Rats are the rodent that does the most damage and causes the most alarm in Dallas homes. The key to solving a rat problem — rather than pausing it — is recognizing that Dallas has two different rat species that behave in opposite ways, and each needs its own strategy.
Roof rats: the climbers
Roof rats are agile, lightweight climbers that live up high — in attics, along rooflines, and in tree canopies. They enter through roofline gaps, soffit and eave openings, and along tree limbs and utility lines touching the house. They're strongly associated with fruit trees and elevated entry points. If you're hearing scratching overhead at night, roof rats are the likely culprit. Treatment focuses on the roofline: sealing high entry points, trapping in the attic, and trimming tree contact.
Norway rats: the burrowers
Norway rats are larger, heavier and ground-dwelling. They burrow near foundations, under slabs, along fence lines and near garbage and drainage. They enter low — foundation gaps, weep holes, garage door gaps, utility penetrations at ground level. Treatment focuses on the foundation: sealing ground-level entry points, burrow treatment, and exclusion at grade.
| Roof rat | Norway rat | |
|---|---|---|
| Lives | High — attics, canopies | Low — burrows, foundations |
| Enters | Roofline, soffits, tree limbs | Foundation gaps, weep holes |
| Build | Slender, agile | Large, heavy |
| Treatment focus | Roofline exclusion | Ground-level exclusion |
Our full species guide goes deeper on identification.
Why generic rat control fails
A plan built for one species largely misses the other. Seal the foundation on a roof rat problem and they keep coming in from above; trap the attic on a Norway rat problem and the burrows stay active. This is exactly why generic “rat spray” services see rats return — they never matched the strategy to the species.
Our process
- Inspection & ID — confirm the species and map the entry points.
- Trapping & removal — clear the active population.
- Exclusion — seal entry points at the roofline or foundation, whichever applies.
- Follow-up — confirm the problem is actually gone.
Rats chew wiring (a fire risk) and contaminate surfaces (a health risk), so this isn't a wait-and-see pest. Book a free inspection and we'll identify the species and quote the exclusion.
Ready for a free inspection?
Tell us what you're seeing. A licensed technician identifies the pest and entry points and quotes an exact price — no obligation.