Cope With the Sound of Rats at Night
If you have rats in your roof, under the floor or running in the spaces between the walls but they are not in your house proper, and you can hear them running about each night, it can be worrying. Rats are nocturnal, so they make most of their noise at night when you are trying to sleep. If you feel powerless to do anything about them, follow these steps.
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Steps
- Sleep tight. If the rats cannot get inside, there is no point losing sleep. You can deal with them in the morning. Granted, it is a little disturbing to hear them running up and down areas of your home but if you are sure they cannot get in, you know they cannot reach you. If they do come in, shut off the kitchen area and any other food areas completely. Block under the doors and prevent any ingress.
- Locate the entry point of the rats. During winter they seek warmth and they may be using pipe entry points to enter the house. Check around heating areas and follow pipe cavities or wall cavities.
- Place rat traps near the entrance or inside any holes you can find.
- Contact a pest controller. If the rats are really hard to locate, you may need professional help. Even if you just get advice on the bait or methods, this will help you a lot.
- Don't live in fear. If you have a rat phobia, seek help from a neighbor or friend. This will alleviate the need for you to get too close to them.
Tips
- If you are renting, do not be shy to get help. In most cases, it isn't your fault rats find your home attractive, especially if they are using house spaces to nest and rest. They are seeking warmth and shelter and it is not a reflection on your personal lifestyle unless you're in the habit of leaving food lying about the place, especially crumbs, food wrappers and uneaten leftovers. If you are creating attractants by being messy, clean up before the landlord arrives or you might suffer the consequences of finger pointing.
- When trying to pinpoint the location of rats, it can help to tap at the areas you hear them during the night. They will temporarily cease activity if you are close. Mark the spot with pencil.
Warnings
- Rat poison can cause the rat to die inside your walls and then begin to decay and emit a strong odor! Only use poison in out buildings. Seek professional advice if in doubt.
