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They’ll go out on a limb for your house
I’ve talked a lot about rodents recently. While they are not structurally destructive they give home owners the willies more than anything else! We love to plant vegetation around our houses to beautify our yards. New construction rarely has this problem because everything planted is immature. After about ten years trees have grown tall, vines have worked their way onto the siding and limbs have stretched out and touched your roof. When was the last time you walked around your house to see how the maturing vegetation is contacting your roof and siding? I want to warn you that rats will gladly go out on a limb for your house! I have found countless homes with the rodent droppings and trails through attic insulation. As I open the attic scuttle hole cover the rodent smell is distinctive. Rodents most often make the trek from the outdoors into the safety of our attic through soffit vents via tree limbs contacting the house.
The best solution is to keep tree branches trimmed back at least 3 feet. If the tree is taller than your home I would recommend doubling that distance to 6 feet. Also, do not let vines like ivy grow on your siding and even be careful if it is trained along a trellis. These are ladders to the upper reaches of your house. Among other issues they provide a way for rodents to move to the top of the food chain in the secure environment of your attic.
