Nothing is worse than coming across rodent poop. You know it didn’t come from your dog or cat, but where did the poop come from? At Clegg’s Pest Control, we help identify and capture pesky rodents invading your home. The first signs of rodent droppings indicate the potential of pest infestation. Sometimes a single rogue rat can be captured quickly, and other times it is necessary to call a pest control expert for rat control services. Before panicking, learn more about how to tell what rat poop is so you know which critter has infiltrated your home.
Continue reading below to learn more about what rat poop looks like.
Common places to find rat poop?
Rat poop can be found anywhere in a home, but some of the most common places are in the garage, crawl space, basement, or the walls’ baseboard. Unlike mice and other small rodents, rats tend to be much larger and spend time on floors’ base level. It is more common to find a rat in the basement or main floor than the upper floor. Brown rats produce ½ inch droppings that are slender and pointed at the end. The average rat makes between 30 to 50 droppings a day. Rats also eat their food in one sitting instead of munching on it. This eating pattern means rat droppings are often found in a pile instead of scattered.
Is rat poop dangerous?
Before disposing of the rat droppings, remember these safety tips. Most rodent droppings, including rat feces, carry harmful diseases. Salmonella can be contracted from eating or drinking items that have been contaminated with rat droppings. Other illnesses include lymphocytic choriomeningitis, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and rat-bite fever. These viruses are contracted through the air or open skin contact to the feces or rodent urine. Because some of these diseases are easily contracted, it is best to handle rat droppings with gloves and avoid sweeping up the droppings. After disposing of the feces, spray the contaminated area with bleach or a disinfectant spray. If you come across a large pile of dropping, it is also a good idea to crack a window or door and air out the room.
Other signs of rat infestation
Sometimes rats can be present in the house without discovering rat droppings. Signs of a rat infestation include scampering noises, gnawed holes in various objects, urine odors, scampering noises and unusual behavior from pets. Most people rightfully assume a rodent is in their house if boxes or packages on the main floor have chew marks. If you suspect a rat or other rodent is turning your home into his, it is time to call an expert. These rats are not always the easiest to locate, especially when there are no droppings present.
Rat control services by Clegg’s Pest Control
Don’t let a rat infiltrate your household. At Clegg’s Pest Control, we specialize in finding these critters and getting them out of your home. Our team of experts quickly identifies unwanted rodents and provides solutions to each unique situation. Prevent future rat infestations by calling Clegg’s Pest Control and protecting your home today. We have been serving the North Carolina area for over 50 years and are dedicated to quality service.
