Did you know that there are over 60 different species of rats? The biggest rat that’s been discovered to date is about 32 inches long and weighs about 3 pounds. The smallest known rat is between 5 and 7 inches long.

Rats have been responsible for the extinction of many other animals. The most common house rats are also known to cause disease in humans.

This is why it’s important to look for signs of rats in your home. Keep reading to learn some of the signs you should look out for in order to know the type of rodents infesting your home.

1. Droppings Are an Indication

Rat droppings are one of the most obvious indications that your home has a rat infestation. If the droppings look grayish, they’ve been there for quite some time. Darker droppings are fresher and mean that you still have rats lurking around your home.

You’ll be able to tell that the droppings belong to a rat because of the size. Rat droppings tend to be between 3/4 and 1/2 of an inch long. Remember that if you decide to clean up the droppings before calling the professionals, you need to take precautions and use gloves.

2. Gnawed Wood Means You Have Rats in Your Home

An interesting fact about rats is that their front teeth grow each year. This is another way for you to find out if they’ve been in your home.

Rats will typically chew on things like wood or food packages, even wires. This helps rats file their teeth down but can cause some serious damage to your home.

Larger chew marks in areas around your house are a clear sign that you have rats living with you. Rats will also chew holes straight through walls in order to move around, this will only create a way for more rats to enter your home. Blocking these entry holes is one step in getting rid of the infestation.

3. You’ll Be Able to Smell Them

You’ll know you have rat problems because you’ll experience a new, particular smell in your house. If your home has started to smell musky as of late and if the smell doesn’t seem to go away no matter how much you clean, you might want to figure out if you’re living with rats.

If a rat dies in your house, you’ll be able to tell right away. The rotting smell is powerful and you’ll want to call in a professional pest control company to remove the dead rat. They will know how to do it in the correct manner and you’ll have peace of mind that your family and pets will remain safe.

4. You Can Trace Their Steps

Rats tend to follow a similar path each day, so following their trail will lead you right to where they’re hiding. You’ll be able to tell which ways they’re coming and going by following their footprints or the droppings they leave behind.

If you suspect rats running through an area with a lot of dust, take a flashlight up and check the path for their footprints. This will clearly indicate whether or not you have an infestation.

5. If Your Pets Are Acting Up

Pets are great at finding rats in the house. If you notice your cat scratching at a specific area or your dog barking in a certain direction, make sure you point that out when you have the pest control technician come inspect your home.

Dogs especially will be curious about the new smell a rat brings so if you notice them sniffing around an area of your home all the time, you might have one of these various types of rats and rodents living there.

6. Rats Leave Behind Greasy Marks

Rats have very greasy fur which helps them stay warm during winter seasons. As mentioned before, rats tend to follow the same path so tracking them is pretty simple.

As they run along the same path, the grease that rubs off from their fur becomes more visible. If you notice grease that you can’t identify in an area in your house you can be sure that you have rats crawling around there.

7. You Can Find Them by Their Nests

If you find a rat’s nest, you need to act quickly and schedule rat extermination as soon as possible. A nest indicates that your infestation is going to start growing and you want to make sure to resolve the problem before it gets out of hand.

If you find anything like shredded pieces of fabric or dried leaves in a bundle and you also spot droppings in the same area, this is a rat’s nest that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible.

8. Pay Attention If Your Allergies Act Up

Allergies are a reaction to some substance that your immune system doesn’t recognize. This can be a food or the fur or droppings of an animal.

If you notice your allergies are acting up more than usual, you might have a rat infestation in your home. You’ll want to act fast to get rid of the pests in your home to prevent the infestation from growing. This will also help alleviate your allergy symptoms.

9. You Can Hear Them Too

One of the first signs that’ll help you realize you have rats in your house is noise. When rats are living in your attic, you’ll be able to hear them scurrying back and forth clearly.

Scratching and chewing sounds in the walls or ceiling are also an indication of a rat infestation. This is a sign that you need to call a professional to help you resolve this problem without a hassle.

Now You Know the Signs of Rats in Your Home

No one wants a rat infestation. Some of the most common signs of rats are listed above and should help you figure out if you have a rat problem in your home.