The 1971 thriller movie Willard, and its sequel the 1972 movie Ben, were about a human that befriended rats. Rats are intelligent and social. While certain species of rats can make good pets, others aren’t welcome in homes, barns and other properties.
Since rats can squeeze through holes as small as a quarter they frequently can be found in many places where they are not welcome.1
Types of Rats
Arizona has three main species of rats – the roof rat, the Norway rat (also known as the brown rat) and the packrat (also known as the wood rat).
Rats’ teeth grow constantly so they have to chew constantly to keep their teeth from overgrowing. They can chew through fabric, plastic, wood, and even metal. Rats are mainly focused on two activities: eating and mating.2
Rat Behavior
Most do their foraging during the evening and night hours and rats, being social creatures, like to stick together in groups called packs. Rats are very adaptable and eat most anything, which is why they survive and thrive in forest and fields as well as cities, farms and most other environments.
As a species they are considered omnivores, eating both plant and animal matter. Their digestive systems can process plants, seeds, fruits, insects and even small animals.3 They have a keen sense of smell which helps them forage for food.
In urban and suburban areas, rats feed off the garbage humans discard. Rats build nests to house their offspring, and female brown rats can produce up to 2,000 offspring each year, having up to 22 babies at a time starting when they are just three months old.4 Rat babies are born just 21 to 26 days after the rat is impregnated.
Do you have roof rats?
The most prevalent rat in Arizona is the roof rat, which is common in both urban and suburban areas of the state. As the name implies, roof rats love higher elevations, often using trees, electric transmission wires, and other high objects to move from place to place.
As excellent climbers they can be found on rooftops, in citrus trees, palm trees and dense landscaping.5 They nest in elevated spaces like attics, roof rafters and wall voids. They are most active in late spring through the fall, but with Arizona’s climate they can be active all year long.
Roof rats are about 6 to 8 inches in length and have a hairless tail that is about as long as their body. They are thinner than a packrat and live in colonies of about 10 and each female rat can produce up to 40 offspring each year.6
Other Rats in Arizona to Look for
The Norway rat, or brown rat, is also common in Arizona. Brown rats are bigger than roof rats. They can grow to be about 11 inches long, with 4 to 10 inch tails. Brown rats multiply quickly and prefer to eat human discards from cupboards and garbage cans primarily.
They are particularly harmful when spotted in homes, garages and other areas as they multiply quickly. For this reason waiting to deal with the problem is not the best option when brown rats are spotted.
Arizona is also home to the packrat or wood rat. They have large black eyes, big ears and a long hairy tail. They are the largest common Arizona rat, ranging from about 15 to 18.5 inches in length.
The packrat loves to collect things, especially shiny objects, and store them in nests which they often build in walls and attics. They are known for lining their nests with materials soaked with urine and fecal matter so they pose a health hazard when they are living in close proximity to humans.
Why Fast, Professional Rat Removal Matters
Identifying the type of rat that is infesting a structure is important to eliminating the pest problem. A professional wildlife removal service can make this identification and craft a plan to rid a property of these pests as well as make sure that the rats don’t return.
It is important that homeowners take action as soon as pests are detected as their colonies can grow rapidly. If you spot rodent droppings, chewed wood or other materials or hear scratching and movement, act quickly to contact a professional for assistance.
Critter Evictors in Scottsdale is a trusted wildlife removal company that safely and responsibly removes all types of pests, rodents and large critters from any property throughout Maricopa County.
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1 45 Facts About Rats by Owen Fairclough, 10/11/2024
Link: https://ohmyfacts.com/animals/45-facts-about-rats/
2 Rats: Facts About These Thin-Tailed Medium-Size Rodents by Alina Bradford, 4/27/2023
Link: https://www.livescience.com/52342-rats.html
3 What Do Rats Eat? 20 Food They Love the Most by Kelvine, 11/13/2025
Link: https://birdsology.com/what-do-rats-eat-20-foods-they-love-the-most/
4, 5 It’s Roof Rat Season in Arizona: Here’s What to Know About the Rodents by Tiffany Acosta, 1/16/2026
Link: https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/life/2026/01/15/how-to-get-rid-of-roof-rats/88146349007/
6 Rats in Arizona: Types, Facts & Tips for Homeowners by Ed Malaker, 10/6/2025
Link: https://homegrail.com/rats-in-arizona/