Does my Home Have a Rat Infestation?

Rats: a creature known for bringing about the Black Death in the 14th century and killing millions as a result. Fortunately, modern medicine has made rats much less of a threat. However, rats like to sneak into homes in search of food and shelter. It’s safe to say no one wants to share their home with a rat infestation. Let Boz Pest Control teach you how to identify a rat infestation so you can get it cleared up.

Mouse or rat? And which kind of rat?

As well as the common house mouse (which averages three to four inches as an adult,) you also have to worry about rats. Just like mice, rats can invade your home and cause all kinds of problems. There are two common kinds of rats in the United States you might have to worry about:

• The Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus) can be found all across the U.S. These rats have a large and bulky body covered in coarse, brown fur, sport a scaly, short tail, and can grow to 16 inches long. Despite the name, it’s believed that the Norway Rat originated from China. Norway rats are also known as brown rats.
• The Roof Rat (Rattus Rattus) makes its home in the southeastern states and western coastal regions, where it can be found high in trees and homes. They’re sleeker and slimmer than Norway Rats, have long hairless tails, and, despite their common name of black rats, can vary in color from black to light brown.

The signs of a rat infestation.

If rats are in your home, there are several signs that can tell you there’s a rat infestation:

• Droppings. Compared to mouse droppings, rat droppings are half an inch or longer. Norway rat droppings are blunt at both ends while roof rats have pointed droppings.
• Urine smells. Rats pee a lot, and it has a strong, musky smell like ammonia. It’s easier to smell with larger infestations and can linger for a while after the infestation is gone.
• Grease and gnaw marks. Rats are greasy and tend to leave behind marks when they rub up against walls and floors. You might also see places where rats have gnawed or scratched at the walls.
• Scratching noises. When rats are moving around, you might be able to hear them in your house. Since rats are nocturnal, you can most often hear them at night.
• Nests. Rats will shred various materials in order to make their nests. Common nesting areas include lofts, suspended ceilings, cavity walls, under floorboards, behind fridges, under stoves, and in cabinets.
• Foot and tail prints. Rats can leave behind foot and tail prints in dustier parts of your house. Don’t have a good dusty area to examine? Sprinkle flour or some other powder on the floor before going to bed and check for fresh tracks in the morning.
• Pet behavior. If you have a pet, it might hear or smell a rat infestation before you do. You might notice them barking, pawing, or staring at low-clearance pieces of furniture.
• Rats, dead or alive: Rats like to be hidden, but may get forced into the open as the population increases. Seeing rats out in the open is a good sign you have a full-blown infestation.

Why should I choose Boz Pest Control when fighting a rat infestation?

Since 1988, Boz Pest Control has helped people in the North Shore area keep their homes pest-free. We have over 30 years of experience dealing with residential and commercial rodent infestations, and all of our methods for rat removal have concern for the safety of you, your, home, and your pets. The bait stations we use to lure and kill rats is perfectly safe for children and pets while being 100% deadly to rats. If you need help with any pests on your property, call Boz Pest Control today!

North Shore Service Areas: