How to Get Rid of Rats and Keep Them Out of Your Home

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To protect your home and family, it’s important to identify, eliminate, and prevent rat infestations effectively.
Look for signs like scratching noises, droppings, and chewed food bags to confirm if rats are present.
Use traps, seal entry points, and secure food storage to eliminate rats and keep them from returning.

Scratching sounds at night, a possible dropping, and chew marks on that rotini box ... Such are common signs that you're sharing your home with a rodent. So now what? Our experts break down how to determine if you have a rat problem, how to combat these pesky creatures, and how to rat-proof your home to keep them from coming back.

How to Identify a Rat Problem

Most people hear rodents in their home before seeing them. Since you're less likely to actually spot the rats themselves, here are some definite signs to look out for to determine whether you have unwelcome visitors.

Nocturnal Sounds

It’s not too tricky to identify if a home is infested with rats, as their lifestyle is quite noticeable, says Nicole Carpenter, president at Black Pest Prevention. "Rats are nocturnal, and it’s hard not to hear how they move around at night because they often travel inside walls, ceilings, and under floors," she explains. "It’s typically something like scratching, scurrying, or light thumping sounds."

Chew Marks

In addition to audible signs, be on the lookout for visible clues. "Something else you’ll want to keep an eye out for are chewed food bags, frayed wires, or pulled insulation in your attic or around your AC unit," says Sean Hearn, a licensed pest control operator and associate certified entomologist with All "U" Need Pest Control. "Those are usually pretty clear signs that something’s living there."

Droppings

Brown or black droppings are also a clear indication. "These rat feces mean you have an infestation," says Blair Calder, president of Automatic Trap Company. "Do not assume it is a one-off," he warns. "It means you most likely have many rats."

Rats or Mice?

It’s possible to determine whether your pest problem is rats or mice by checking their droppings. "Rat droppings are way bigger," Carpenter says, "about the size of a raisin."

Marks on the Walls

You might eventually notice grease marks on walls or areas that could be entry and exit points. "Rats are creatures of habit, and they like to use places to get in and out that they know and trust," explains Keith Hinds, vice president of operations at Modern Pest Services. "Over time, the grease in their fur can leave black marks, which is an indication that they are coming in and out of your home."

Effective Ways to Fight a Rat Problem

There are many ways to combat a rat problem, some more highly recommended than others.

Self-Resetting Traps

If you want to protect your home from rats, then Calder recommends self-resetting automatic traps as the top choice. "They are safe, efficient, hands-off, and highly efficient," he says. "Plus, they protect kids and pets, as well as the environment." These typically feature a CO2 striker in an enclosed protector. When there is a rat kill, it alerts you through a mobile app on your phone, allowing you to dispose of them immediately.

Instead of poison, these traps usually use a peanut-butter-and-jelly-scented lure that is long-lasting. "So you don't need to touch it often like you do a snap trap," Calder says. "The self-resetting feature is much more sanitary for humans."

Snap Traps

Snap traps are the gold standard for controlling rats, but they work only if you buy rat-sized traps specifically. "Place them in hidden places where rats travel quite frequently," Carpenter says, "about one trap every six to 10 feet."

You’ll need to keep a close watch on the traps and empty them immediately. "The regular snap traps may work, but little kid fingers investigating or a cat or dog wanting the treat attached to it may mean you end up at the doctor's office or vet office with an injury," cautions Calder.

Outdoor Bait Stations

On the outside of the home, professional bait stations may help control rats before they get inside. However, Hearn recommends hiring a professional to install and monitor so there’s no room for setting and forgetting.

Live Traps

Live traps are an option if you prefer to catch and release the rat. “Keep in mind, you’ll need to relocate it pretty far away as you don’t want to release a rat just for it to come back in the near future,” Hearn says. “And please don’t release it into a neighborhood—you’ll just be adding to someone else’s problem.”

Essential Oils

Some people use peppermint oil to deal with rats, as rodents dislike strong smells. "Honestly, it might help a little as a deterrent," Hearn says, "but it usually won’t solve the root problem of a real infestation by itself."

Don't go at it alone. "Rats multiply fast and can quickly become an issue you can’t deal with on your own," says Hinds. A professional can aid you in understanding how the rats are accessing your home and how best to cut off entry.

"Yes, you can set your own traps and hope to catch them, but there are usually more than one—and they are much tougher to catch than mice," Hinds warns. "Rats are also sturdier, and a bigger mouse trap might just injure them and not actually catch them."

What to Avoid

Using rat poison is not the best idea for homes. “It can easily end up with dead, decaying rats inside walls,” Carpenter says. And remember that some catch-and-release methods may not be completely humane. "If you release the rat off your property, at a park or a natural area, you've just doomed the rat to an unpleasant ending," warns Garrett Thrasher, co-owner and general manager of Thrasher Pest Control in San Diego. "There have been studies on what happens to rats who are relocated to a new area, and it never ends like a Disney movie," he says.

How to Keep Rats From Returning

Your best pest-control strategy is preventing pests from occupying your property in the first place. (It's also the most humane way to deal with them.) Seal pet food up in airtight containers, and store your pantry items—like boxed pasta, crackers, and chips—in containers, as well. You’ll also want to make sure your trash and recycling bins are secure.

Thoroughly inspect your home for any cracks and holes and fill them in immediately. "Even the smallest of cracks can become an entry point, as rats and mice can make themselves very small," Hinds says. "Metal flashing or hardware cloth is one of the most effective defenses. You can stuff these items into holes to make it much harder for a rat to get in. Chicken wire is also great."

Carpenter also recommends buying rodent-proof door sweeps with metal or nylon bristles. Since rats can’t chew through metal bristles, these provide better protection than standard rubber sweeps. Basements are often where rats get in, adds Hinds, so be sure to also keep these areas clean and avoid having too much clutter around where they can make nesting areas.

Next, inspect the surrounding property. Clean up any landscaping and always trim trees and shrubs away from the roof. "Many homes that have a rat problem in their attic are because of a nearby tree touching the home that creates a bridge for rats to cross," Hearn says. "You don’t have to cut the whole tree down, just trim the branches that are hanging over and that are touching the home."

Additionally, if you have a dog that uses the bathroom in your yard, always pick up and dispose of their waste immediately. Rats are attracted to waste, and it can be an invitation for them to take a look around your home and find ways in.

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How to Get Rid of Rats and Keep Them Out of Your Home for Good