Dragging the weighted black bait box out from the brush with his boots, Ryan Campbell wiped a few beads of sweat from his ...

No one wants to deal with this scenario, but there are some surprisingly common roof pest infestations that can plague your home, and not understanding them can cause further dread, or even panic.

Here's everything to know about roof rats, from how to tell if you have them to what attracts them to how to keep them out of your yard and house.

Roof rats are common throughout the state but Zach Jolley with Lunar Pest Control says the East Valley is seeing a huge boom in their population, and their calls for service are also through the roof.

Here's everything to know about roof rats, from how to tell if you have them to what attracts them to how to keep them out of your yard and house.

This process requires patience and a little know-how. “Rats (especially roof rats) are wary of new objects, new foods, or environmental changes,” DIY Pest Control reported.

Birth control for rats, Valley-based company looks to resolve rodent problems A Phoenix-based company is helping eliminate the roof rat problem, one drink at a time.

A successful rat control strategy typically includes three elements: sanitation, building construction and rodent proofing, and, ultimately, population control.

Norway rats measure up to 16 inches with their tail and live in male-dominated groups, according to AAI Pest Control. Roof rats are slightly bigger, measuring up to 18 inches.

The Leptospira bacterium thrives in heat, and a warming planet gives it a home among New York's rats. “Rat control is no less important" in the 21st century, Vasan said.

For Star subscribers: Pest control experts are seeing an alarming increase in roof rats across midtown, a problem they say will likely emanate to other areas of Tucson.