This rat obviously had easy ways to climb up and down the wall with the wires but it just naturally expired and died down this wall.
Roof rat nest in wall.
I ve cut open walls at several homes and found rat nests inside with many baby rats.
Roof rats prefer to build their nests and live in dense cover and shadows of thick shrubbery vine covered trees power lines and fences.
Thick vegetation that grows over fences and utility lines.
They can also be found under in and around structures as well as in piles of wood or debris.
Hidden rats living in wall voids and hollow ceilings can continue an infestation even after all the visible nests are gone.
Roof rats shred paper fabric and insulation to build their nests.
They may collect pine branches.
Here s a photo of a dead rat down a wall.
Generally preferring sheltered or covered habitats roof rats are attracted to lush landscapes dense vegetation and fruit trees.
How do roof rats make nests.
Unlike other rat species roof rats are also good climbers and build nests above ground not underground in burrows.
Since roof rats can have multiple nests removing one is no guarantee that the problem is resolved.
Indoors roof rats like to build nests in the upper areas of the home where it s kept warm by rising heat.
They may chew the entrance hole and top edges of the nestbox roof.
Roof rats generally use a bare nestbox or sleep on a nest made by a bird.
Some other common outdoor nest locations include the following places.
The dead fronds of thick palm trees.
Deterring mice and rats from a bluebird trail.
Outdoors you can find roof rats nesting in trees shrubs wood piles and dense vegetation.