Ratatouille! 5 Warning Signs You Have a Rat Problem in Your Home
The fear of rats and mice is a common phobia. It’s even been given a name: musophobia. Still, it doesn’t offer much comfort for people who break into a cold sweat at the thought of being near these disease-carrying rodents.
A TikTok video went viral last year showing a lone rat scurrying along Terminal A at Orlando International Airport. Passengers could be heard screaming in the background as it evaded capture by airport staff.
It was funny at the time with the video clocking more than 7 million views. But it also rammed home a hideous truth – Orlando’s rodent problem.
For a while, rat infestations dominated local news, the most recent being that of three Orlando restaurants forced to close temporarily due to rodent activity on the premises. Almost every rat exterminator in Orlando had their hands full trying to prevent the sightings from growing into a full-blown infestation.
Rats are stealthy creatures. You may not know you’re sharing real estate with them until it’s too late. In this article, we’ll discuss the potential signs that you could have a rat problem in your home.
1 Rat Droppings
This is the most obvious sign. Some homeowners who aren’t used to seeing the dark droppings in their kitchen pantries might mistake them for something else.
Fresh droppings are dark and moist. They become gray and brittle over time. The uninvited guests are opportunists, so the chances of spotting the droppings near food sources are high.
You might not spot them as rats tend to come out at night. You also can’t be sure if they are rats or something else.
The best advice is to call in a rat removal company. They’ll perform a site inspection, including the exterior and the attic, says Proteck Wildlife Solutions, an Orlando rat removal company.
2 Nighttime Noise
Because rats are nocturnal, they are mostly active during the night. That scratching sound is the sign you’re looking for. It either means you have rats, mice or raccoons.
Catriona Stack is the principal environmental health officer for Dublin’s Health Service Executive’s Pest Control Team. She tells The Irish Times that often she gets late-night phone calls from frantic homeowners and tenants.
Stack says the sound of vermin running around your home while you’re in bed can cause distress.
If you hear unnerving noises coming from your walls, under the floorboards and in your attic, it’s time to call in the professionals.
3 Ammonia-Like Smell
Rodent urine has a distinct odor, and it’s hard to miss. The strong smell of ammonia is an indicator that you could have more than two or three rats in your home. This doesn’t bode well for you. A rat infestation is certainly what you’re dealing with.
It’s not just the smell of rat pee you should be wary of. Their urine carries diseases. In 2023, New York City reported 24 cases of leptospirosis. The infection is linked to exposure to rat urine, ABC News reported.
Symptoms are fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, vomiting, diarrhea and jaundice. If the condition is not treated, meningitis, liver damage, kidney failure, and respiratory distress can occur.
4 Rodent Nests
Rats will make nests out of just about anything. They aren’t called scavengers for nothing. If you see bits and bobs of paper, fabric and other household items piled up, you can bet your bottom dollar it’s a rat’s nest.
ABC 7 reported on Chicago motorists complaining about rats chewing through their cars’ wires and making nests under their hoods.
One resident says she spent more than $1,300 because of the damage the rats had caused. The problem is becoming a common and expensive one. Mechanic Ken Ziolo says motorists should use a special rat-repellent tape to cover the wires. Even better if they are scented with red hot chilli pepper.
5 Stressed Pets
Your pets will know when other animals are encroaching on their territory. Unusual pet behavior like incessant barking and continuously sniffing the same area will let you know there’s a rat on your property.
Unfortunately, your pets can also contract diseases. A Baltimore family says their three-year-old Biewer Terrier was rushed to the emergency veterinarian hospital after he stopped eating.
He had to be put down following kidney and liver failure. Test results show that little Staxx had contracted leptospirosis.
Dr Jonathan Kaufman, a veterinarian at Eastern Animal Hospital, says rats are the source of the disease in the Baltimore area. He cautions pet owners to get an annual vaccine to prevent infection.
Many homeowners wait till it’s too late to get in a rodent removal company. If you suspect you may have rats, take immediate action and consult a professional before it develops into a rodent infestation.
