

You might also see rat droppings that are banana shaped and larger than mice droppings. One of the first signs of an infestation is teeth marks or holes in food boxes. Their nesting and feeding habits can ruin buildings. As well as a carrier for disease, rats are incredibly destructive to the home. They’ll come out at night, which makes it harder to detect rats until there’s more than one in the home. Signs of Infestationīefore you see an actual rat, you’ll be able to see evidence of an infestation. If there are holes in the perimeter of the home, stick steel wool into the holes. The best way to prevent rats in your fruit trees is to keep them from entering the home where they can jump to the trees. Transfer the dog food to plastic or steel containers with covers. Preventing Ratsįood is the number one attraction to rats. Farmers are always trying to control the rat population because a rat infestation could seriously damage their crops. Along with the spread of disease, rats, like the roof rat, can have a serious impact on agriculture. At one time, rats were responsible for spreading the Black Plague through their fleas.

Viral infections can be spread through their saliva as well as their urine. For example, rat urine can spread leptospirosis which can result in kidney damage in humans. Rodents like mice and rats can be pests but can also spread disease.
