Nobody wants to think about rats in their home or business—but if you suspect a rat problem, the worst thing you can do is wait. Rats multiply fast, cause serious damage, and can be incredibly difficult to eliminate once they’ve made themselves at home, so it’s important to call a rat removal service right away.
At Freedom Wildlife Solutions & Pest Control, we’ve seen how quickly a small rat issue can spiral into a full-blown infestation. Whether you’ve spotted a few signs or you’re hearing noises in the attic, here are five clear indicators it’s time to bring in a rat removal expert—and why trying to DIY it might make things worse.
Here are some signs of rats in your house.
1. You’re Finding Rat Droppings—Especially Near Food or Along Walls
One of the earliest and most obvious signs of a rat problem is the presence of droppings. Rat droppings are dark, capsule-shaped, and typically about ½ inch long. You’ll often find them:
- In cabinets and pantries
- Under sinks
- Along baseboards or walls
- Near food containers or trash cans
- In attics or crawlspaces
Fresh droppings are a sign of active infestation, and where there’s one rat, there’s usually more. Rats are nocturnal and secretive, so you may not see them—but the droppings tell the real story.
2. Rat Sounds: You’re Hearing Scurrying at Night
Rats are most active when the house is quiet—typically between dusk and dawn. If you’re lying in bed and hear light running, scratching, or chewing sounds in the ceiling or walls, you may have a rat infestation, and they may be using your attic as a nesting ground.
Common places you may hear activity:
- Attics
- Crawlspaces
- Inside wall voids
- Behind appliances
The sounds may be subtle at first, but as the population grows, the noise becomes more frequent and harder to ignore. If you’re hearing movement at night, it’s time to get a professional inspection.
3. You’ve Found Gnaw Marks or Opened Food Packages
Rats have constantly growing incisors, which drives them to chew on everything—including wires, wood, plastic, and even metal. Chewing is one of the most destructive behaviors rats bring into a home.
Look for:
- Holes gnawed into cereal boxes or food packaging
- Chewed electrical wires (a serious fire risk)
- Bite marks on baseboards or corners of furniture
- Damaged insulation or nesting material
These gnaw marks are not just gross—they’re dangerous. Rats can easily start electrical fires and create structural damage if left unchecked, so calling a rat removal expert is imperative.
4. You’ve Tried to Solve the Problem Yourself—But It’s Getting Worse
Rats are highly intelligent, adaptable animals. DIY solutions like store-bought traps or bait can work for a mouse or two—but with rats, you’re playing a dangerous game.
Here’s why:
- Rats are trap shy. If you set traps incorrectly, they may avoid them—and worse, they may become trained to avoid all traps going forward.
- Rats learn from experience. Failed DIY attempts can make it harder for professionals to solve the issue later.
- Over-the-counter poisons are often misused, creating safety risks for pets and children while failing to eliminate the colony.
We often get called after someone has spent weeks trying to solve the problem themselves—only to have the rats adapt and become more elusive. At that point, removal becomes more difficult and costly.
Bringing in a licensed wildlife expert early gives you the best chance of complete rat removal and long-term prevention.
5. You Know There’s a Rat—but You Haven’t Sealed Up the Home
Here’s the biggest difference between rat control and rat solutions: controlling the current problem without addressing how the rats got in means it’s only a matter of time before they’re back.
A true rat removal expert won’t just trap the current rodents—they’ll inspect your home or business to:
- Find every access point (rats can squeeze through holes the size of a quarter)
- Seal up entry points using materials rats can’t chew through
- Identify and correct conducive conditions like food sources, shelter, or moisture
If your home or building isn’t properly sealed, you’re stuck in a cycle of short-term fixes and repeat infestations. That’s why prevention is a key part of our service.
Rats Multiply Fast—Really Fast
Another reason to act quickly? Rats reproduce at an alarming rate.
- A single pair of rats can produce 6 to 12 pups per litter, with up to 7 litters per year
- Those pups become reproductive adults in just a few weeks
- What starts as one rat can become dozens in just a few months
The longer you wait, the more rats there are—and the more damage they’ll cause. We’ve seen small issues turn into attic-wide infestations, requiring thousands in repairs and full attic remediation.
What a Rat Removal Expert Does Differently
At Freedom Wildlife Solutions, our rat removal process includes:
- A thorough inspection of your home or business
- Identification of all active rat activity and entry points
- Trapping or bait station setup using strategic, species-specific placement
- Ongoing trap checks and adjustments
- Professional seal-up and exclusion work
- Optional sanitation or attic cleanup if needed
We don’t just throw down traps and leave—we follow a step-by-step plan designed to get results and stop the problem for good
Don’t Let Rats Take Over—Call Rat Removal Experts
If you’ve seen any of these signs—or if you’re just not sure—it’s time to schedule an inspection. At Freedom Wildlife Solutions & Pest Control, we’re licensed Wildlife Control Agents and rat removal specialists serving homeowners and businesses across the Triangle.
We’ll handle your rat problem quickly, professionally, and permanently.
Call Today to Schedule Your Rat Inspection
Protect your home from damage, contamination, and repeat infestations.
Call now or request an inspection online—we’ll take care of the rats, so you don’t have to.
