Roof Rats in Rialto & Fontana: Stop the Scratching Above Your Ceiling
- Oct 9
- 2 min read
You’re winding down for the night when you hear it—soft scratching overhead, like tiny feet sprinting across your attic. By morning there are a few droppings in the garage and a half-chewed dog-food bag. If this sounds familiar, you’re not imagining things. Roof rats are active in Rialto and Fontana, and when they find your roofline, they find your home.
What Roof Rats Look Like (So You Know What You’re Dealing With)
Roof rats—often called black rats—are lean, quick climbers. Think sleek dark brown/black fur, large ears, a pointed nose, and a tail longer than the body (typically 6–8 inches of body plus a very long tail). If you’ve seen a rat tight-rope a fence, palm frond, or utility line, you’ve likely seen a roof rat.
Where Roof Rats Come From Around Rialto & Fontana
Our warm climate and dense landscaping make perfect roof-rat highways. They travel from:
Trees and dense vegetation (palm skirts, citrus, oleander, ivy)
Fences, rooflines, and utility lines that connect yard to yard
Vacant or cluttered properties and nearby structures with existing infestations
A gap at a gable vent, roof tile, soffit, or attic screen is all they need to move in.
Why Roof Rats Stick Around Once They Find Your Home
Roof rats don’t “pass through”—they set up shop when they find:
Food: Pet food, bird seed, fallen citrus, open trash, pantry goods
Shelter: Warm, quiet attics, garages, and wall voids
Water: Leaky hose bibs, AC condensation, pet bowls, slow plumbing leaks
Give them a week or two and you’ll have established runways along rafters and insulation.
Why They Invade the House (Not Just the Yard)
Cooler nights, predators outside, and easy attic access drive them in. Indoors, they gain:
Safe nesting sites away from owls, hawks, and outdoor hazards
Short, hidden routes to food and water
Stable temperatures that speed up breeding cycles
Why You Don’t Want to Wait
Every day you wait, roof rats do one—or all—of these:
Chew wiring and insulation (yes, fire hazards are real)
Contaminate food & surfaces with urine and droppings
Multiply quickly, turning a minor problem into a full infestation
What starts as “I hear something” can become dozens of rats and costly repairs in weeks.
Why Professional Help Beats DIY (Every Time)
DIY traps and over-the-counter bait rarely solve roof-rat infestations because they don’t address nests and entry points. Roof rats are cautious, learn fast, and often avoid poorly placed traps. Miss the access gap and they’ll keep coming back.
How TruPest Solutions Solves Roof Rats—for Good
Our local, Rialto & Fontana roof rat control program targets the root cause:
Full inspection of roofline, attic, garage, and exterior to find nests and entry points
Targeted treatments matched to roof-rat behavior and travel routes
Exclusion & sealing (screens, gaps, vents, roofline vulnerabilities) to lock them out
Exterior defense and sanitation guidance (fruit drop, storage, trash protocols)
Ongoing protection plan to keep your home rat-free through the seasons
Ready to Stop the Noise Above Your Ceiling?
If you’re hearing scratching in the attic, finding droppings in the garage, or spotting rats on fences or rooflines, the problem won’t fix itself.
👉 Call TruPest Solutions at 951-334-5288 for professional roof rat control in Rialto and Fontana. We’ll eliminate the infestation, seal their entry, and keep them out—so your home is quiet again.
