Roof Rats, Palms and Fruit Trees: A Parkland Yard Guide

Fruit eaten from the inside while still on the tree, or dropped with the flesh scooped out. Rinds and seeds piled at the base of a palm. Rats on the fence top or power line at dusk. Droppings that UF describes as spindle shaped and up to half an inch long, under trees or along the fence.

UF notes rats can jump 36 inches straight up and 48 inches across, and can reach a roof from a branch that hangs above it. They also squeeze through cracks about half an inch wide. On a tile roof, the open ends at the eave and gaps around vents are common entry points.

So the yard and the roof are one problem. Rats live in the trees and visit the attic.

• Trim palms and limbs back so nothing touches or hangs over the roof
• Pick ripe fruit and pick up drops every day
• Don't leave pet food or birdseed out overnight
• Clear palm fronds and debris piles along the fence

Roof rats here don't wait for a cold snap to go looking for food. What your trees are doing matters more than the thermometer. When the fruit is ripe, the rats know.

UF also notes that sanitation has to be ongoing. A once-a-year cleanup doesn't do much. If they're already in the attic, see rat and mouse control for trapping and sealing.