12 Telltale Signs You Have a Rat in Your House (And What to Do)

Do you suspect you’re dealing with a rat in your house?

Luckily, you don’t have to send rats packing on your own.

Here at Smith’s Pest Management, we’ve been providing comprehensive rat control services to the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 15 years.

In this blog, we’ve compiled our extensive experience to help you identify the major signs of a rat in your home.

What are the Signs of a Rat Infestation?

Rats can damage your home and harm your family’s health, so it’s important to spot an infestation early.

With that in mind, here are a few of the top signs that rats have set up shop in your space:

Noises

1. Scratching and Scurrying

• Rats are nocturnal, so they often make scratching sounds at night as they move around in your walls, ceilings, or floors.
• If you hear tiny claws scrambling and scurrying around, especially in quiet spots, that’s a pretty good sign that you’ve got a rat problem.
• Other sounds, like high-pitched squeaks, gnawing noises, or digging and scratching sounds, are all indicative of rat infestations.

 2. Strange Noises from Appliances

• Rats might build nests in or near your appliances, leading to some strange noises when you use them.
• Keep an ear out for odd humming or buzzing sounds, as they could mean a rat nest is messing with how your appliance works.

Physical Evidence

3. Droppings

• Rat droppings are usually dark brown, cylinder-shaped, and about ½”-¾” long.
• You might spot clusters of these in hidden spots like behind cupboards, in the attic, or in the basement.

4. Gnaw Marks

• Rats constantly gnaw on objects to keep their teeth sharp; look for chew marks on furniture, wires, and food packaging.
• Fresh gnaw marks are light in color and darken over time, providing clues to the activity’s recency.

5. Footprints and Tail Drag Marks

• In dusty or out-of-the-way spots, you might notice tiny footprints or tail drag marks.
• Rats have five toes on their hind feet and four toes on their front feet. Rat tracks are usually about 3//4”-1” long.

Tip: Not sure where rats are hiding? Try sprinkling a bit of flour or unscented baby powder behind appliances or under furniture and then checking the space for tracks a few hours or a day later.

6. The Presence of Nests

• Rats love to make nests out of shredded materials like paper, fabric, or insulation, usually in out-of-the-way spots.
• You’ll often find their nests tucked away in warm, hidden places like basements, attics, and behind walls.

7. Grease Marks and Smudges

• Rats have oily fur, so they tend to leave dark, gross, greasy smudges wherever they go.
• You’re most likely to notice these marks on walls, floors, and even furniture, showing where the rats like to hang out.

8. Damaged Food Packaging

• Look for chew marks or holes in the packaging; rats love to gnaw through bags and boxes to reach the food.
• The gnawing damage of rats is significant – holes can be 2” or larger in diameter and will usually feature rough, jagged edges.
• Keep an eye out for scattered food on pantry shelves or in drawers since that’s yet another warning sign.

9. Burrows and Holes

• Rats dig burrows to live in and stash their food. These burrows often have smooth edges because they’re used so much.
• Keep an eye out for holes in the ground, especially along your outdoor fence lines, under sheds, or near gardens.

10. Sightings of Live or Dead Rats

• Spotting a live rat, especially during the day, is a big red flag for an infestation.
• Daytime rat sightings are usually the result of overcrowding, diseased rat populations, or a disturbance to the rats’ harborage or feeding areas.
• Coming across dead rats? That’s an obvious sign, too, and it suggests there’s a bigger infestation lurking somewhere in your home.

Odor and Strange Pet Behavior

11. A Musty Odor

• Rats produce a LOT of urine and droppings, so they tend to create a strong, musty smell wherever they go.
• You may notice an overwhelming ammonia scent or find that your space suddenly smells like a stinky locker room.

12. Strange Pet Behavior

• Pets like dogs and cats might start acting a bit more alert, scratching or sniffing around certain spots more often.
• Your four-legged friends may also start getting agitated or excited, especially near walls or closed-off areas where rats are hanging out.

What to Do if You Suspect a Rat Infestation

1. Conduct a Thorough Inspection

First, take a look around common areas for any signs of rats, such as droppings, grease marks, or torn food packaging.

You should also look for burrows, rat runways (dust-free areas often accompanied by grease marks along walls), and dark, sticky urine stains.

Don’t forget to check hidden spots behind appliances, inside cabinets, and around your home’s foundation for any burrows or holes.

2. Seal Entry Points

Find and block any spots where rats might be sneaking into your home.

Remember that rats can sneak through openings that are as small as ½” – so this means sealing even tiny gaps and cracks.

To do this, seal entry points around doors, windows, and utility lines with materials like hardware cloth and mortar (a combination that rats can’t chew through), sheet metal, resin-coated stainless steel wool, or copper mesh and mortar.

While expandable foam isn’t a gnaw-proof solution, you can use it in a pinch – until you get a more permanent patch in place.

Finally, add door sweeps or sheet metal kick plates to the gaps beneath doors, place metal screens over vents and grillwork, and add metal climb guards to outdoor pipes to keep rats from scaling them and entering your space.

3. Remove Food and Water Sources

Keep your food in sealed, rat-proof containers, and make sure to clean up crumbs and spills from countertops and floors.

Use indoor and outdoor garbage bins with tight lids, and fix any leaky faucets or pipes to get rid of water sources that might attract rats.

This last point is super important because rats can’t survive long without water.

In fact, they need about ½-1 ounce of water each day and will use things like leaking toilets, sump pump tanks, and condensate water to fulfill that need.

4. Set Traps

Set a mix of snap traps, live traps, or glue boards in spots where you see a lot of activity. Just be sure to handle them carefully and check them regularly.

For more information on how to trap rats, check out our blog.

5. Clean and Declutter

Try to keep your living spaces as clutter-free as you can since it helps reduce hiding spots for rats.

Regularly clean and vacuum hidden spots, like behind appliances and in corners, and keep a close eye out for rat droppings or other signs, which could indicate a budding infestation.

6. Monitor and Follow Up

Keep an eye out for any more signs of rat activity.

Remember that rats are smart, wiley critters, and it can take some persistence and patience to get rid of them for good.

For more information on how to get rid of rats in your home, check out this guide.

When to Call a Pro

We recommend calling the pros when…

• You suspect a significant rat infestation.
• Your DIY attempts haven’t worked.
• You’re noticing significant damage to your home or property.

Don’t wait! Ensure a safer and healthier home environment by getting professional pest control services.

Call Smith’s for Professional Rat Control Services

Nobody wants to live with rats. In addition to being unsightly and destructive, rats create real health risks that can compromise the health and safety of your family and pets.

Fortunately, you’re not alone in the fight against them.

Contact us today to learn more about our rat control services, request an inspection, and find out how we can help you get rid of rats in your space: (408) 871-6988.