Protect your property by recognizing signs you need pest control services for rats, such as droppings, gnawed wires, and nests. Learn when to call a professional.
Rats are more than just pests – they can be a health risk and damage your home or business.
While it’s easy to ignore the signs, rats multiply fast, and a small problem can become a big infestation.
Knowing the early signs you need pest control services for rats can save you time, money, and stress.
In this post, we’ll show you the warning signs that you need pest control and why you should act fast.
Unusual Noises: The First Warning Sign
One of the first signs of a rat infestation is unusual noises. Rats are nocturnal, so you’ll most likely hear scratching, scurrying, or squeaking at night.
These sounds come from inside walls, ceilings, or the attic, where rats love to hide.
It’s easy to brush it off as the house settling or something minor, but don’t ignore it.
The noises are more noticeable at night when it’s quieter. You’ll hear rats running around for food or moving to new nesting areas.
Rats scratch surfaces to create space for nests, which is why the sounds can be constant.
If you hear these noises, it’s a sign that rats are present. They may be chewing through insulation, gnawing on wires, or expanding their nest.
If you don’t act, they’ll keep breeding, and the problem will get worse.
Don’t ignore these sounds and wait for the damage to cost you later. Call for pest control services for rats before the problem gets worse.
Droppings and Urine Stains: Signs of a Rat Infestation
Another sign you need pest control services for rats is finding rat droppings or urine stains.
Rat droppings are small, dark, and tapered at the ends, like little pellets. You’ll find them in hidden areas like under sinks, along baseboards, or inside kitchen cupboards.
If the droppings are fresh, they’re dark and moist. If older, they’re dry and crumbly.
Urine stains are another sign of rat activity. Rats leave trails of urine as they move around, especially along walls or in areas they frequent.
These stains are not only unsightly but also carry harmful pathogens that can be a health risk to humans, including leptospirosis, hantavirus, and salmonella.
The presence of these droppings and urine stains is not just a sanitation issue. Rat waste is toxic and can contaminate food, water, and surfaces, especially in areas like kitchens and food storage.
For businesses, especially those in the food service industry, this can lead to health code violations and put customer safety at risk.
Don’t ignore these signs and wait for the health implications to happen, especially in businesses where hygiene is critical.
As soon as you see droppings or stains, it’s time to call pest control services for rats to minimize the risk and address the infestation before it gets worse.
Bitten Wires and Structural Damage: A Serious Safety Risk
Have you noticed frayed wires or bitten furniture? Rats chew everything, including electrical wiring, insulation, and even the wooden framework of your building.
Just like a website audit can reveal hidden issues on your site, inspect your property for gnawed areas to catch problems before they become dangerous.
Rats are known for their gnawing behavior, and they do this because their teeth are always growing. Chewing on hard materials helps keep their teeth from overgrowing.
Unfortunately, this means they often target wires and wooden structures in homes and businesses, resulting in severe damage.
Chewed electrical wires are a nuisance and a fire hazard.
Rats need to always chew to keep their teeth from overgrowing, and unfortunately, this means they often target wires.
Damaged wires can cause short circuits and potentially lead to electrical fires.
Besides electrical issues, rats can damage the structure of your home or business by chewing through insulation, drywall, and even pipes. This can result in expensive repairs if not addressed early.
Don’t wait until there’s a significant safety risk in your home or business. If you notice any signs of gnawing, call pest control services for rats immediately to prevent further damage.
Nests and Burrows: A Clear Sign of Infestation
Rats are great nest builders. They use materials like shredded paper, fabric, or insulation to build their nests in hidden areas like attics, basements, or behind walls.
If you find a nest, it’s a clear sign that rats have settled in. Nests are often found in areas that are rarely disturbed, which allows rats to breed unchecked.
By this time, the infestation is already advanced, and you need to act fast.
A rat nest means rats have established a living area, and you can expect them to have a family there, which means the rat population will grow.
Nests also provide a safe space for rats to breed and multiply fast.
Professional services like Newham Pest Control can find these nests and remove them so rats won’t multiply further. They also close openings to prevent more rats from entering your property.
Don’t try to do it yourself—rats can be aggressive if threatened. Call pest control for rats to do the job safely and efficiently.
Rat Tracks and Grease Marks: Follow the Trail
Another visible sign of rat infestation is grease marks or tracks along walls, baseboards, and floors.
Rats have oily fur that leaves greasy smudges wherever they go. You might also see small footprints or tail marks in dusty areas like attics or basements.
These marks are left as rats follow the same path over and over again. They usually follow the walls because they protect them from predators and provide an easy route to food sources.
Over time, these paths become more defined, with noticeable streaks of grease left by the rats’ fur. In dusty areas like basements or unused parts of your home, you may also see footprints or tail marks.
Rat tracks and grease stains are signs of active rat activity. If you see these signs, it’s a clear indication that you need to act fast.
Over time, the marks will become more noticeable, which means the rat population is growing.
Don’t ignore these trails, as they are an early warning sign that the rat population uses these areas frequently.
Call pest control services for rats at this stage to stop the infestation before it gets worse.
Conclusion: Call a Pro for Long Term Solution
If you see any of these signs, you need to act fast. Rats breed fast, and a small infestation can get out of hand.
DIY methods may give you temporary relief but rarely solve the root of the problem. Traps and poisons may catch a few rats, but without a comprehensive solution, the infestation will persist.
Calling pest control for rats means you get a comprehensive, long-term solution for your specific situation.
Trained professionals can eliminate the current infestation and prevent future problems so you can have peace of mind and protect your home or business from further damage.
Professional pest control also offers preventive measures such as sealing entry points, eliminating food sources, and ongoing monitoring so rats won’t come back. This is a much better solution than DIY methods.
Get rid of rats now. Call a pro.