Rats are often active at night and tend to stay hidden inside walls, attics, basements, crawl spaces, garages, and other secluded areas. Because of this, you may notice evidence of a rat infestation before you actually see a rat.

Some of the most common signs of rats in your home or business include:

⦿ Rat Droppings: Dark, pellet-shaped droppings may be found near food sources, along walls, inside cabinets, under sinks, or in other areas where rats travel.

⦿ Gnaw Marks: Rats have continuously growing teeth and will chew on wood, plastic, cardboard, insulation, pipes, and even electrical wiring.

⦿ Scratching or Scurrying Sounds: Noises coming from walls, ceilings, attics, or beneath floors, especially at night, can indicate rats moving through the structure.

⦿ Grease and Rub Marks: Rats frequently travel along the same paths and may leave dark, greasy marks along walls, baseboards, pipes, and entry points.

⦿ Nesting Materials: Shredded paper, fabric, cardboard, insulation, and other soft materials may indicate that rats have established a nesting area.

⦿ Burrows or Entry Points: Holes around foundations, garages, sheds, crawl spaces, utility lines, or landscaping may provide rats with access to your property.

⦿ Unusual Pet Behavior: Dogs and cats may become unusually focused on certain walls, cabinets, appliances, or other areas where they can hear or smell rodent activity.

Seeing even one rat or finding fresh evidence of activity should not be ignored. Rats reproduce quickly, and a small problem can develop into a larger infestation if the source and entry points are not addressed.

If you suspect rats in your New York City, Long Island, Westchester, or 5 Boroughs property, Knockout Pest Control can identify where they are hiding, determine how they are getting inside, and develop a targeted plan to knock them out.