What To Do If You See A Rat In Your Home

Spotting a rat in your home can be unsettling. Beyond being a nuisance, rats can carry diseases, damage your property, and attract other pests. Fortunately, with the right approach, you can get rid of rats and prevent future infestations. Here’s a comprehensive guide for Texas homeowners on what to do if you see a rat in your home.

1. Stay Calm and Assess the Situation

If you’ve seen a rat or found droppings, it’s essential to confirm the extent of the problem. Common signs include:

• Droppings: Small, dark, pellet-like droppings often near food sources, garbage, or in hidden corners or storage areas. Texas homes, especially in urban and rural areas, may see droppings in garages, pantries, or attics.
• Gnaw Marks and Chewed Wires: Rats have ever-growing teeth, so they constantly gnaw on things. You might see nibbled furniture, packaging, baseboards, wood, plastic, or even wiring.
• Scratching or Squeaking Noises: In Texas, common roof rats are notorious for running along rafters and inside walls. Listen for any scratching in walls, ceilings, and attics, especially at night.

2. Identify Common Entry Points

Due to the warm climate and outdoor lifestyle, rats in Texas often enter homes through vents, gaps around windows and doors, and damaged screens. In fact, rats can squeeze through openings as small as a quarter, making it crucial to check for gaps, cracks, and holes around your home. Specific spots to inspect include:

• Doors and Windows: Ensure tight seals without gaps. Weather stripping helps keep them closed off.
• Roof Vents and Attic Openings: Roof rats are common in Texas, especially in areas with dense trees and vegetation.
• Vents and Pipes: Check vents for secure covers and examine areas around pipes for any gaps. Check areas such as around your dryer vent or where cables enter your home.
• Attics, Basements, and Crawl Spaces: Texas homes often have these spaces, which can be a rat’s favorite hideout.
• Garage Doors and Siding: Gaps here provide easy access to rats, so check them regularly.

Texas Tip: Rats are drawn to warmth and food, both of which are abundant in Texas year-round. Sealing entry points is especially important in cooler months, as rats seek warmer shelter indoors.

3. Seal Entry Points with Durable Materials

Using rat-proof materials like steel wool, caulk, and metal mesh, homeowners can prevent rats from coming back. Here are some recommendations:

• Steel Wool: Perfect for small gaps around pipes and drains.
• Metal Mesh: Works well for vents, soffits, and crawl spaces.
• Caulk or Expanding Foam: Effective for cracks around doors, windows, and walls.
• Weatherstripping: Effective for doors with gaps along the bottom, including any exterior doors and even the garage door.

4. Set Traps and Baits Effectively

Traps are essential for quickly capturing and removing rats. Depending on your preference, you can choose from a variety of options:

• Snap Traps: Effective and humane, these are a go-to choice. Set them along walls and close to where you’ve seen evidence.
• Glue Traps: Suitable for tight spaces. Place glue traps out of reach of children and pets, as they can be messy and pose a hazard. Avoid using these outdoors in the Texas heat, as they can become ineffective.
• Electronic Traps: These traps use a quick shock to capture rats and can be reused.

Texas Tip: Because Texas has a variety of rat species, from Norway rats in rural regions to roof rats in urban areas, consider traps that suit their behaviors. Roof rats, for instance, are often better trapped in attics or higher-up spaces.

5. Use Bait Carefully and Responsibly

Rat bait can be an effective way to address infestations, but it’s crucial to use it safely:

• Read All Labels Carefully: Some baits contain toxic chemicals that are hazardous to children and pets.
• Place Baits in Inaccessible Areas: In attics or crawl spaces where children and pets can’t reach.
• Consider Enclosed Bait Stations: These protect the bait from being accessed by non-target animals and keep it contained.

Texas Tip: Given Texas’s warm climate, rats are active year-round. If you use bait, check regularly to ensure the bait doesn’t spoil in the heat or attract other wildlife.

6. Practice Good Housekeeping

Keeping your home clean and organized can reduce the likelihood of an infestation. Rats are attracted to food and clutter. Make your home less attractive to these pests by:

• Put Away Food: Avoid leaving pet food or open containers out.
• Storing Food Properly: Use airtight containers and keep food off counters and floors. It is best to put it in the fridge or freezer.
• Take Out Trash Regularly: Food waste is a huge draw for rats, so take out the trash often. Make sure to use lidded bins, especially in outdoor areas.
• Declutter Storage Areas: Stacks of cardboard boxes or clutter can serve as nesting sites.

Texas Tip: Texas weather can be extreme, so be cautious with food storage in garages and outdoor pantries, where rats may be tempted to nest.

7. Consult a Professional Pest Control Service

If you see multiple rats or the signs of infestation are overwhelming, it’s time to call in a professional pest control service. Local Texas experts understand the unique challenges of dealing with rodents in the state’s climate and are familiar with effective methods to eradicate them safely.

Here’s why a Texas pest control professional can be particularly helpful:

• Knowledge of Local Species: From roof rats to Norway rats, different species have unique behaviors. Local professionals know the most effective treatments for each type.
• Family-Friendly Options: Many Texas pest control companies offer safe but effective solutions to minimize harm to local wildlife and avoid chemical exposure for pets and family.
• Ongoing Prevention Plans: Texas homeowners may benefit from regular inspections and treatments due to the state’s warm climate, which keeps pests active year-round.

If you’re located in Central Texas, find out more about Justice Pest Services’ rodent control program.

8. Prevent Future Infestations

Once you’ve managed to get rid of the rats, focus on prevention to keep your home rat-free:

• Trim Trees and Shrubs Near Your Home: Rats can use branches to access roofs, so keep them pruned and away from the house.
• Remove Outdoor Food Sources: Clear fallen fruit, garden produce, and birdseed that can attract rodents.
• Monitor Pet Food and Water Dishes: Don’t leave pet food outside overnight, as this can draw rats to your yard.
• Store Firewood Properly: Firewood piles provide hiding spots for rodents, so store them off the ground and away from the house.
• Keep an Eye on Your Yard: Regularly inspect your yard for rat burrows or signs of activity, and call pest control if you see any.

Learn more about what you can to do keep rodents out of your house.

9. Be Aware of Seasonal Factors

In Texas, pest behavior can vary by season. Here’s how rats respond to Texas’s climate:

• Winter: Rats look for warm shelter. You may notice them moving indoors to avoid cooler weather.
• Spring/Summer: Rats become more active outdoors and may breed more frequently, increasing the risk of an infestation.
• Fall: As the weather cools, they often return to search for warm shelter and food sources indoors.

Texas Tip: Because Texas stays relatively warm compared to other states, rats remain active most of the year. Taking preventive measures year-round is key to keeping them out of your home.

Final Thoughts

No matter where you live, encountering a rat in your home doesn’t have to be a catastrophe. Following these steps can help you address the issue effectively and keep your home protected year-round. A clean, sealed, and clutter-free environment combined with proactive pest control measures will ensure your home stays safe and comfortable, free from unwelcome visitors.