How to Get Rid Of Rats
[wtr-time] Updated for November, 2019
Rats. Just the mere mention of the word can make you shiver. Rats and mice are probably the most common household pest there is, and it seems like humans are constantly working to try and get rid of them. While it may seem like mice and rats might be the same animal, they are not. Rats are bigger, stronger and can cause much more destruction than mice.
[wtr-time] Updated for November, 2019

Rat Sounds
Rats do squeak, hiss and chatter, but in your home it’s more likely you’ll hear them scratching and scampering around in the attic and walls. They do have a variety of squeaks and chirps from short and high-pitched, to long and consistent, depending on their emotion.
Rat Tracks
Rats leave behind a four-toed front and five-toed back pattern; their front paws are broad and almost look like a flower burst while their hind paws are much longer and narrow. Their hind paws will generally fall side-by-side, while their front feet—if visible—hardly align.
Rat Poop
Constant eats, rats leave a wide assortment of brown, pellet shaped droppings scattered everywhere they go, usually measuring three-eighths of an inch long and one-eighth of a inch in diameter. The tips are rounded and they tend to bulge in the center./p>
Identify
Rats are plentiful—wildlife experts estimate that there is one rat for every person living in the United States. Anywhere you find humans you can find rats. The rats found in the United States will typically fall into three categories.
Common Species
Norway Rat
Appearance:
- 12 to 18 inches long, six to nine inches of that is tail, weighs a pound or less
- Coarse brown to dark gray fur, gray, grayish-brown or white bellies
- Small eyes, naked ears, scaly tails
Behavior:
- Found throughout the United States
- Builds nest and burrows in the ground near humans
- Eats grains, meats, fish, nuts, fruit, needs up to an ounce of water daily
Roof Rat
Appearance:
- Long, thin brown and black bodies, gray, white or black bellies
- Large eyes and ears, scaly tails
- 16 to 20 inches long, six to eight inches of that is tail, weighs five to 10 ounces
Behavior:
- Found in coastal states, lower, southern part of the United States
- Live in colonies, nest in the upper part of structures or trees
- Eats fruit, nuts, seeds, berries
Cotton Rat
Appearance:
- About 10 inches long, four inches of that is the tail, weighs less than six ounces
- Fairly large black or gray bodies
- Large eyes, large furry ears
Behavior:
- Found in the southern part of United States
- Lives in overgrown grassy areas
- Eats sugar cane, fruits, berries and nuts
Common Locations
Roof Rats
Roof rats are also known as black rats or ship rats. They are thought to have originated in Southeast Asia but were commonly found on early sailing ships and are thought to have arrived in North America that way. You can find them in the lower half of the East Coast, through the Gulf Coast states up to Arkansas, along the Pacific Coast and in Hawaii. They prefer warmer climates, which could be the reason these rats haven’t spread throughout the entire United States.
Treating Your Property For Rats
After you have gone through the prevention steps and removed all and any items of rat attraction it’s time to move on to treatment. The most effective methods of getting rid of rats is trapping them and/or setting rodent baits.
Rat Problem?
The life span of a roof rat is usually only a year but can produce as many as 40 new offspring.
Breeding usually occurs in the spring and fall but depending on how warm the area is in their location, it can happen year-round. Baby roof rats are born less than 25 days after the female becomes pregnant and they develop quickly. Two weeks after birth, baby rats are foraging outside the nest. By three months of age, they are entirely independent and can begin breeding at that time. Female rats typically have three or more litters a year. The life span of a roof rat is usually only a year but can produce as many as 40 new offspring, which is the main reason the roof rat population is so hard to control.
Norway Rat
The Norway rat is known by many different names: brown rat, sewer rat, house rat, barn rat, gray rat, and wharf rat. They are native to northern China. It was introduced to the rest of the world at the beginning of the 18th century through international trade. It first showed up in the United States in 1775, unintentionally brought to North America by settlers arriving on ships from Europe. Now, they can be found all across the United States. In fact, you can find the Norway rat on every continent except Antarctica.
If enough food is available, Norway rats can breed throughout the year, but most births occur in the spring and fall.
