Rodents aren’t picky about where they take up residence. They can be found in well-maintained homes, as well as in yards with overgrown vegetation and homes with cluttered living spaces. As long as they have water, shelter and food, rats will survive.

Here are a few tell-tale signs that rodents have taken up residence (or are frequent visitors) in your home:

• Droppings- Rat droppings (feces) are usually signs of significant rodent activity. The droppings are randomly scattered and will normally be found close to a rat runway, feeding location, or near shelter. They are dark in color, spindle shaped, and between ½ - ¾ inch in size.

• Gnawing- A rat’s incisors never stop growing! Rats must continuously gnaw on things to keep their teeth a manageable length. If they stopped gnawing, their teeth would grow to a point where they would never be able to eat, resulting in death. You may hear gnawing in the walls or find items around your home that have gnaw marks on them when you have a rodent problem.

• Odor- Homes with rat infestations tend to have a pungent musty odor. This smell is a result of droppings and urine left behind by these pesky invaders. Even worse, though, is the smell of a rodent that has died in the walls of your home after ingesting poison.This smell may take days or even weeks to dissipate. We do not recommend using rodenticides, however, because of the danger they pose to family pets and wildlife. To learn more about effective rodent trapping visit our website.

• Grease marks- Rats have poor eyesight and thus use their whiskers to help guide them along walls. As a result, their fur will come in contact with baseboards leaving behind greasy rub marks. You can also find rub marks around access points such as broken vent screens.

• Noises at night- Rats are nocturnal animals so you are most likely to hear activity at night. Scratching and gnawing sounds are commonly heard in walls, cabinets, and ceilings. Another common sound is the pitter patter of their little feet as they scurry around the attic or on the roof.