As of late September 2026, the orange tree in my backyard here in Riverside is doing what it does every fall: dropping fruit faster than I pick it up. The ones that land in the shade go soft and split, and for years I treated them as a chore for some weekend, a little mess under the branches and nothing more. That’s the usual thinking about fallen citrus here in California. It looks untidy, so it can wait.
The county’s vector control program reads that same patch of ground differently. Its rat control guide names the roof rat as the major problem species in Riverside County, says the roof rat prefers to feed on the fruits, nuts, ivy and pet food often found in residential backyards, and puts oranges first on its list of what roof rats like to eat. It also says breeding peaks in rats often occur in the spring and fall, and that rats can bear 6 to 8 young as frequently as every four weeks. Fall is now.
Have a landscaper clear the fallen oranges.You describe the fallen fruit under your tree, and local landscapers who take the job call to discuss it.“I need someone to clear the fallen oranges under my tree.”→Free for homeowners · Your number stays private
What the University of California’s pest program says
The University of California’s Integrated Pest Management program, in its guidelines on rats, is plain about where control starts: “Sanitation is fundamental to rat control and must be ongoing.” Its sanitation steps include removing fallen fruit and nuts that have dropped from trees…