Where Do Rats Build Nests Around Homes?

The Norway rat (brown or sewer rat) is a burrowing, ground-dwelling rodent. UC IPM notes its burrows "may be found along building foundations, beneath rubbish or woodpiles, and around gardens and fields." An active Norway burrow entrance is typically 2 to 3 inches across and kept clear of debris, often with a hard-packed runway leading to it and fresh soil fanned out at the opening. Indoors, Norway rats favor basements, crawl spaces, and lower floors, nesting in voids near a food source.

The roof rat, by contrast, is an agile climber that prefers to nest in secluded areas above ground — attics, soffits, overhead garage storage, vine cover, and woodpiles — and only occasionally burrows, mainly in warm climates where Norway rats are absent. Cornell confirms roof rats are generally not found in the Northeast, which means for New Hampshire the practical target is the Norway rat and its ground-level burrows, not an attic-nesting roof rat.

Because Norway rats dominate the region, an NH inspection should prioritize foundation perimeters, woodpiles, debris piles, and basement or crawl-space voids near a food source, rather than the attic. Attic rodent activity in NH is more likely climbing mice or squirrels than roof rats.