After you have had rats in your house and got rid of them, there might still be more left. Fortunately, there are various ways to know if rats are gone. So, how can you be sure that all the rats are gone? You can do some simple tests at home to confirm if there is still an infestation. For example, you can leave out crackers, flour, or peppermint oil and see if they are disturbed. Also, look for any remaining signs of rats in your house after doing these tests. These and many more are explained in this guide to help confidently determine whether you still have rats or not.
How Do You Know if Rats Are Gone
Once you have tried to get rid of rats in your house, you want to do some tests to be sure if any are still around. Even if you have already tried different ways to get rid of them, it helps to take an extra step to make sure they are completely gone from your home.
You can use things you already have at home to check if there are still rats inside. Here are some simple tests you can do yourself to know if rats are gone.
1. Use Crackers for Testing
Put crackers around your house to find out about rat presence. This is a good trick to see if there are still rats. Rats only need a tiny bit of food daily and will eat almost anything they come across, including cockroaches. Since they are always searching for food, this method could show if there are still rats in your home.
Just leave some crackers around your house. Later, check if the crackers have been moved or have bites. If they have, it could mean there are still rats around.
2. Set Up New Traps
Put traps where you think there might be rats. You can use snap traps or live traps. Just remember to read and follow the instructions that come with the traps. Make sure to keep an eye on the traps often and take out any rats you catch. By the way, if you see any rats in the trap, it means you still have a rat problem. Follow this extensive guide to set a rat trap without hurting yourself.
3. Look Out for Common Rat Signs
After getting rid of rats from your home or garden, keep checking for rat signs regularly. If you see any signs, just do the same steps again. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), common signs of rat presence include:
- Nesting material such as shredded paper, fabric, or dried plant matter.
- Rodent droppings around food packages, in drawers or cupboards, and under the sink.
- Signs of chewing on food packaging.
- Stale smells coming from hidden areas.
- Holes chewed through walls and floors that create entry points into the home.
If you have had rats around recently, you might be curious to know if rats are gone. These critters can be tricky to remove completely, so knowing when they are all gone is necessary.
4. Apply Powder or Flour Dusting
You can put powder or flour on the floor where you think they might be to know if rats are gone. Rats move around to find food, so if you see small footprints in the powder or flour, it could mean they have been there.
Just sprinkle the powder or flour and look for tiny footprints. Rats will probably leave footprints in it because they have small feet.
5. Detect Rats with Peppermint Oil Scent
You can use peppermint oil to find out if there are still rats in your house. Just dip a cotton ball in peppermint oil and put it where rats might come in. Rats generally do not like strong smells, so they will stay away. Later, see if the cotton ball has any marks to know if a rat touched it.
Also, you can use this method to keep rats away for a bit. Rats hate strong smells and will stay away from the peppermint. In the absence of peppermint, you can use citronella oil or castor oil. If you do not have any of these, consider using vinegar.
6. Persistent Rat Odors and Noises
If your place has a strong, musky smell, that might be a sign to know if rats are gone. Rats leave pee and droppings, and as time goes on, they start to smell like ammonia.
Also, if you keep hearing squeaks, scratches, or scurrying sounds, it could mean rats are still in your house. These sounds often come from walls or attics where rats like to hide.
Remember, rats are creatures of the night, so they’re most active when it’s dark. So, keep an ear out for these sounds at night. If you spot rats during the day whether in your garden or inside your home, something might have disturbed their home or they’re looking for food. It could also suggest a bigger rat problem inside your house.
7. Gnaw Indications Post Pest Control
When you are checking for rats, pay attention to gnaw marks. Rats like to chew on things like food packages, wires, paper, and cardboard. They chew through stuff to move around and find food and water. If you detect gnaw marks after taking measures to remove these pests from your home, it could be a sign of their presence.
They can even make holes by chewing through pipes, walls, and floors. Rats need to keep chewing on stuff to survive outdoors. Their strong teeth and jaws help them find food and make homes. Chewing also keeps their teeth from getting too long.
According to Nature’s Lab Animal, gnawing is an important natural behavior for rodents. Their teeth grow continuously throughout their lives, and gnawing maintains the dental health of rats.
8. Strange Pet Actions
Weird things your pet does could show there are still rats around. If you have a pet, watch how they act. For instance, a dog might suddenly bark a lot or seem more watchful. They might also paw at spots where rats hide, like under the fridge or stove.
Contact Your Local Pest Control Company
If you took DIY measures to get rid of rats from your home, it may not have been effective. Thus, the reason you still have rats. So, after checking to know if rats are gone, and you still find them, consider professional control for rat presence in your home.
Pest management professionals can solve your rat problem fast, along with any other pest issues you may have. Ultimately, they would generally do a great job getting rid of pests, just the way you need and humanely using a plan that works for your home. Don’t delay because one rat can turn into hundreds in a few months.
