Burrowing can cause damage by undermining the foundations of buildings, eroding banks of levees, disfiguring landscape plantings, and blocking sewer lines. Adults weigh 100 - 500 grams. Norway rats live about 1 year and reach sexual maturity in 3-5 months. RATS Roof rats thrive in attics, roof spaces, palm trees, and ornamental shrubbery. They are climbers and prefer to nest off the ground.
Roof rats are destructive to citrus groves, since they live in citrus trees and gnaw on the fruit.
They can be quite destructive in attics, gnawing on electrical wires and rafters. Because they must have water to survive, roof rats also consume an ounce per day and will range 100-150 feet from harbourages in search of water or food. Colour ranges from black to grizzled grey to tan with a light belly. Adults weigh from 100 - 300 grams. Roof rats live about 1 year and reach sexual maturity in 3-5 months.