

In most scenarios, people fighting with pack rat infestations haven’t actually done anything wrong. They will grab loose twigs, sticks, and shiny objects around your home and cram them into a confined space for extra warmth, comfort, and protection. Your property just makes it easier for them. If your home, garage, or shed wasn’t there, pack rats would do a bit more work and live under rocks, in caves, or at the base of trees. Pack rats get their name due to their ability to build nests out of almost anything. Pack rats are opportunistic and are crafty rodents that will find a weak spot in your foundation or walls to make a home in your attic or basement. You have a pack rat problem because you exist. The last thing you need in your home is a combination platter of pests! Why do I have a pack rat problem? Fleas and ticks bring with them a whole new layer of danger. Thirdly, most rodents provide a home to flea and tick populations. Additionally, the living conditions of pack rats can cause mold, bacteria, and fungi to grow that may cause serious respiratory issues in humans and pet. They’re definitely more afraid of you than you are of them, at least for most people! Pack rats do carry a number of diseases that can be spread to pets and people if they’re exposed to the toxins.

They’re not going to attack you in your sleep or charge at you if they see you. Pack rats, like all rodents, aren’t a vicious threat to humans. All pack rats are significantly larger than mice and slightly larger than Norway Rats. Every pack rat type looks similar, bearing long tails, big black eyes, and ears that seem too large for their heads. It’s a term used to describe all of the rodents that fall in the genus Neotoma. Pack rats, sometimes referred to as wood rats, aren’t just a single species of rat.