If enough food is available, Norway rats can breed throughout the year, but most births occur in the spring and fall. Baby Norway rats are born less than 25 days after a female becomes pregnant. The young are weaned within four weeks and leave the nest at three months old. Female rats can have up to 12 litters a year, producing around eight babies per litter.
Cotton Rat
Cotton rats call the southern United States home. They live in parts of Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Tennessee, through Florida and the Gulf states and up the Rio Grande Valley. They nest in grassy fields, meadows, cactus patches, marshy areas, fence rows, and weed-filled ditches.
Like other types of rats, cotton rats breed throughout the year. Females give birth about 27 days after becoming pregnant. Babies are weaned in two weeks and on their own by the time they are three months old. Females can have several litters a year and have up to 15 babies per litter.
Why They’re Here
Rats have keen senses except they have poor vision. They are considered to be color-blind and only respond to degrees of light or dark. Norway, roof, and cotton rats are generally nocturnal, becoming active around dusk. But it’s not unusual to see them out during the daytime. They are incredibly adaptable to their environment and don’t roam far from home base for food or water—usually no more than 300 feet away.
Norway, roof and cotton rats live among humans because there is an abundance of food and shelter. You may not realize it, but you can find these rodents in subways, office buildings, and homes, as well as corn and grain fields or salt marshes. Anywhere they can find food, they will—and they eat a lot. Rats can eat a third of their body weight and drink up to an ounce of water every day.
They often take shelter in homes in the fall when food sources outside start becoming scarce. You may find them nesting in your basement or attic. But they don’t need a large open space to get in—rats can get inside through a hole about the size of a quarter. You may also see holes in your yard or near your foundation. Norway rats burrow their way through the ground, which can often be their way into your home.
Cotton rats are not a farmer’s friend. They can cause significant damage to alfalfa, grains, vegetables, peanuts, fruit crops, sweet potatoes, and sugar beets. They can wreak real havoc on sugar cane and melons.
Roof rats are considered food hoarders. They stash nuts and seeds and prefer to eat in a sheltered or hidden environment. But they can move fast and on high ground—often using overhead utility lines as a travel route.
Rat Sounds
Rats do squeak, hiss and chatter, but in your home it’s more likely you’ll hear them scratching and scampering around in the attic and walls. They do have a variety of squeaks and chirps from short and high-pitched, to long and consistent, depending on their emotion.
Rat Tracks
Rats leave behind a four-toed front and five-toed back pattern; their front paws are broad and almost look like a flower burst while their hind paws are much longer and narrow. Their hind paws will generally fall side-by-side, while their front feet—if visible—hardly align.
Rat Poop
Constant eats, rats leave a wide assortment of brown, pellet shaped droppings scattered everywhere they go, usually measuring three-eighths of an inch long and one-eighth of a inch in diameter. The tips are rounded and they tend to bulge in the center./p>
Inspect
How Can I Tell If I Have Rats?
The first clue that a rat is invading your space is noise. You will hear the rats scurrying around in your attic and scratching at the walls, mostly at night. Fresh droppings are also another sign. Rat droppings are dark but shiny, moist, pellet-shaped, blunt at both ends and about the size of an olive pit. Droppings will most likely be near food packages, in drawers or cupboards, under sinks and other hidden areas. You will find the largest number of droppings where the rats are nesting or feeding. They also leave behind rub marks, that look like an accumulation of dirt and grease.
Look for gnaw marks. Rats chew their way through life. You may find gnaw marks on wood, food packages, electrical wiring, insulation, ducts or plumbing. Rats holes are circular, usually about two or three inches in diameter and close to the floor.
If they’re using the inside of your home, basement or attic for a nest, you will find an accumulation of shredded paper, fabric, dried plant matter or other soft materials piled together for nesting purposes. They also leave behind a musky odor.
Rats are diggers, which means you will see burrows outside along ditches, walls or fences, as well as under building, garbage, woodpiles, concrete slabs, and plants. Rats are creatures of habit and follow the same routes when they make their rounds for food. They can create two-inch wide runways in the dirt or grass next to structures or fences.
Rats are nocturnal, so if you see a rat in or around the house during the day, that could be a sign of a substantial infestation.
