It is critical to inspect rodent infestations before any proper rat control program. The best time to inspect is during the rodent's period of high activity, if you hear the sound turn around, and check it out. Or call a professional.
Fecal Trails
Rat Nest
Rat Tracks
Rat Burrows
Rodent Runs
Rat Stains (rubs)
Rat Urine Stains
Live or Dead Rodents
Rodent Sounds (scratching or gnawing)
Rodent Odors (dead animal smell_
Rat Tracks: Feet prints and rat tail drags can be found in areas of high dust. One option is to use a powder agent (baby powder or flour) and lightly dust the area you have inspected to see if rats or rodents are travelling thru. Tracks can obvisouly be found in wet or moist areas we just do not recommend wetting areas in your attic for obvious reasons. some rodents have five toes on the hind feet and the hind feet leave the most tracking, if you feel inclined to look.
Rat Droppings: When inspecting, keep in mind that you are looking for signs of activity: gnawing, droppings (fecal Trails ) and tracks. A fresh dropping is softer in texture than an older dropping of three days or more. They will also be darker in color than older droppings. This will help you determine if your rodent population is current. The more droppings you have, the larger the rodent population.
Gnawing or Scratching Marks :
Newer rodent or rat marks will be rougher around the edges than older site.
Rats will typically make holes with rough edges.
The mice hole is about 1-1/2 inch in diameter.
The rat hole is 2 inches or more. It is common for rats to gnaw on wooden structural objects such as door corners, joists of flooring and ceilings, and wall studs.
Burrows: Rats will commonly burrow along foundations, beneath bushes and shrubbery or take up residence in a scrap pile of debris. The burrow entrance of a rat looks smooth and compacted. Roof Rats will more than likely be found off ground in such places as attics or trees. Mice will burrow, but most mice burrows are beneath slabs inside a building. The entry points to these burrows at cracks in the slabs, beneath expansion joints, or near support pillar footings. However it seems to be a growing trend for them to turn up in your weep holes.
Rat Stains (rubs): The older rat rubs can be flaked off, as they age they become dry. Look for grease markings around rafters, beams, pipes, vertical surfaces, and active runways that do not have dust or cobwebs. Be careful when cleaning up after rodents, we discuss the dangers here.
Rodent Runs:
The rodent runs, aka the path worn down will be between areas where the rats keep their nesting & feeding areas. Rodents will reuse the same route of travel relying on formed memories.
Outside, normally a narrow path waded thru vegetation or a path that has been packed down.
Inside, they remain close to walls for navigation. They can also be found behind dishwashers or plumbing inlets in wallas. Look for their grease or smudge marks along walls, pipes and beams.
Urine Stains: visible in a UV black light.
Pets: Often pets will often begin to get excited or upset. They may start pawing. When the rodent first enters, a pet can demonstrate excitement. The longer the rodent stays, the pet is less excitable.
Most people underestimate the size of the infestation and under plan, without proper thought and adequate trap placements.
Begin the inspection from the exterior( read our guide on how to keep rats out of your yard ) to the interior.
Focus on areas that may provide water, food, shelter, vegetation, wood piles, bird feeders, garages, attics, crawl spaces, and food storage. Entry points are important to consider when inspecting: windows, door thresholds typically have weather stripping, which is prone to cracking and ripping.
Rodents have oily hair leaving rat rubs where they consistently maneuver. Droppings, urine trails and gnawing marks all are signs of rodent activity.
Feces are critical in determining the type of rodent and measure of activity. Under each individual category of the Norway Rat, Roof Rat and Mouse the feces are discussed in detail.