Nobody wants rats scurrying and squeaking around in the attic, right? Most people would find the thought of rats running around in the attic over their heads as they sleep downright disturbing. Well, you can help avoid those worries by doing things to help prevent rats from moving in to begin with.
Here are some things you can do at home to help prevent rats from entering your attic:
- Seal any holes or cracks in your home that are larger than one-fourth of an inch. A hole or crack that small is all a mouse needs to enter your home and a full-grown rat only need a one-half of an inch hole.
- Make sure ivy and tree limbs are trimmed back from the sides of your house. Rats are good climbers and these things can provide access to the roof. Some species of rats even nest in trees or other locations off the ground.
- Stack firewood and piles of debris far from your house, as these are potential shelters that could attract rats and may provide a hidden location for their burrow entrance.
- Store food — including pet food — in airtight containers so that rats aren't able to smell it.
- Keep outdoor trash cans sealed and make sure compost piles are far from the home so that these attractants don’t give rats the impression that your attic is a safe haven with a nearby all-you-can-eat buffet.
- Contact a rodent control professional to inspect your home for potential rodent entry points and recommend an exclusion plan for sealing rodents out.
Ways Rats Can Get Into Your Attic
Rats in cartoons and animated films are often depicted as being crafty and resourceful. There may be a good reason for this, as these animals are pretty adept in regard to the art of breaking and entering.
When it comes to your attic in particular, there are several ways rats can make their way in. To start, some – roof rats - are excellent climbers and can reach your home via tree branches that extend to your roof or vines and ivy that climb your house.
In addition, rats are pretty nimble creatures and can fit into very small holes. As a matter of fact, these rodents can make their way through holes that are the size of a quarter. Even if they come across an access point that’s too small, rats have been known to gnaw a hole until it’s big enough for them to fit through.
Once they're in, they can be a real nuisance, and even dangerous. They can chew through electrical wires, potentially sparking fires, and they can also leave unhealthy droppings behind. Keeping them out of your home can help give you a sense of security.
How to Get Rid of Rats in the Attic
Are you hearing bumps and squeaks in the night? Then it’s possible that you could already have rats in your attic. But don’t panic and put your house on the market yet. Take a deep breath and contact a professional rodent control service, like Terminix® for a free inspection. A trained Terminix technician can inspect your home, identify the intruders and determine the most effective way to get rats out of your attic. And then Terminix can customize a solution to keep them from coming back.
