Get your flashlight out, it’s time to go looking for rats and the warning signs of rat activity. Wear something you don’t mind getting dirty, rats don’t hang out in clean places, and you’re going to have to go into places that are kind of gross.

Crawl Space: If you have a crawl space under your home, it is the first place you should check. You may see a rat or a rat’s nest in this space. You may also notice a rat hole. Norway rats create burrows in the ground and might choose to live in your crawl space. But, more than these, you’re likely to find feces. You’ll see their droppings if rats are living in the space or exploring it. You may also see dog waste. City rats sometimes take to eating the droppings of domesticated canines. If you find a stack of dog droppings, you have a rat problem. Also, look for grease stains on pipes. Rats often run along pipes and stain them with the grease from their fur.  

Deck: Rats often get under decks, particularly if there is wood or leaf litter for rats to hide in. In this void, you might see rat droppings or a matted-down nest. If there is nothing under your deck, you should have no rats unless the void is somewhat protected.  

Attic: Rats commonly hide in unfinished attics because they’re secluded. If you have a rat problem, you should see feces sprinkled on insulation or floorboards, stains on rafters, and nests tucked into recesses. If you have furniture in storage, inspect these items. Rats often hide inside couches, chairs, mattresses, and box springs in storage. If rats are in your stored items, you’re likely to smell urine when you get near the items.

Sheds: Rats like to hide under sheds and outbuildings. These provide protection from the elements. It is difficult to inspect underneath a shed. If you can shine a light under, the best you can do is inspect the exterior. Look for holes dug in the soil, holes chewed in the structures, droppings, and the scent of urine. You might also notice grease marks on the exterior, down low where a rat would touch as it ran along the side. 

Junk Piles: Norway rats commonly create ground borrows under junk piles. They prefer wood and other organic materials but will also hide under general man-made junk. If you have wood rats, they’ll definitely be underneath scrap wood, campfire wood, construction materials, and other stacked wood.

Landscaping: Rodents love to hide in landscaping, particularly in dense areas of vegetation. Get down low and shine a light into your landscaping at dusk. If there are rats in there, you’ll see them moving around in the darkness.

Culverts: If you have an accessible culvert that abuts your property, it is a good place to look for rats. They often live near water sources and culverts provide an ideal environment.

When you find evidence of rat activity, the next step is to consider control methods to get rid of rats on your property. What is the best way to get rid of rats outside? We believe all-natural solutions are the best option.