Rice-sized poop. Scratching or scurrying sounds in the wall. Small nests made of paper and wood. Footprints or grease marks near corners. Scratches and bite marks.
Small urban colonies may only contain a few rats. However, if there’s enough food to sustain more rats, more will show up. Some colonies can sustain dozens of members.
Rat poop carries all kinds of disease, so discard the poop in a paper towel and clean the surface with a bleach- or vinegar-based cleaner to disinfect the surface. Mouse poop is usually 1⁄4–1⁄8 inch (0. 64–0. 32 cm) in length. If you don’t find any droppings at all that are around 1⁄2 in (1. 3 cm), you may only have mice. [4] X Research source
If you can’t find any nests, it’s possible the rats aren’t sleeping in your home and they’re going elsewhere every night to get some shut eye.
Pay attention to where you’re hearing the noise, as well. If you hear noises in your walls and ceilings all over your home, the odds are higher that the infestation is fairly large.
Rats go out of their way to stay out of sight and avoid you, so the more rats you see, the more likely it is that the infestation is pretty expansive.
Fill in any gaps or openings where rats may be coming in. Patch holes in your drywall and seal exterior gaps with caulk or sealant. The harder it is for rats to get in, the more likely it is that the rats will go somewhere else.
Glueboards work with mice, but they tend to be less than ideal for rats. Rats may be strong enough to keep moving around with a glue trap on them, or fight their way off of the trap entirely. Avoid using toxic bait. You’ll end up with smelly rat carcasses in your floorboards, walls, or crawlspaces.