Gather the Tools You’ll Need
Sturdy, rubber gloves – to inspect areas or remove dead rats
Ladder – to gain access to upper parts of your home for inspection
Flashlight – to be able to see into dark and small spaces
Traps – to set for catching rats
How to Steps for DIY Removal
Rats are disease-infected, destructive little creatures. Norway rats burrow in the ground and can cause significant damage to buildings and home foundations and slabs. Their digging can cause roads and railroad track beds to settle. Their gnawing can damage water pipes, electrical wires, doors, window sills, ceilings, and floors and they can tear up insulation all through your house. If they show up, you must get rid of them.
Seal up the holes
You’ll have to figure out how the rats are getting in your home. The holes and entry points can be tiny. So, you’ll need to do a thorough and detailed inspection of your property inside and outside. Check the roof, vents, walls, plumbing—everything. Seal up any holes and openings that are a half inch or bigger. Use heavy materials that rats cannot gnaw through, like concrete mortar, galvanized sheet metal, and heavy-gauge hardware cloth. For quick fixes, pieces of tin cut from coffee cans serve as great patches.
Replace any missing bricks and fill burrows or hole in your foundation with concrete. If you have a chimney, buy a professional wire chimney cap to put over it. It will need to be quarter inch wire mesh—any opening in the wire mesh bigger than a quarter inch won’t keep them out.
Treating Your Property For Rats
After you have gone through the prevention steps and removed all and any items of rat attraction it’s time to move on to treatment. The most effective methods of getting rid of rats is trapping them and/or setting rodent baits.
Rat Problem?
Rats often look for warm places to nest in the winter.
Rats often look for warm places to nest in the winter. So, it’s best to perform the inspection of your home in late summer or early fall before the temperatures begin to dip.
Set Traps
Many pest control professionals recommend snap traps to snare rats. You will find them at most home improvement stores, and you can buy them online, as well. Bait the trap with peanut butter, oats, cereal or even a small amount of tuna. Be careful not to use too much bait, because you don’t want the rat to be able to grab some of the food without triggering the trap. Check the trap every day, and if the bait hasn’t been eaten, replace it.
You will need to set several traps in the area because chances are there are several rats. Lay the traps at a right angle, close to walls with the bait side up against the wall. Rats are naturally cautious, so you may want to consider putting out bait a few times but not setting the trap. That will lower the rat’s guard and make it more comfortable to walk right onto the trap.
Check your traps on a regular basis. If you find a rat, you will need to properly dispose of it and clean up the area around it. Be sure and wear rubber gloves and protective clothing when doing this, since rats carry so many diseases.
Risks of Disease
Rats are full of parasites and diseases that can transfer to humans and animals. It’s best not to touch them or have them touch you. If they feel threatened, some rats may become aggressive and bite, scratch or chase you. In addition to leaving behind fleas and mites, there are several serious diseases they can spread.
The organism that causes the plague lives in roof rats.
Bubonic Plague
Roof rats spread the plague, though transmission is rare today. Cases still do occur in the United States every year, and it can be deadly if not treated with antibiotics. The organism that causes the plague lives in roof rats. Humans can become infected by handling an infected roof rat or by being bitten by fleas that have fed on infected roof rats.
Symptoms of Bubonic Plague develop within a week of transmission. Mayo Clinic says the first sign is a swollen lymph node in the groin, armpit or neck. It’s usually about the size of a chicken egg, and it’s tender and warm to the touch. Other symptoms include:
- Sudden onset of fever and chills
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
If you have these symptoms and have touched, or think you may have come in contact with a rat, you should immediately seek medical attention. Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico are areas in the U.S. where the plague has been known to occur.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is contracted by breathing in dust contaminated with rat urine or droppings or coming in direct contact with rat urine or droppings.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is contracted by breathing in dust contaminated with rat urine or droppings or coming in direct contact with rat urine or droppings. The cotton rat spreads it, and it occurs mainly in the southeast.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says symptoms can show up between one and eight weeks of contamination and include:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Muscle aches, especially in thighs, hips, back, and shoulders
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Chills
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
HPS can be deadly. The CDC says it has a mortality rate of less than 40 percent.
Leptospirosis
The bacteria transmits by eating food or drinking water contaminated by urine from infected rats. It’s also spread if contaminated water or soil comes in contact with your skin or mucous membranes. Leptospirosis can infect humans and animals.
