How to Get Rid of Rats: Professional Rodent Control Guide

Two rat species are responsible for most home invasions. The Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), also called the brown rat or sewer rat, is the larger species at 7-10 inches long (body) with a thick, scaly tail shorter than its body. It has brown fur with a grayish underside, small ears relative to its head, and a blunt snout. Norway rats prefer ground-level and underground locations.

The roof rat (Rattus rattus), also known as the black rat, is slightly smaller with a sleeker build, a tail longer than its body, large ears, and a pointed snout. Roof rats are excellent climbers and prefer attics, rafters, and upper stories. They have dark brown to black fur with a lighter underside.

Rats are significantly larger than mice and produce larger droppings (1/2-3/4 inch, blunt-ended for Norway rats; 1/2 inch, spindle-shaped for roof rats). Juvenile rats are sometimes confused with adult mice, but rats have proportionally larger feet, thicker tails, and smaller ears relative to head size compared to mice.

Rat droppings are larger and fewer than mouse droppings but equally diagnostic. Norway rat droppings are capsule-shaped with blunt ends (about 3/4 inch), while roof rat droppings are spindle-shaped with pointed ends (about 1/2 inch). You will find them along travel paths, near food sources, and in nesting areas.

Rats leave heavy grease marks (rub marks) along walls, pipes, and rafters where they repeatedly travel. Gnaw marks are larger than those from mice - rats can gnaw through wood, plastic, soft metals like aluminum, and even concrete in some cases. You may notice gnaw damage on food containers, wiring, PVC pipes, and structural materials.

Sounds are often the first clue. Listen for heavy scurrying, squeaking, and gnawing in walls, ceilings, and attics at night. Norway rats create burrows in the ground along foundations, under sidewalks, and in garden beds - look for holes 2-3 inches in diameter with smooth, compacted edges. Rat urine produces a strong ammonia odor, and nesting materials (shredded paper, fabric, insulation) accumulate in hidden areas.

Rats transmit numerous diseases to humans either directly or through their parasites. Leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, salmonellosis, and plague can be spread through contact with rat droppings, urine, or saliva. Rats also carry fleas, ticks, and mites that can transmit additional diseases to humans and pets.

Property damage from rats is substantial. Their strong teeth continuously grow, driving them to gnaw on virtually anything - including electrical wiring (fire risk), plumbing (water damage risk), structural wood, insulation, and stored belongings. Rats in attics can cause thousands of dollars in insulation damage and contamination. Norway rats burrowing near foundations can undermine structural integrity.

Rats contaminate far more food than they consume. The USDA estimates that rats destroy or contaminate roughly 20% of the world's food supply. In homes, they spoil pantry goods, garden produce, and pet food. Rat infestations can also significantly affect property values and are a liability concern for businesses, landlords, and property managers.

Rat control is more challenging than mouse control because rats are larger, more cautious (neophobic), and can be dangerous to handle. Snap traps sized for rats (not mouse traps) can work for small infestations, but rats are often wary of new objects and may avoid traps for days. Bait traps with peanut butter, bacon, or dried fruit and place them along walls and known travel paths.

Pre-baiting (placing unset traps with bait for a few days) can improve success with cautious rats. Use at least a dozen traps for a suspected rat problem. Wear gloves when handling traps, and check them daily. Seal entry points as you trap - rats need a hole only 1/2 inch in diameter to enter, and they can gnaw through many materials to enlarge smaller openings.

Call a professional when: you have rats in walls or attic spaces, you hear activity but cannot locate the rats, trapping has not eliminated the problem within two weeks, you are dealing with roof rats in upper stories, or the property has structural vulnerabilities that require professional exclusion work. Rats in commercial properties should always be handled professionally. Professionals have access to commercial-grade rodenticides in tamper-resistant stations, advanced trapping systems, and the expertise to perform comprehensive exclusion.

Exclusion is critical. Rats can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter. Inspect your home's exterior thoroughly and seal openings with heavy-gauge hardware cloth, sheet metal, or cement. Pay special attention to where pipes and wires enter the building, gaps around doors and garage seals, roof vents, and soffit gaps. Roof rats can enter through openings high on the structure, so inspect the roofline as well.

Eliminate food sources and harborage. Store food in rat-proof containers. Keep garbage in heavy-duty bins with secure lids. Remove fallen fruit from the ground. Do not leave pet food outside. Clean up birdseed spillage. Compost bins should be rodent-resistant. For roof rats, trim tree branches to at least 4 feet from the roofline to remove access routes.

Keep your property well-maintained. Remove debris piles, overgrown vegetation, and abandoned items that provide shelter. Stack firewood well away from the house and off the ground. Repair damaged vent screens promptly. In commercial settings, maintain loading dock areas and dumpster pads, inspect incoming shipments, and maintain an ongoing pest monitoring program.

Professional rat control typically costs $300-$900 for an initial service that includes inspection, trapping, and basic exclusion. Comprehensive exclusion (sealing all potential entry points) often runs an additional $1,000-$5,000 depending on the home's size, construction type, and number of vulnerabilities.

Attic remediation (removing contaminated insulation and replacing it) can add $1,500-$5,000 or more. Ongoing monitoring plans cost $300-$600 per year. Factors affecting price include rat species, severity, accessibility of nesting areas, extent of exclusion work needed, and property size. The cost of professional rat control is almost always less than the cost of damage from an untreated infestation.

See our full Rodent Control Cost Guide for detailed pricing by method.