How Professionals Remove Rat Infestations

 

Professional rat removal revolves around a combination of inspection, exclusion (blocking entry points), trapping, sanitation, and prevention. The aim is to remove current rats, stop their return, and make your home unwelcoming for future infestations. Here’s an in-depth explanation:

 

Initial Inspection

 

Professionals always start by thoroughly inspecting your property—both inside and outside. They look for signs like rat droppings (small, dark, rice-shaped pellets), gnaw marks on wires or wood, greasy rub marks along walls, chewed holes, nests made from shredded material, foul smells, and even scratching or squeaking noises in walls or ceilings. They seek out places where rats enter and exit, which are often small gaps—rats can squeeze through holes just 1/2 inch wide.

 

Sealing Entry Points (Exclusion)

 

Sealing every possible entry is crucial. Professionals identify and close gaps around pipes, doors, windows, vents, attic eaves, roof lines, and under siding. They often use strong materials like steel wool, metal flashing, or concrete—because rats can chew through plastic, wood, and even soft metals. Weatherstripping and door sweeps block spaces under doors. This step is called “exclusion” and prevents new rats from entering after current ones are caught or removed.

 

Trapping and Removal

 

Professionals rarely use poison inside people’s homes, since poisoned rats can die in hard-to-reach places and stink as they decompose. Instead, they place traps strategically in high-activity areas:

• Snap Traps: These kill rats instantly and are considered humane when properly used. Baits like peanut butter, dried fruit, or bacon attract rats to the trap.
• Electronic Traps: These deliver a quick, fatal shock.
• Live (Catch and Release) Traps: For those who prefer not to kill rats, but these require checking frequently and releasing the rats far away (over a mile) so they do not return.

Trapping continues for days or weeks until all rats are caught, and professionals monitor the decrease in activity signs to determine when the infestation is resolved.

 

Sanitation and Cleaning

 

Once rats are removed, cleaning is crucial. Professionals advise or assist with:

• Wearing gloves and masks (rat droppings and urine can spread diseases).
• Removing and disposing of nests, droppings, contaminated insulation, and damaged materials.
• Disinfecting affected areas using strong cleaners or a bleach solution.
• Checking and cleaning areas in attics, crawl spaces, garages, and storage areas.

This stops leftover germs, reduces health risks, and removes smells that might attract other rodents.

 

Prevention and Long-Term Control

 

Professionals help homeowners make changes to prevent a new rat problem:

• Storing food in sealed containers rather than bags or boxes rats can chew through.
• Cleaning up fallen fruit from yards, not leaving pet food outside, and keeping bird feeders clean.
• Sealing garbage bins tightly and removing clutter where rats can hide or nest.
• Trimming back bushes and tree branches at least three feet from the house, and clearing out woodpiles and debris near foundations.
• Regularly checking for new gaps and sealing them quickly.

Ongoing, professionals may conduct follow-up inspections to ensure the problem is truly gone and give advice tailored to your home’s unique risks.

 

Why Professional Help May Be Necessary

 

DIY rat control often fails because it’s easy to miss entry points or not place traps well. Professionals know rat behavior—how they travel, what attracts them, and common hiding places. They use this knowledge, along with professional-grade tools, traps, and techniques, to solve even severe or recurring problems safely, effectively, and with as little risk as possible to people, pets, and the environment.