What to do if you see a rat?

Rats are one of the most common urban pests that can invade homes and businesses. If you spot a rat, it is important to take action right away to get rid of it and prevent further infestations. Here is a comprehensive guide on what to do if you see a rat in your home or business.

Table of Contents

Why are rats a problem?

Rats are more than just a nuisance. They can cause considerable damage by gnawing through wood, drywall, electrical wires, and more. Rats also spread diseases through their urine and droppings. Some of the diseases rats can transmit include:

Salmonella
Leptospirosis
Rat-bite fever

Hantavirus
Plague

Rats are adaptable and intelligent rodents that can find their way into homes and businesses through the smallest of openings. Once inside, they can breed rapidly. A single pair of rats can produce up to 2,000 offspring in a year!

Signs of a rat infestation

Watch out for these common signs that may indicate a rat infestation:

Droppings – Dark pellet-shaped droppings along baseboards, in cupboards, attics, etc.
Rub marks – Greasy rub marks along walls and rafters from their fur rubbing against surfaces.

Tracks – Footprints or tail drag marks in dust.
Burrows – Small holes dug into soil outside foundations.
Chewing damage – Irregular gnaw marks on wood, wiring, boxes, etc.

Sounds – Rustling noises from rats moving or scratching within walls and ceilings.
Odors – Foul ammonia-like scent from urine and droppings.

If you notice any of these signs, it likely indicates a rat problem. The sooner you can take action, the better.

What to do if you spot a rat

If you actually see a live rat, here are the steps to take:

Stay calm – Although seeing a rat can give you a fright, try not to make sudden motions or loud noises that may scare the rat into hiding or running away. You want to keep track of where it goes.
Watch where it runs – Observe the rat and pinpoint where it runs off to. Take note if it disappears into a hole in the wall, beneath the fridge, under a cabinet, etc. This will help you find its point of entry later.

Deep clean the area – Thoroughly clean and sanitize any areas where you spotted the rat with disinfectant. This will eliminate contaminants from urine and droppings that could transmit disease.
Search for entry points – Check along baseboards, under and behind appliances, around pipes, and other openings. Look for rat droppings, rub marks, burrows, and other signs near potential entry points.
Seal openings – Use steel wool, caulk, concrete, hardware cloth, or metal kick plates to seal any openings wider than 1/4 inch that could allow rats to get in.

Inspect both inside and outside your property

To find out how rats are getting in, you need to thoroughly inspect both the interior and exterior of your property. Here are some key areas to check:

Inside your home or business

Attic – Look for openings along the eaves and roofline.
Basement – Check floor-wall joints, utility openings, cracks in the foundation, and windows.

Doors – Inspect gaps beneath doors and around pipes, wires, and vents that pass through doors.
Windows – Check for damaged screens and gaps around pipes and wires.
Kitchen – Look under and behind appliances and along cabinets for gaps.

Bathrooms – Inspect under sinks and behind toilets.
Closets – Look for openings along walls and floors.
Fireplace – Check the hearth and damper.

Walls – Look for cracks, loose siding, gaps around pipes, etc.
Attached garages – Look along the walls, doors, and ceilings for gaps.

Outside your home or business

Foundation – Check for cracks, loose mortar, and openings where utilities enter.

Roofline – Look for gaps along eaves, vents, and openings for wires.
Landscaping – Inspect for burrow holes around plantings.
Sheds – Look closely around doors and where the walls meet the ground.

Fences – Check for gaps and dig-unders, especially where fences connect to the house.
Decks – Inspect expansion joints, spaces between boards, and gaps around pipes.
Skirting on mobile homes – Check for tears and gaps around utility conduits.

Yard – Look for piles of lumber, debris, junk cars, and other clutter that could harbor rats.

Sanitation measures to discourage rats

To make your property less inviting to rats, focus on sanitation measures like:

Regularly clean up any pet food after pets finish eating.

Sweep up any crumbs and spills.
Take out garbage frequently.
Keep trash bins away from the house.

Pick up fallen fruit from gardens.
Trim back branches and vegetation touching the house.
Move woodpiles and other clutter farther from the house.

Fix leaky plumbing and don’t let water accumulate.

By eliminating food sources and hiding spots, you can make your home less hospitable to rats.

Non-toxic pest control options

For minor rat problems, some non-toxic methods to try first include:

Snap traps – Set snap traps along baseboards and common rat runways. Bait traps with peanut butter, bacon, or cotton balls soaked in vanilla extract.
Glue boards – These contain sticky adhesives to trap rats as they cross over.
Electronic traps – Devices that deliver a lethal shock to kill rats upon contact.

Ultrasonic repellents – Emit high-frequency sound waves that deter rats but cannot be heard by humans.
Repellents – Products with castor oil, mint, capsaicin, or sulfur create scents that rats dislike.
Peppermint oil – Rats don’t like the smell. Soak cotton balls and place near potential entry points.

For bigger infestations, however, you may need stronger chemical poisons or fumigants to fully eradicate the rats on your property.

When to call a professional exterminator

If DIY methods aren’t resolving your rat problem, it’s best to call a professional pest control company. Exterminators have the proper training and commercial-strength products to eliminate a rat infestation. They also know how to find sneaky entry points that you may miss.

Signs that indicate it’s time to call in the professionals include:

Seeing multiple live rats in your home or business
Spotting rats repeatedly after trapping efforts
Noticing extensive damage from rat chewing and gnawing

Finding numerous droppings and rub marks throughout your building
Being unable to locate or seal rat entry points
Smelling foul odors from large amounts of rat urine and feces

A reputable pest control company will conduct a thorough inspection, seal entry points, set out traps and bait stations, and follow up to ensure the infestation has been fully eliminated.

Prevent rats from returning

After getting rid of rats on your property, take these steps to prevent new infestations in the future:

Seal all possible entryways with durable materials like concrete, steel wool, hardware cloth, or metal.

Install door sweeps and weatherstripping to seal gaps around doors and windows.
Use gripper rods to seal openings in soffits and roof vents.
Keep vegetation, shrubs, and branches trimmed back from the exterior.

Move woodpiles, debris, and garbage away from foundations.
Store pet food in sealed metal containers and cleanup spills promptly.
Inspect periodically for new signs of rat activity.

Set traps or bait stations at possible entry points to catch rats before infestations start.

With diligent prevention and monitoring, you can help ensure rats don’t become a problem again in the future.

Conclusion

Discovering rats on your property is an unpleasant surprise, but taking swift and thorough action is key. Sealing up their entry points, implementing sanitation measures, deploying traps, and calling in professional help as needed can eliminate a rat problem. Be vigilant about prevention in the future and don’t hesitate to call in the experts when dealing with a stubborn infestation. With the right strategy, you can reclaim your home from invading rats and prevent them from returning.