Signs of rats in the walls
It can be difficult to tell if it’s definitely rats causing issues in your home if you haven’t physically seen a rodent, but there are still some tell-tale signs that you’re facing a pest control problem.
- Hearing scratching or scurrying sounds in the walls
- Seeing visible rat droppings
- Noticing damage to items in your home or finding chew and gnaw marks on packaging or furniture
- Finding scraps of nesting materials such as shredded paper, fabric or loft insulation
Holes and gaps
Even the tiniest hole in the property exterior can invite rats inside. The only way to stop this from happening is to inspect your property regularly and make sure any damage to the walls and external structure is sealed.
Burrowing underneath the house
If the foundation under your walls is cement or some other solid material, it usually isn’t a suitable entry for rats. But if the underneath of the hollow wall cavity is dirt or something that rats can easily gnaw and dig through, it can be another way for them to make their way inside your walls.
Drainage problems
If there is no obvious entry and exit point to your walls, chances are the problem lies within your drainage. Sewer and drain faults such as damaged or cracked pipes can also be giving rats a lift inside the walls. And since drains provide plenty of food sources for rats, it’s pretty common to see this happen.
How to remove rats in the walls
As with any pest control problem, getting rid of an existing infestation is only half of the solution. Figuring out what attracted rats in the first place and making sure you take all the reasonable steps to make your home less appealing to rodents will help you to prevent reinfestation.
It isn’t easy to just start removing your walls to find where the rats are hiding, but there are measures you can put in place to start discouraging rodent activity.
How to prevent rats
Dealing with an established rat infestation can take some time to control and can be very frustrating and distressing if you find you’re sharing your home with rodents. Rats are only interested in finding food and shelter so you can try and prevent rat activity by doing the following:
- Inspect the exterior of your building regularly and seal any holes or cracks that may serve as an access route
- Keep tree branches and plants trimmed and cut back from your home to prevent rats from using these as a climbing aid
- Make sure any rubbish bins kept outside have a secure lid and don’t store food or waste without a sealed container
- If you store firewood or have other piles of debris in the garden, make sure it is kept as far away from your home as possible to prevent inviting rats to use it as a shelter
Rats breed rapidly so it’s not advised to try and deal with a large infestation yourself. While you might find plenty of DIY pest control methods and suggestions online, bear in mind that these methods will often take extensive time and resources and may actually end up costing more than calling in a professional service.
If you want help figuring out how the rats are getting in and how to resolve the issue, contact MJ Backhouse in Yorkshire for a free quote.
Contact us
If you’re looking for a professional and dependable pest control partner for your business, MJB Pest Control is here to help. Contact us today to discuss your specific needs and find out how we can help keep your premises pest-free.
