They are climbers and prefer to nest off the ground in trees like palms which is how they got their common name.
Roof rats in palm tree.
If you have a palm tree within three feet of your roof line then it will be easy for these rodents to jump from the tree onto your roof.
They are found more commonly in areas with a tropical climate and they are climbers.
But roof rats are just as problematic.
Palm rats are also known as roof rats citrus rats black rats and ship rats belong to the muridae family of the rodent species.
Fruit is one of their main food sources.
Any vent on your roof that has an unobstructed opening of over half an inch is an open door into your home.
Roof rats rattus rattus sometimes called black rats fruit rats or house rats are aerial very agile climbers and usually live and nest above ground in shrubs trees and dense vegetation such as ivy.
If the openings on your roof are not properly sealed then the rats will gladly move into your attic.
Roof rats actually prefer to live in trees particularly in palm trees where they have plenty of protection from the elements as well as from prying eyes of predators or angry homeowners ready to get rid of them.
Palm rats in most parts of the world are roof rats that live in palm trees.
What is a roof rat.
They prefer warm weather so unless you live on a tropical island with a lot of palm trees you will never have to worry about real palm rats.
They can also move from palm trees in your yard to the roof of your home and then into the rest of the structure bringing with them disease and damage like other rodents rats gnaw on things but because of their greater size they can cause far more damage.
These pests like to nest above the ground in trees especially the palm tree thus earning their unique name.