Do you hear scratching sounds at night, or are you seeing small, dark brown droppings around the home? If you do, it might mean that you have a rat infestation. However, rats may leave a lot of other signs around the home, and you need to keep an eye out for these signs in order to be able to remove an infestation early on, and avoid having to deal with all the trouble that rats cause. Here are some of the signs to keep an eye out for if you suspect that you have rats in your home:
Rat droppings
Rat droppings look like black rice, and a single rat can produce as many as 40 droppings per night. This is usually their main giveaway, but the droppings are often located in hard to spot areas, such as behind furniture, or under clutter. Make sure to check in these areas if you are looking for signs of a rat infestation.
Rub marks
Rats are shy animals, and they have poor eyesight, so they will often stay very close to the walls as they travel through a building. On top of that, their fur is greasy and oily, so they will leave stains as they run against the walls.
Scratching sounds
Another common sign of a rat infestation is hearing scratching or squeaking signs at night. Rats are nocturnal creatures, so homeowners will often detect an infestation in the dead of night, as rats scurry around looking for food and water.
Rat holes
You may find rat holes either in your yard, or in your home. Rats are excellent burrowers, and when they are outdoors, they will burrow into the ground. Indoors, they will gnaw holes in the wall and build their nests inside. Keep an eye out for these holes.
Nests of Rats
You can find rat nests in attics, lofts, basements, under eaves, and inside wall cavities. You can also determine that you have an infestation if you see shredded paper, insulation, and other similar materials that rats use to make their nests.
Footprints
In dusty areas, rats leave footprints and tail marks. You can sprinkle fine flour or talc at the location where you found the footprints, and then check the next day to see if any new tracks showed up.
If you notice any of these signs it’s important to call a pest control pro right away. Rats not only spread diseases, they also damage the buildings that they infest, and they reproduce very quickly. Contact us today and we will help you get rid of the rad infestation in your home.
