Rats in your Attic
Roof rats, or house rats that lie in the attic, are not big critters. Their size plays to their advantage as they can easily sneak into homes and live in small places. It also helps them to get inside small food cans.
The roof rats that infest the attic are generally black, brown, or grey. They have hairless tails and small ears that can hear your approaching footsteps from several yards away, helping these rodents hide before you get anywhere near.
One reason why rat infestations occur is that you don’t spot the rats soon enough to stop the invasion.
They quickly multiply and soon you are dealing with a full blown rat infestation.
How to Identify a Rat Infestation in the Attic?
As we have mentioned, rats are sneaky and hide very quickly. It might be troubling to believe that there is a whole extended family of rats living up the attic.
Below are some signs of a rat infestation. If you see any of them, then you must take steps to control the rat problem.
Grease Marks
These rodents have a lot of grease in their fur. When a rat is in your house, they generally stay very close to the walls for safety.
If you see any greasy rub marks against the walls, it means you may have a rat infestation in the attic.
Rat Droppings
Rats leave droppings wherever they go. If you spot any rat droppings, it is a surefire sign of an infestation. The rat droppings are narrow and measure about 3/4 of an inch.
The number of rat droppings you find will help you understand the size of the infestation. If it is just a few, then you might have caught the problem early.
If it seems like a massive amount of droppings, I’ve got bad news for you…
Gnaw Marks
These rodents have super sharp teeth and a strong desire to bite anything and everything. They will gnaw on wooden furniture, clothes, toys, wirings, books, etc.
Rats chew on everything because they need to.
Their teeth never cease to grow, which keeps them in the teething phase throughout their lives.
If you see these gnaw marks, it’s a good sign that you have a rat infestation.
Do Rats always stay in the attic?
While the attic is their favorite place, rats can form a nest wherever they find a suitable environment. They will also travel through your house looking for food and water in the small hours.
Some of the most common places for rats to form nest are:
- Closets
- Cabinets
- Kitchen
- Attic
- Garage
- Basement
What do Rats Eat?
If your rats in the attic, everything in your house is fair game. These rodents are omnivorous scavengers. They can eat from plants, small insects, meat, and pretty much whatever they find is on the menu.
Roof rats love eating the following things:
- Any form of meat
- Plants in your garden
- Food in your kitchen
- Bread
- Paper
- Wax
- Fruit
- Cereal
What causes a rat infestation?
Roof rats can go about anywhere. However, they like older homes that have cracks and openings in the foundation, making it easy to get in and out.
- If you have cracks in your walls, attic rat infestations are a very common possibility.
- Leaking pipes provide easy entry and a source of water for rats.
- Do you actually have a bat problem?
- If you have loose, scattered food laying around, then you are definitely attracting rats. This includes things like open compost piles, open trash lids, and unsecured pet food containers.
How to get rid of a Rat Infestation?
Here are some of the best methods which can help you to get rid of an attic rat infestation. One thing to note is that rats are neophobic, meaning that they are afraid of new things that enter their environment.
Most DIY rat trapping attempts fail because people don’t take this into account. Consider using a professional rat control company, like AAAC Wildlife Removal to properly trap and remove a rat infestation.
If you insist on trying yourself, here are the three types of traps you could use:
Snap Traps
If you have a relatively small infestation, then you can use the traditional snap traps. They need to be properly baited.
These traps have a wooden platform with a metal bar that traps the rats as soon as they step into the trap.
Glue Traps
If you are desperate to eliminate the rats, then you can use the glue trap. However, we must inform you that it is a rather gruesome way for a rat to die.
A glue trap is a large piece of plastic that is extremely adhesive. You will have to lure the rats with some food. When they step on the plastic, they get stuck.
This trap does not kill the rats right away. The rats would be stuck and alive even after a few days. It means that you will likely have to kill the rats yourself and then dispose of the bodies afterward.
Bait Boxes
The bait boxes are sturdy boxes that trap the rats. You will have to place bait for the rodents, and as soon as they enter the box, they cannot escape. It is a good way to trap a large number of rats.
You can also use an electric box that passes electricity through the rat’s body as soon as they enter, killing them immediately.
Consider a professional
If you have a rat infestation in the attic, then you must take measures to control it immediately. House rats can damage properties and contaminate food. Use the methods we have mentioned to clear out rat infestation.
If this process seems like a big headache, don’t hesitate to call us at AAAC Wildlife Removal to resolve your rat issues and properly seal the entry points they used to get inside.
