Droppings
One of the early warning signs of rats is droppings. You can find evidence of a rat infestation inside your home by checking along the corners and baseboards in your home.
The rodent droppings are between a half-inch to three-quarter inches, and they have a slight sheen and dull tone. Also, depending on the rats, droppings can be found scattered about or in clumps.
Urine stains
Another tell tale sign of rodent infestations are urine trails or puddles and “oil” stains on dividers and floors.
These stains are a consequence of regular oils and soil on the rodents’ hide scouring on surfaces they step foot on.
Rodent urine has a stale aroma that is easily identified in confined spaces.
Evidence of chewing
Rodents are ferocious nibblers who can chomp through nearly everything except for glass, metal, and thick plastic. Regardless of whether droppings are not noticeable, if you find bite marks on your food boxes, you are likely dealing with a rat issue.
They are also known to chew through plastic water pipes. Look at the regions around any lines or spigots to check for indications of biting.
Rats have teeth that never stop growing, so they always seek to grind them down by chewing on hard surfaces.
They love to chew on wood, so you should easily be able to tell by looking at wood surfaces for fresh bite marks that haven’t been aged or discolored yet.
The telltale sounds
If you’re up late at night, when nothing should be stirring, and you start to hear scratching, squeaks, or scampering: there’s a good chance you’ve got rats.
Be on the lookout for these kinds of sounds, because it means your rodents are looking for food and building material for their nests.
Nesting
Rodents like to find comfort in warm and dry spots, including boxes, inside cupboards, behind dressers, and even inside PC towers.
They are also keen to burrow into furniture foam and cushions to hide and nest in comfort and warmth .
Pay attention to your Pets
The presence of rodents can agitate your dogs and cats. If your pet or canine is suddenly on high alert and searching frantically around your home, there’s a good bet that they saw, smelled, or heard a rat.
