Signs of Rats in Your Home

It seems the second Labor Day is over Halloween decorations come out. While a fake rat may be a fun Halloween décor choice, a real rat in your home is a serious problem. It is important for you to be able to recognize the tell-tale signs of a rat as well as know three practical steps to take to keep them out of your home.

While we often think of rats as an urban problem, houses in the suburbs are not immune. Rats may be more plentiful in cities, but they are found in suburban and rural areas as well. It is not just over-grown and unkempt yards that attract them. Some items in a very well-maintained yard may entice these pests including gardens with vegetables, bird feeders, and compost piles. Once there, they may seek to find a warmer shelter, and your home could be exactly what they are looking for.

If you are inspecting your home during the day, you are unlikely to find an actual rat. Seeing rats during daylight hours is often a sign of a significant infestation. You are much more likely to find signs that a rat has been in your home. These signs include finding rat droppings. Rat droppings are dark brown or black pellets, approximately 1/2 to 3/4 inch long. The droppings look like mice droppings but are larger.  You may also find gnaw marks on food packaging or wood items around the house. This time of year, you might think that your pets have gotten into the Halloween spirit and are barking at ghosts, but they might really be barking at rats. Dogs will often display unusual behavior like agitation or barking when there are rats in the home.

If you want to keep rats out there are a few important steps to take. First, exclusion! Seal cracks and holes in your house using steel wool, caulk, or metal sheeting. Rats can chew through these items, but they find them slightly more difficult than other materials. Also remember, a rat can get through a hole the size of a quarter, so make sure to fill all the holes you see. 
Next, eliminate easy food sources. Inside, it is important to store food properly in airtight, metal, or glass containers with tight-fitting lids. The term food includes items not eaten by humans like bird food as well as pet food. Rats can feed on small amounts of food so make sure to clean up crumbs and refrain from leaving dirty dishes in the sink overnight. Outside of your home, make sure to secure garbage in tightly sealed metal bins.

Lastly, remove their hiding places. Rats do not like to be out in the open. Inside, declutter both piles of paper and clothing. These items provide both hiding places and material rats can use for nests. Outside, trim vegetation. Trees, shrubs and bushes should be trimmed away from your house. Leaf piles and other yard debris should be removed or placed at the far corners of your property as they can serve as good hiding places for rats.

Although rats prefer clutter, they can be found in well maintained and clutter free homes so do not be ashamed if you suspect rats. Instead, address the problem right away. Rats can multiply quickly so bringing in Cowleys as soon as possible is the right course of action.