It can take anywhere between two days and four weeks for you to get sick, but the illness will begin suddenly. Symptoms of Leptospirosis include:
- High fever
- Headache
- Chills
- Muscle aches
- Vomiting
- Jaundice
- Red eyes
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Rash
You can recover and then get sick again. The second time around can be much worse and can cause kidney or liver failure or meningitis.
You can recover and then get sick again. The second time around can be much worse and can cause kidney or liver failure or meningitis. It can take a few days or a few weeks to recover. Without treatment, it can take months.
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Refusal to eat
- Severe weakness
- Stiffness
- Severe muscle pain
Rat-Bite Fever
Rat-Bite Fever is a bacterium that’s transmitted through bites or scratches from an infected rat, handling a dead rat, or eating or drinking food or water contaminated with rat feces. Symptoms usually occur within days and include:
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Rash on hands, feet
Treatment of Rat-Bite Fever is highly effective, but without antibiotics, the bacteria can be deadly.
Rat Sounds
Rats do squeak, hiss and chatter, but in your home it’s more likely you’ll hear them scratching and scampering around in the attic and walls. They do have a variety of squeaks and chirps from short and high-pitched, to long and consistent, depending on their emotion.
Rat Tracks
Rats leave behind a four-toed front and five-toed back pattern; their front paws are broad and almost look like a flower burst while their hind paws are much longer and narrow. Their hind paws will generally fall side-by-side, while their front feet—if visible—hardly align.
Rat Poop
Constant eats, rats leave a wide assortment of brown, pellet shaped droppings scattered everywhere they go, usually measuring three-eighths of an inch long and one-eighth of a inch in diameter. The tips are rounded and they tend to bulge in the center./p>
Prevent
Prevention Methods
Eliminate water sources
Rats need plenty of water every day to survive. If you have areas around your home—either human-made or natural—that hold water, you may want to consider draining them and getting rid of them. Fix any leak you may have quickly, cover hot tubs and turn off water hoses at the spigot when you aren’t using them.
Secure your trash cans
As with any rodent, rats like to go through the trash in their search for food. Make sure your outdoor trash cans have sturdy, tight lids to keep rats from getting inside.
Trim back the trees
Rats are excellent climbers, so keep your trees trimmed back several feet away from your roofline and utility wires. Maintaining the trees will keep rats from being able to climb the tree and gain access to your roof or attic.
Get rid of ivy
Ivy is beautiful on your outdoor exteriors, but it can serve as a ladder for rats. If you can live without it, remove it. Otherwise, it is a good way for rats to climb up and gain entry into your home.
Consider tree guards
If you have several trees in your landscaping around your house, consider adding tree guards around them. Tree guards are cone-shaped and made of heavy plastic or metal. When secured around the trunk of a tree, they will keep rats from climbing up.
Block ground access
If they can’t climb in, they may try to tunnel in. Laying a patio or installing paving stones flush with the wall of your house can deter them. The farther a rat has to tunnel to get in, the more likely they are to give up and move on.
Dig a trench
You can dig a small, shallow trench around your house if it is on a slab. Put rebar inside the trench and cover it up with dirt or concrete. Rats can’t gnaw through rebar.
Treating Your Property For Rats
After you have gone through the prevention steps and removed all and any items of rat attraction it’s time to move on to treatment. The most effective methods of getting rid of rats is trapping them and/or setting rodent baits.
Rat Problem?
Rats like tall grass because it provides protection for them. Keeping your yard mowed helps.
Keep the yard mowed
Rats like tall grass because it provides protection for them. Keeping your yard mowed helps. If you own a lot of land around your home, it’s best to keep a wide area of it mowed so they won’t have anywhere to hide.
Keep the landscaping trimmed
Make sure to keep all bushes, shrubs, and flowers close to your home trimmed. Rats will often try to use them as cover or nests. It’s best to leave a space of about two feet between your house and anything you plant in flower or landscape beds. Don’t let piles of grass, tree trimmings or leaves sit for too long. The piles make great homes for rats.
Maintain your property
Get rid of any junk in your yard that you don’t need or no longer works. Abandoned cars, old, broken appliances, and furniture can create great harbors for rats to hide and nest.
