There are many dangers that are associated with rat infestation, and you could be facing some pretty serious consequences if you don’t remove rats from your home as soon as they become a problem. No want wants to share their home with these pests, but many homeowners do not know they have rats until the problem has reached a very advanced level. By familiarizing yourself with the signs of rat infestation, you can spot the signs of infestation right away, and take the proper steps to eliminate these rodents.

So how do you know when you have a rodent problem that needs to be taken care of? The best way is to be aware of your surroundings, this way you can easily spot changes that could indicate the presence of rats. Here are 3 of the most common signs of the presence of rats in your home:

1) Living or Dead Rodents

Rats prefer to live within your home without being seen, but you may come across the carcass of a dead rat or even spot a live rodent scurrying across your home. If you are spotting live rats within your home, it usually means that the infestation has reached a very advanced level. If you’re already aware of a rodent population in your home and have spread poison around, dead rats are not an uncommon sight. In fact, these dead rodents can be taken as a sign that your control methods are working. If these dead rats are not found and disposed of quickly, however, they can lead to unpleasant odors throughout your home.

2) Bite and Gnaw Marks

Rats will gnaw on all sorts of items in and around your home. Baseboards, food packaging, and just about any item that’s made of wood or plastic can become the target of this gnawing. If you spot these marks throughout your home, it is a tell-tell sign that rodents have found their way inside. If you spot these marks you should immediately begin searching for the best rat control options in your home.

If you find gnaw marks on food packaging, you should throw this item out immediately. You could put yourself at risk of exposure to all types of diseases by consuming these products that rats have come in contact with. These diseases include (but are not limited to):

• Hantavirus

• Arenavirus

• Hemorrhagic Fever

• Leptospirosis

• Plague

• Rat-bite Fever

• Salmonellosis

• Tularemia

To avoid exposure to these diseases make sure to control the rodent population in your home as soon as you notice that it is a problem.

3) Strange Pet Behavior

If you notice your pets have started to spend a lot of time sniffing odd areas, they may have found the signs of rats before you. The areas that they are sniffing could be where rodents are living (such as behind walls or underneath cabinets) or where these rodents have urinated. An average rat can urinate as much as 3,000 times per day, so if they are present in your home they are leaving trails all over the house. Rats can spread bacteria and disease to your pets, so make sure to investigate the problem if you start to notice this odd behavior from your pets.

Don’t take risks when it comes to rat infestation. Mouse traps and rat poison can be effective, but there is no DIY rodent-control method that is as effective as having a licensed and experienced pest control expert come to your home. These experts know all of the signs of rat infestation, as well as the best way to control the specific type of rodent problem that is present in your home.