So it is best to keep an eyeand an earout forsigns of rodent presence.
Live or Dead Rat Sightings
Seeing live or dead rats is a sign of an infestation.
If you see them during the day, it indicates a large infestation since they prefer to be nocturnal.
The Spruce / Michela Buttignol
Dead rats can be a sign of rat poison traps nearby.
Rat Droppings and Odor
Rat droppings are roughly the size of a grain of rice.
You’ll likely find higher concentrations of droppings near a food source.
They leave behind a telltale musky odor.
Rat droppings can also carry disease, so wear gloves and a face mask when cleaning rat droppings.
You may also hear rustling in a pantry or gnawing on wood or wires.
They make them from debris like cotton, twigs, fabric, cardboard, and packing peanuts.
They often chew on electrical wires, structural wood, and drywall.
Rat burrows can be under the home or outbuildings, especially if there is a fruit or vegetable garden.
Problems With Rat Infestations
Norway ratsdig burrows in which to live.
They also will climb fruit trees and feed on the fruit.
Control and Prevention
The best control of any rodent is prevention focused on sanitation and exclusion.
They are sometimes mistaken formice, although rats are significantly larger, and their signs are distinctly different.
Fill small holes with steel wool.
Use lath screen or lath metal, metal sheeting, cement, or hardware cloth to close larger gaps.
Remove all food sources and place traps to catch them.
Lay down the offending scents along pathways and places where the droppings have been found.
How to Control Wild Rodent Infestations.
Centers for Disease Control.
