Rat droppings are a key indicator of rodent infestation in your home. When you find rat feces, it is best to address the possibility of having a rat problem sooner rather than later. Rats can cause damage to parts of your home that you cannot see, as well as carry harmful bacteria, rabies, and other diseases. After finding rat poop somewhere in your home, it is best to contact a professional for fast and effective rat removal.
Clegg’s Pest Control is the professional help you are looking for in the case of rat pest control. Our rodent control specialists will tackle the problem with ease and ensure that you have a rodent-free home in no time. Contact Clegg’s today using the form below or give us a call and we will provide an initial inspection, free of charge.
Continue reading below to learn more about what you should do if you find rat poop inside your home.
How to Identify Rat Droppings
Rat feces resemble small ovular shaped pellets, and usually multiple are grouped in any location. The first thing to analyze when you find rodent feces in your home is the size of the droppings. Mouse and rat droppings look similar to one another but differ in size. The rat droppings size will compare well with rice. Rat poop is somewhat larger than a rice grain while those of a mouse is slightly smaller. The Norway rat dropping will have a slightly different shape and length than roof rat droppings. Both droppings can be identified by looking at the end of an individual pellet. The pellet which is produced by a Norway rat will have a more rounded end, whereas roof rat droppings have a pointed end.
Disinfecting the Area a Rat has been
After finding rat droppings, you may want to disinfect the area, especially if it is near a kitchen or common space. If you choose to do so, there are several precautions you should take to avoid breathing in harmful fumes that are produced by rat feces and urine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends room ventilation and spot disinfection when disposing of rodent waste. You should cross-ventilate the area by opening doors and windows for 30 minutes before beginning the cleaning process. After the room has been aerated for this period, it should be clear of harmful particles. It is important that you do not sweep the area, because dried rat poop can release particles back into the air. The next step is to disinfect the area. This can be done with any household disinfectant or a diluted bleach solution. Spray the area with your disinfectant and let it sit for at least five minutes. After putting on a pair of disposable gloves, use paper towels to pick up the rat droppings or urine and dispose of it in the garbage.
After you have carefully followed the steps for cleaning up after these rodent pests, you can try setting traps near the area you found the rat poop in an attempt to keep the rodents at bay until you call Clegg’s Pest Control for professional rat control and extermination.
Common Places Rat Droppings can be found
Why do rats infest homes? All pests that like to find their way into your home are searching for the same thing. They are looking for food, water, and shelter. Norway rats and the roof rats are two types of rats that are commonly seen in home infestations. Norway rats usually live outside in fields and sheds, but fall weather makes outdoor food supply scarce for them so they will resort to entering a home. Rats are very good climbers and can fit through holes the size of a quarter and sometimes even smaller making it very easy for them to infiltrate a house. They can also gnaw their way through some materials making small access holes larger. Their tendency to chew through everything can cause damage to a home and in some cases start a fire if wires are severed. Roof rats get their name from making attic spaces and upper parts of building structures their dwelling places. Rat poop can be found in any and every place it has traveled because of its territorial nature. Some common places that you may find rat feces would be, behind appliances, in kitchen cabinets, storage closets, and attic spaces.
Clegg’s Pest Control Rat Control Services
Finding rodents such as rats or mice sneaking around your home can be an extremely gross discovery. Finding rat poop in your home can be equally if not more nasty. Many homeowners are unsure of what to do when they find rat poop or rat droppings inside their home. The most common reaction is to grab some mouse traps and some cheese or peanut butter. When you find rat poop inside your home you could be dealing with a single rat, or you could be dealing with an all out rat infestation. In order to properly eradicate your rat infestation problem, your best bet is to reach out to a rat control expert. Here at Clegg’s Pest Control, we offer rat pest control services that will get rid of rats, and their feces, for good. Contact us today for your free initial inspection. Give us a call or fill out the online contact form below to get in touch. One of our friendly team members will be more than happy to assist you.
