If you’ve been hearing many sounds from your walls recently, chances are that they aren’t wall monsters. They’re probably some rodent that found its way inside and is now living rent-free, gnawing away and feeding on your snacks. And, because of their huge population in SoCal, the noises you heard last night were from rats in your walls.

If you’re dealing with a rat infestation in your walls, you’ll need to take action immediately since rats can carry deadly diseases and ruin your house with their huge reproduction rate. But first, you’ll need to make sure that you’re actually dealing with rats instead of other rodents like mice or squirrels.

That’s exactly what we’ll be focusing on today. We’ll check out some of the most common signs of rats in your walls, as well as how you can get rid of rats. For now, though, let’s actually find out how these little nuisances get inside your walls in the first place.

How Do Rats Get In Your Walls

Contrary to popular belief, rats are intelligent creatures. So, when they’re seeking shelter during the winter, or they just want to find a place to nest and reproduce, they’ll find the least buzzy areas. And what’s more peaceful than your walls or your attic?

So, in turn, rats will spot the tiniest of small holes or even chew some of them out to gain access to your house’s interior. That being said, unless you’ve seen them running around, it’ll be difficult to know if you actually have rats in your walls instead of other rodents, like mice.

How to Tell If You Have Rats in Your Walls

Rats are right in the middle in size compared to other rodents. While this means they’ll be able to roam around in your house’s walls and foundations, they’re large enough to leave some noticeable signs of their presence behind.

1. Sounds During the Night

Rats are nocturnal rodents, meaning they’re active at night. If you hear any noises during the day, it’s most likely a squirrel rather than a rat. While the sounds vary, scurrying and scratching are the predominant ones.

2. Chewed-Out Wiring

Every rodent must constantly gnaw on something to keep its teeth from overgrowing. Unfortunately, wiring and plumbing is the usual target, as most rats will chew out these if given a chance.

3. Holes

As previously mentioned, rats chew out holes to create small channels and connect their nests with food and water sources. So, if you find any of these near your kitchen, you must take action immediately.

4. Rat Droppings

Rat droppings are a dead giveaway that you’re dealing with a rat infestation. These are different from mouse droppings as they’re larger in size and darker in color.

5. Nests and Foul Odors

While it might be difficult to find a rat nest if it’s inside your walls, the ammonia smell from their urine will be evident. This is especially true if you have pets; they’ll be attracted by that smell and start hanging around that area more often.

6. Rat Tracks

Since rats aren’t as small as mice, their bodies will leave smudge marks across their tracks. You can also place flour or baby powder on these to see where they lead and potentially find the root of the infestation.

How to Get Rid of Rats in the Walls

Getting rid of rats in your walls is very similar to getting rid of them in your attic. The key is to make it as unappealing as possible to them so that they seek shelter elsewhere.

So, the first thing you need to do is locate all the holes they’ve created. Once you do that, seal them with a mixture of steel wool and caulking, except for one, where they’ll be able to leave from.

You can also use pungent smells like peppermint spray or live traps to catch them and get rid of them. But, we highly suggest hiring a rodent removal company to make the whole process effortless.

Let Us Get Rid of the Rats in Your Walls, the Green Way

Having rats in your walls can be quite a nuisance, considering that they’ll keep you up at night and put yourself and your family in danger. So, once you notice any of the signs we mentioned above, contact a professional immediately. And, if you’re in sunny SoCal, look no further than our team!

At Green Rodent Restoration, we ensure that any rodents you have in your house are removed humanely. Plus, we’ll always guarantee that you won’t have any more of these little guys running around your house any time soon. Contact us now for a free estimate!