Store food properly
If you keep pet food outside, make sure to store it in a heavy-duty container that a rat can’t chew through, or take it in at night. Make sure food is adequately stored inside, as well.
Keep trash where it belongs
It’s important not to leave trash, garbage or junk piles laying around. Not only does it diminish the attractiveness of your property, but it’s also a nesting haven for rats. It provides the cover they need to nest and gives them close proximity to your home which can become their food source.
Pick up fallen fruit
If you have fruit trees, keep the fruit that falls to the ground picked up. That can be an easy food source for rats.
Check the garage door seal
Attached garages can become easy access points because the door usually doesn’t fit as tightly as other doors. Use a flashlight after dark and shine it along the perimeter of your garage door to see if there are any open spaces that might make it easy for a rat to get in and have it professionally repaired. If you store trash cans in the garage, make sure your containers are in good shape and have tight-fitting lids and don’t leave plastic trash bags in a garage. Rats can chew right through them.
Check your windows and doors
Make sure your windows and exterior doors fit properly and are weather-stripped. Look for holes in any window and door screens. If you find them, patch them.
Rat Sounds
Rats do squeak, hiss and chatter, but in your home it’s more likely you’ll hear them scratching and scampering around in the attic and walls. They do have a variety of squeaks and chirps from short and high-pitched, to long and consistent, depending on their emotion.
Rat Tracks
Rats leave behind a four-toed front and five-toed back pattern; their front paws are broad and almost look like a flower burst while their hind paws are much longer and narrow. Their hind paws will generally fall side-by-side, while their front feet—if visible—hardly align.
Rat Poop
Constant eats, rats leave a wide assortment of brown, pellet shaped droppings scattered everywhere they go, usually measuring three-eighths of an inch long and one-eighth of a inch in diameter. The tips are rounded and they tend to bulge in the center./p>
When to Call a Professional
If you don’t want to even think about trapping a rat yourself, then you’ll need to call a professional right away. If you have a large rat infestation, you will more than likely have to call a pest control professional to take care of the problem and the cleanup.
If rats have caused significant structural damage, you may want to call a home inspection or repair company to figure out all that needs to be done and how to get it fixed. If rats have chewed or gnawed on electrical wiring, you may want to consider contacting an electrician. Rats have been known to cause fires with their damaging teeth.
Sources
https://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/pest-articles/rodents-101/
https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/rodents/roof-rats/
https://www.in.gov/isdh/23256.htm
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/plague/symptoms-causes/syc-20351291
https://www.cdc.gov/rodents/diseases/direct.html
https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/norway-rat
http://icwdm.org/handbook/rodents/NorwayRats.asp
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Rattus_norvegicus/
http://icwdm.org/handbook/rodents/CottonRat.asp
http://icwdm.org/handbook/rodents/RoofRats.asp
https://www.terminix.com/blog/diy/how-to-get-rid-of-rats
https://www.thespruce.com/signs-that-you-still-have-mice-or-rats-4151787
http://www.wildlife-removal.com/rat.html
https://www.humanepestcontroltips.com/mouse-snap-traps.shtml
Treating Your Property For Rats
After you have gone through the prevention steps and removed all and any items of rat attraction it’s time to move on to treatment. The most effective methods of getting rid of rats is trapping them and/or setting rodent baits.
Rat Problem?
Sources
http://www.wildlifeanimalcontrol.com/ratnoise.html
https://squeaksandnibbles.com/what-sound-does-a-rat-make/
http://www.attic-rat.com/feces.html
Rat Sounds
Rats do squeak, hiss and chatter, but in your home it’s more likely you’ll hear them scratching and scampering around in the attic and walls. They do have a variety of squeaks and chirps from short and high-pitched, to long and consistent, depending on their emotion.
Rat Tracks
Rats leave behind a four-toed front and five-toed back pattern; their front paws are broad and almost look like a flower burst while their hind paws are much longer and narrow. Their hind paws will generally fall side-by-side, while their front feet—if visible—hardly align.
Rat Poop
Constant eats, rats leave a wide assortment of brown, pellet shaped droppings scattered everywhere they go, usually measuring three-eighths of an inch long and one-eighth of a inch in diameter. The tips are rounded and they tend to bulge in the center./p>