The most common rat pest in the United States is the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus). The Norway rat is also called brown rat, house rat, sewer rat, and wharf rat. Other rats include roof rats and pack rats. If you see a rat with bald ears, black eyes, a blunt nose, a brown or grey body, and a tail smaller than the body, it is likely a Norway rat. They are about 16 inches long, including the tail.

Pack rats are about the same length, but their furry tail is usually equal in size to the body. They have greyish-brown fur, white underbelly, black eyes, and bald ears. Roof rats have pointy noses and scaly-looking tails. They have brown and black fur with much lighter underbelly. They are about the same size as the pack and Norway rats.

Species of Rats

• Norway Rats
• Pack Rats
• Roof Rats

Rats have powerful teeth and jaws. Their teeth grow throughout life, and rats must chew on hard substances to keep them filed down. Unfortunately, this allows them to chew and gnaw on plastic, wood, vinyl, thin metals, wood, and other items used to build your home. If you see gnaw marks on baseboards, electrical wires, internet cables, pipes, siding, gutters, or vents, you may have a rat problem.

Rats can chew through drywall and structural beams, making your home unstable. When building a nest in your home, rats will use any suitable materials from inside your home. They may also bring items from outside. If in your attic, they may use sentimental items that aren’t stored properly. Nests are often built-in insulation, pipes, vents, between walls, or under appliances.

Rats contaminate foods in your pantry and your pet’s, and replacing them will cost you a lot of money.

The feces and droppings they leave in trails as they move from their nest to a food source can grow mold spores. If you inhale these spores, you are at risk for respiratory problems. Rats can bring many diseases into your home, such as

• leptospirosis
• salmonellosis
• tularemia
• plague
• rat-bite fever

Ectoparasites like mites and fleas that live on rats can infest your home. All the pests living on a rat enter your home when they do. Of course, no one wants a rat-related disease. The first step to avoiding potential health hazards is to call for professional help to eliminate the rat infestation.

The best way to keep rats out of your house is to address the reasons why they are there in the first place. You must make your home and property unattractive to rats, which includes removing their access to food, water, and shelter. Exclusion is one step of this process. Exclusion examples begin with sealing and securing all holes, cracks, broken vents, and other entry points that allow rats to enter your home.

Other exclusions include:

• Properly storing groceries and pet food
• Cleaning crumbs that fall behind appliances
• Putting food away rather than letting it sit out
• Keeping the inside and outside of your home clutter-free

When rat control experts implement prevention and exclusion techniques, you have a higher level of reassurance that you will not have rat problems in the future.

A rat infestation is a homeowner’s worst nightmare, stealing your dream of a peaceful, restful, safe home. The good news is that you can implement prevention strategies to avoid a full-scale infestation.

• Eliminate Food Sources. Rats usually come to your home if it’s a source of easily accessible food, water, or shelter. Eliminating the features that attract rats is an effective prevention option.
• Keep Your House Clean. Start with proper home sanitation. That includes regularly taking out the trash and proper food storage to minimize rodent attractants. If you have pets, make sure to pick up their food regularly. An unattended pet food bowl is the holy grail for any rodent seeking a home.
• Remove Accessible Water Sources. Look for ways to remove water sources around the home. For example, if empty containers around your property collect water, rats will drink from them. Anything that collects and holds water should be removed if possible. Rats do not need a lot of water to survive and can get some water from the foods they find. However, reducing access to water sources is still a good idea.
• Do NOT Use Repellents. Do not buy rat and rodent repellents or frightening devices because they do not work. Strange sounds will scare away a rat, but rats quickly get used to repeated noises. In addition, odor and taste repellents have minimal effectiveness.

Finally, watch for any potential signs of a rat infestation. If you see any sign of rat activity, call for professional help right away. Rats are prolific breeders that can quickly create a thriving colony in your home. The professionals at Critter Control can help you get rid of your rat issue quickly and effectively.

Since rats can gnaw through most home materials, they can make new entry points into your home. Rat repellants and improved sanitation can go a long way to preventing the return of rodents, although it doesn’t guarantee rats won’t try to gain access to your home again. But that doesn’t mean you must repeat the entire rat rodent control process. Instead, regularly scheduled appointments can ensure that your home never sees another large-scale rat infestation.

A professional service that regularly monitors your home for rat problems can spot future issues before things get out of hand. Although rats are incredibly resourceful critters, they are no match for a careful rodent control plan.