Scratching or gnawing sounds at night — especially inside your walls — almost always mean rats or mice. Rodents are nocturnal, breed extremely fast, and cause serious damage to wiring, insulation, and the structure of your home. If you suspect rodents, acting quickly is critical.
Signs You Have Rats or Rodents in Your Home
- Scratching, scurrying, or gnawing sounds at night — rats are nocturnal
- Sounds coming from inside the walls, not just the attic
- Small dark droppings — rat droppings are about the size of a raisin, mouse droppings are smaller
- Gnaw marks on wood, wiring, pipes, and food containers
- Grease marks along walls or baseboards — caused by oils in rat fur
- Nesting material — shredded paper, fabric, or insulation in hidden spaces
- Musty or ammonia smell in enclosed areas
Why Rats in Your Home Are Serious
- Chewed electrical wiring is a direct cause of house fires — rats gnaw constantly and are attracted to wire insulation
- Rats carry diseases including leptospirosis, hantavirus, and salmonella — transmissible to humans and pets
- They breed extremely rapidly — a single pair can produce hundreds of offspring per year
- They contaminate insulation, food storage, and HVAC systems with droppings and urine
- Entry holes invite additional pests including insects and other wildlife
How Rodents Get In
Rats can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter. Mice can fit through a hole the size of a dime. Common entry points include gaps around pipes and utility lines, damaged roof vents, holes in soffits and fascia, gaps where the roof meets the wall, and cracks in the foundation. A thorough inspection finds every one of them.
Professional Rodent Removal Process
- Full inspection to find all entry points and assess the extent of activity
- Trapping — strategically placed traps based on activity signs and travel routes
- Entry point sealing — steel wool, hardware cloth, and sealant to prevent re-entry
- Cleanup — droppings and contaminated insulation removed safely
- Monitoring — follow-up visits to confirm complete elimination
Why DIY Rodent Control Fails
Store-bought traps and poison bait stations rarely solve a rodent problem permanently. They may reduce the population temporarily, but without sealing every entry point the rodents simply return — or new ones move in. Poison bait also creates a secondary risk: a rat that dies inside your wall creates an odor problem that can last for weeks. Professional exclusion is the only permanent solution.
Find Rodent Removal Near You
AAAC Wildlife Removal has rodent removal experts across 17 states who will find every entry point and seal them permanently.