If you are concerned about the presence of rats or mice in your attic, you should take the necessary steps to get rid of them. There are several signs that you should be on the lookout for. These signs include noise, damage, and communal rodents. However, if you are not sure of the presence of these animals, you should hire a professional rodent exterminator. In addition to eliminating rodents and mice, this professional will also clean the rest of your home from contaminants and diseases.
Noise
When you first suspect that you have rats in your attic, you must inspect all areas of your home. You should also check for other animals, such as squirrels and mice, since they leave similar signs. If you notice droppings, gnaw marks, or scratch marks in the attic, these are the indications of a rat infestation. In addition, rats may be eating the drywall in your attic, causing the noises you hear in the lower levels of your home.
The first sign of a rat infestation is the presence of rat droppings and urine. Rat droppings are about 12mm long, dark, and pellet-shaped. You should also check wooden structures in your attic for signs of chewing, biting, and damage. If you notice any of these signs, you should call a professional pest control company immediately. However, before you call a pest control company, you must check the attic for signs of rat infestation first.
Damage
The best way to know whether you have rats in your attic is to take measures to prevent an infestation. Rats are notoriously nocturnal, and they will make any effort to enter your attic. Roof rats are most likely culprits, and they are capable of jumping four feet and scaling power lines. They are also quite adept at chewing through wooden windows and doors, and can squeeze through holes the size of a quarter.
If you do have rats in your attic, the first step to taking care of the problem is finding the entry holes. These holes are easily identified by brown smudges of grease on the rat's fur. Make sure to seal up these entry holes to prevent future infestations. If you think you may have rats, you should contact a pest control professional who can help you get rid of the problem for good.
Communal rodents
One of the most common ways to determine if you have a problem with a rat or a mouse in your attic is to listen to scratching sounds. These sounds are made by mice or rats as they move around in their nests. Since most nocturnal animals leave their attics during the night, you may hear lots of night sounds. Mice are hard to spot because the relative quiet of the evening can make them look like larger animals.
Despite the sound of the scratching, gnawing or squeaking, these noises are probably caused by rats. Rats can get into attics through a variety of entry points. An attic vent or an improperly sealed window frame can allow them to access your attic. If you have a roof, it's also possible for roof rats to enter your attic by climbing nearby vines or tree branches.
Signs
If you find signs of rat infestation in your attic, you should take action immediately. Rats can cause extensive damage to your home and may even pose a health risk. Because attics are dark and quiet, they are an excellent place for rats to live. Taking steps to prevent this problem is important, so learn how to detect rat signs in your attic. Below are some prevention tips:
When looking for signs of rat activity, start with the sounds. Rats are nocturnal, so you won't notice them unless they're actively making noise. Listen for cracking noises in the attic and if you hear scratching or gnawing, you have a rat problem. Moreover, rats will chew drywall and wood in your attic, so if you hear this noise, it's most likely that rats are living in your attic.
Rodent-proofing your attic
If you are worried that you have rats or mice living in your attic, there are some signs you can look for. Fortunately, these creatures are nocturnal, so they won't bother you during the day. Usually, you can find signs of their presence in your attic by listening to the sounds that they make, such as scratching and chewing. You may also notice marks on the drywall, which indicates a rodent infestation.
When you hear scratching at night, you're probably dealing with a rat infestation. Rat droppings are brown and oval in shape. You'll also notice rat footprints, also known as running tracks. These are most likely located in dusty attics. In addition to droppings, rats have teeth that grow at an incredible rate. They must constantly chew on things to stop them from growing.