Rats are very dirty and can be very dangerous animals to have in and around your home. They often carry a variety of germs and diseases. If you suspect you have rats or know for sure you do than it is important that you know how to get rid of rats. Rats are very secretive animals that often hide in dark or unused areas such as crawlspaces. Signs that you may have a rat problem include finding rat droppings which actually look like tiny pieces of food you can find the on the floor or even in you cabinets. Another sign is if you smell a foul urine like smell in and around your home which very well could be rat urine. If you hear scurrying noises in your walls or on the floor especially at night that could also be a sign of rats. If you notice wood or electrical wires frayed or looking gnawed at it is very likely it was done by a rat. Rats chew threw things to keep there teeth filed down and sharp. If you noticed that your dog or maybe even your cat keeps barking at one particular area on a wall in home they actually may smell the rat. If you notice grease lines on your walls particularly where food is stored that is a major indication that you have rats. They leave a distinct smell for themselves and other rats to know where they are going. Check tiny spaces between your walls or cracks in the paint as mice can easily fit through tiny spaces. If you still can't find conclusive evidence that you have mice but still believe you do you may have to bring in a professional to tell you.
If you have found evidence of rats it is very important that you get rid of them because they are very dirty and could be carrying diseases through your home. Wood snap traps are a great way to rid house of rats especially if you have found evidence because than you know where to place the traps. Place the traps near what you found because rats often revisit the same area for weeks at a time. Put a little bit of peanut butter or an apple piece on the trap to bait the pests. Leave the rat traps out for about a week or until you capture one. If you do happen to get one make sure you use gloves when handling it. Wrap the rat in newspaper and put it into a plastic bag. Dispose of it in garbage can that has a lid and is closed. Wash your hands thoroughly even if you wore gloves because they are very dirty animals. Be sure and disinfect the areas where you seen the rats but do not sweep it or vacuum it scrub it with a rag and cleaning fluid.
If you do not want to see or touch the animals to get rid of the than using a bait station is a good idea. Bait station are usually black boxes that you store either liquid or food bait in to trap a rat. They are closed boxes that lock with a key that comes included so your pets and children cannot get them open. They offer a variety of sizes and have ones big enough to hold six rats at once. You place the bait stations in the area you suspect rats and let them smell the food out. A rat zapper works great also.They are available in select stores as well as online for a very reasonable price.
If you have tried traps and bait and it has not worked you may need to call in a professional to have the problem taken care. Professionals can often be costly but if needed they can be effective.