Having a rat infestation in your home can be worrying. Not only do these rats pose a health risk (as they can contaminate your food and spread diseases), they can destroy your home appliances, cause structural damage, and leave a foul smell running through your home as well.

If you have been hearing strange noises along the walls, in the ceiling, or in your attic, you may have rats lurking around. Perhaps, you have even discovered their feces or chew marks around your items. While your attic is not in constant use, you would not want to find rat feces in your holiday decorations.

Here’s what you should do about these pests. 

How do rats get in the attic?

Rats enter your attic through cracks, vents, holes in your roof or the chimney. Rats can chew your water pipes and wood or find cracks and crawl spaces in your home to pass through. They have strong teeth with which they cause damage and create common entry points into your house and your attic. Realizing how they got there in the first place can help you better manage a roof rat infestation.

What do attic rats eat?

Attic rats can eat anything they find. Whatever you keep in your attic is a potential food source for them. They also feed on any insects that find their way into your attic. Roof rats can go back outside or enter your home in search of food sources like seeds, nuts, pet food, and bird eggs. When they’ve had their fill, they can return to the attic leaving rat droppings along the way.

Why do rats go in attics?

Rats love to climb and the attic is easy for them to get into. They would typically climb up wires, drain pipes, wood, and walls to find somewhere that feels safe. Since attic spaces are warm and there is plenty of room to crawl around, rats think they are perfect. There’s also enough material around for them to build nests and settle in. Your warm attic is not only remote but you possibly rarely go there, making it easy for roof rats to stay undisturbed.

What do attic rats look like?

Attic rats, also known as roof rats, have different colors. Some are brown and black and others are gray or black. They could have a bit of white on their backs and a gray or black belly. They have soft and smooth fur, large eyes and ears, and a pointed muzzle.

What noises do rats make?

Rats can squeak, chip, or hiss loudly. They also make movement noises including scratching, gnawing, and rustling. If you hear these sounds in your attic or inside walls, you have some rats in there. Other signs that you have a rat infestation include chew marks, droppings, and damage to items in your home. Rats typically leave 40-50 rodent droppings per day and they release a foul smell alongside. Keep an eye on all of these signs to better understand the type of situation you have on your hands.  

How do I get rid of rats in the attic?

If you have followed the signs and come to the conclusion that you have rats in your attic then the best thing to do is to contact a pest control company to exterminate them. However, while you wait for these professionals to arrive, you need to take the necessary steps to keep these roof rats under control. Some of the things you can do include eliminating food and water sources, installing snap traps and glue traps, discovering their passageway into your house (like open cracks and vents), and staying away from the attic. Close food and trash containers tightly and dispose of your trash properly. Keep storage boxes tightly closed and remove their access to food. Seal any open cracks around your house and keep the attic closed so they don’t make their way into the rest of your house. These are some simple steps you can take to contain the situation, but they will not eliminate the pest, simply make it easier for professionals to eradicate the problem right from the source. 

You need attic rodent control!

Regardless of how advanced or contained your situation is, at Shoreline Environmental Pest Solutions, we have a specialized method for removing rats in attic and preventing future infestations. Give us a call if you think you might have a rat problem and we will take care of it for you! 

We will typically start by inspecting your attic for signs of an infestation and we will leave it rat-free at the end of the process. Our professionals will come to your property fully prepared to ensure that we remove these pests. If you are worried about the presence of rats in your attic, take action by booking a consultation with us to get started. You can also call us at (561) 530-2891 and we will start the roof rat removal process immediately.