly three feet in length. Not including the tail, their bodies can still grow longer than your forearm.
While here in the Melbourne area we do not currently have these giant rats, but they are a problem in South Florida. In fact, the Florida Wildlife Commission started issuing alerts to residents in 2014.
Rats can be a threat to people because they can carry diseases however Gambian pouched rats are more of a danger to our plants and wildlife.
Gambian pouched rats are not bad creatures – giant rats are very smart and some species have even been trained to sniff out landmines in war-torn countries. That doesn’t mean you want to see a three-foot rat in your home, though.
Of course, regular-sized rats in Florida such as Roof Rats are still a much greater problem. Roof rats are also a problem in the Melbourne area where as the Gambian rats are a South Florida issue.
With that said, you want to get rid of rats of any size! Contact Slug-a-Bug to come out and perform a free evaluation to identify signs of rats and assess the extent of your problem. We’ll sit down and work out a plan that fits your home or business. As homes and properties are all unique – a different approach is needed for different places and different pests. Slug-A-Bug focuses on green pest management, meaning we use as little chemical interference as possible. This helps preserve your health and keep your living environment safe and sound.
Consult us on how to get rid of rats and we’ll help you eliminate your roof rat problem while taking steps to prevent any further problems in the future.