Roof rat or Norway rat.
The two species leave different signs. Roof rats are lean climbers that nest high, in attics, soffits and the crowns of crowded palms. Norway rats are stockier and dig at ground level, beside slabs, sheds and foundations.
The distinction changes the job. A roof rat plan leans on rooflines, wires and tree limbs. A Norway rat plan leans on soil, drains and the base of walls. Naming the species first tells the technician which route to follow.
Reading the yard before the attic.
A rat repeats the same trail night after night, and a trail leaves marks. Watch for greasy smears along a fence rail or pipe, pellets on a shed roof and gnawed fruit or seed beneath a tree or feeder.
- Walk the fence and note gaps under boards, burrows at posts and dark smudges on rails.
- Find where palms, limbs and wires pass within a jump of the roof.
- Check shed floors, deck edges and the soil beside the slab for holes about two inches across.
- Look at soffits and roof vents for torn screens or chewed edges.
Taking the animals out.
Rats distrust new objects, so traps may sit unset for a day or two while the animals get used to them. Where a trap goes matters more than how many go out. Devices sit on the proven route, high for roof rats and along walls for Norway rats.
Each device is written in a log and checked on a timetable you are told about. That record, not a quiet attic, is how the crew knows the last rat is gone.
| What you notice. | Likely animal. | Look here first. |
|---|---|---|
| Footsteps overhead at dusk. | Roof rat. | Roof edge, palms, wires and attic vents. |
| Burrow at a slab or shed. | Norway rat. | Ground along foundations and slabs. |
| Fruit with deep bites. | Roof rat. | Trees, roofline and soffits. |
| Pellets on an attic joist. | Either. | Attic hatch, then the roof edges. |
Shutting the door behind them.
Rats chew through foam, wood and thin plastic, so closing work uses metal flashing and heavy mesh held with hard sealant. Roof rats often enter high, where a frond or limb touches the eave, and cutting that bridge back is part of the visit.
The exclusion page covers materials, and the yard and outdoor page covers the food and shelter that draw rats close to begin with.
Mouse or rat? No need to guess. Just describe the signs.
Tap to call (888) 686-4821While you wait for the visit.
Keep children and pets out of the attic and garage, leave droppings alone and carry pet food inside at night. Photograph any burrow or bitten fruit with a coin beside it to show size.
If rats have fouled the insulation, plan on attic and crawl space cleanup once the animals are gone. When you are unsure what you have, an inspection comes first.
Careful cleanup in five small moves
These lines restate public health guidance, and any household can use them whether or not a visit ever gets booked.
- Brushing dry droppings flings fine particles toward your face, so the broom stays put.
- Open every door and window that will open, then wait thirty minutes before starting.
- You cannot see germs, so glove up first and wash last.
- Spray every pellet and stain with disinfectant, then let it stand for around five minutes.
- Pick a bag that seals well, with gloves or a tool between you and the animal.
- We make no medical claims. Fever, aching all over or labored breathing after handling waste is a matter for a doctor.
Where the safety steps come from
Every link opens the agency's own guidelines, with no sales message attached.
- CDC advice on cleaning rodent droppings and nests: A household damp-cleaning routine that explains the reason for each step.
- CDC steps for preventing hantavirus exposure: The source of the sealing and tidying suggestions made on this page.