Seeing holes near your foundation? You may have rats!
An unexplained hole on your property often is the sign of critter activity. If you live in Ontario, that critter may well be a Norway rat.
Rat sightings and infestations are becoming more common in the Greater Toronto Area. And across the county.
A national survey conducted by Abell Pest Control found rat activity across Canada increased nearly 15% over the past three years.
Should I be concerned about rats near my home?
You definitely should be concerned about Norway rats near your home because they transmit disease. The rats carry pathogens that can harm you, your children, pets, even other wildlife.
And they can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home or vehicle. They gnaw through building materials and chew electrical wires, damaging cars and sparking house fires. They can get inside your home by traveling through old or broken sewer pipes.
Norway rats nest in the ground (compared to roof rats that nest in attics). They dig burrows, usually near structures and are most active at night.
On average, the brownish rats weigh 12 ounces (340 grams) and are 16 inches long from nose to tail end.
Norway rats quickly reproduce. That means one rat can swiftly grow into a full-blown infestation. The bigger the rat population, the more difficult it is to eliminate them.
Where should I look for rat holes on my property?
Norway rats usually dig burrows along foundation walls, retaining walls and raised garden walls, say experts at Pest HQ, Ontario’s leading source of do-it-yourself pest control products. They’ll also dig under the concrete slab of patios, sheds and garages.
Rat holes may suddenly appear for a number of reasons. Common ones include:
· Construction in the area. Construction activity pushes rats out of their usual nesting spots and forces them to move to new locations.
· Available food and water. Unfortunately, cities and suburbs provide plenty of easy food for rats. This includes garden produce, bird seed, fruit from trees, compost piles, pet food and water bowls, neighbourhood restaurant dumpsters and sidewalk trash bins.
Holes may be hard to see if you have ground cover (like pachysandra or creeping juniper) touching the foundation.
Besides holes, look for other signs of rat activity. These include:
· Pathways or ‘trails’ in long grass and vegetation where rats regularly travel.
· Greasy marks where rats rub up against the house or fence as they move along hard edges. The oil from their fur leaves a greasy stain.
· Gnaw marks on wood, plastic and other materials.
Pest HQ experts recommend walking your property to look for signs of rat activity at least once a month. During these inspections, also look for gaps, cracks and decaying wood, which may give rats, mice and wildlife an easy way to get into your home.
The sooner you identify a rat problem, the quicker you can act to get rid of them… before their numbers grow!
How to get rid of Norway rats in the yard
If you suspect rats are present, use professional-grade rat control products to eradicate them.
Unfortunately, you can’t get rid of rats overnight. Why? Norway rats are smart. They naturally know how to avoid danger. They are wary of anything new in their environment, like the sudden appearance of a rat trap.
That’s why Pest HQ experts suggest ‘pre-baiting’ traps for 3-5 days. Apply a dollop of professional-grade rat attractant to the trap’s bait tray or pedal, but don’t set the trap kill bar or striker mechanism.
You want the rat to get comfortable interacting with the trap. It’s okay if the rat gets a ‘free meal’ for a day or so.
When the rat is regularly taking the bait, set the trap.
A wildlife trail camera may help you identify where rats are traveling so you can place traps in those runs. Get more pro tips for killing rats.
How to keep Norway rats away from your home
To keep Norway rats away from your home going forward, eliminate the food and water they need to survive:
· Put away bird feeders or move them away from the house.
· Dispose of windfall fruit.
· Bring in pet food and water bowls.
· Stop composing or use a sealed compost drum.
· Put garbage in rodent-proof bins.
· Eliminate sources of standing water, like overwatering that causes puddles and replace corrugated downspout extenders that trap water with smooth extenders.
· Trim ground cover so it’s not touching the foundation. You want a good 12 to 18 inches of clear, open space to inspect properly.
· Move stacked wood and brush piles away from structures.
· Seal up potential entry points on structures using professional materials made for rodent exclusion. (Rats can chew right through builder caulk and standard garage door seals.)
Fix the reasons that rats were attracted to your home in the first place. Otherwise, you may have similar problems in the future. Get more tips for keeping rodents away from your home.
Be prepared to eliminate Norway rats
When you see signs of Norway rat activity, be prepared to act. Order rat traps, exclusion materials, attractants and other rat control products online from Pest HQ. Items ship fast or can be picked up at our headquarters: 7 Meridian Rd, Etobicoke, Ontario, Monday – Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Want to know more about protecting your home from rats and other pests? Our experts are here to help. Contact Pest HQ.
Read more:
Rats will chew your car wires. How to prevent this costly repair
Rats are on the move this fall
Complete guide to rodent control
