Rats are associated with leptospirosis, murine typhus carried by rat fleas, salmonellosis, and rat-bite fever.
Los Angeles has a lot of rats. Roof rats are especially common because they climb well and favor attics, palm trees, fruit trees, and utility lines. Many people have heard that rats were responsible for many of the great illnesses of the past. And it is true: rats can bring disease along with them, but if you know the risks, they’re manageable.
Leptospirosis is spread through rodent urine contaminating water, soil, and surfaces. It’s known to infect both people and dogs, and Southern California has seen notable canine outbreaks. Murine typhus is also notable in this region. It's transmitted by fleas carried on rats and opossums, and LA County reports cases every year, with a long-running concentration in certain neighborhoods. Salmonella turns up through food and surfaces contaminated by droppings. Rat-bite fever is uncommon but occurs through bites, scratches, and contaminated food. Rats also carry the fleas, mites, and ticks that create their own problems.
Disease transmission runs through what rats leave behind. Nesting material, droppings and urine in an attic or garage, gnawed food packaging, contaminated countertops, and the fleas that leave a dead or displaced rat looking for a new host. That’s why cleanup needs to be done carefully. Dry sweeping or vacuuming droppings puts particles into the air, so the recommended approach is ventilating the space, wearing gloves and a mask, dampening the material with disinfectant before wiping, and bagging it.
Mice can fit through holes the size of dimes. For rats, it’s more like the size of a quarter, but they can chew through wood, soft metals, and even concrete to widen smaller holes. Common ways they enter homes include foundation cracks, door gaps, garage doors, and every spot where a pipe or cable passes through a wall.
To clear rats from your space, you’ll need to first find out how they’re getting in. Then you’ll need to use traps and bait stations to clear what’s inside. After you do that, seal entry points with chew-resistant materials. Outside, trim tree limbs away from the roof, pick up any fallen fruit, secure trash, and thin out dense vegetation. But all that said, if you have a rodent infestation, we strongly recommend contacting a professional.
If you have signs of rats in your attic or walls, Mosquito Squad of Los Angeles can help. Mosquito Squad's assessment pinpoints how rats are getting in. Removal is paired with exclusion services and annual inspections. Monthly rodent protection is also available through Complete Home & Yard coverage.
