Professional Rat Control In Northenden

How to Spot Signs of Rats? 

Evidence of rats can be found through the following signs:

• Rat Droppings – Brown rat droppings are usually rectangular with blunt ends and can be found in small groups, while black rat droppings, found scattered, are pointed sausage-shaped. A rat can leave about 40 droppings per day. If the droppings are moist and dark, it is a sign that rats are in the area.
• Scratching Noises – Black rats, known as roof rats, are superb climbers that often invade the roofs, rafters and attics of structures. So, scratching noises from these sources after dusk may indicate their presence. Meanwhile, brown rats can be identified through grinding sounds or chattering noises as they scurry beneath decking and floorboards.
• Footprints, tail swipes and smears – Rats’ four-toed front and five-toed back footprints and tail marks are most easily seen in muddy or dusty locations. These tracks can be spotted by using a solid flashlight aimed at a low angle. Rats also leave smears -dark grey marks- on surfaces where they repeatedly rub their fur against. As smears may stay for a while, however, they are not a good sign of an active infestation.
• Running tracks – Rats tend to run along the same established routes many times a day, leaving dark greasy marks along walls, floorboards and worn-down paths in the grass and low vegetation.
• Burrows – Burrows are holes in dirt or concrete from one to four inches wide with smooth edges. Brown rats are good at excavating complex tunnel systems whose entrance holes (70-120mm in diameter) can be identified in grassy banks, under tree roots and at the edges of paving and drain cover surrounds.
• Nests – Black rat nests can be found indoors, in lofts, attics, under floorboards, and other dark, less-used areas.
• Gnawing – Gnaw marks can be seen on electrical cables, pipework, wooden fixtures and plastic garbage cans. Rats usually leave large and rough teeth marks.