If you are able to identify a Norway rat infestation early on, then you can avoid a lot of trouble, and the infestation is much easier to remove. Here are some of the things that you need to keep an eye out for:

Gnaw marks

The teeth of the Norway rat never stop growing, so the rats have to constantly gnaw on something in order to make sure that their teeth do not grow too long. This is why during an infestation, you will start to notice these gnaw marks around the home, especially on wooden surfaces and furniture.

Droppings

Rats will leave their droppings in areas where they are highly active. This means that you will notice their droppings inside cupboards, behind appliances, and along the pathways that they use to travel in the home.

Tracks

Rats don’t usually leave tracks wherever they walk, but if the surface is dusty, or if the rats went outside in the mud before walking around the home, then you may start to notice these tracks. You can test if you have an infestation by dusting flour or baby powder on the floor, behind appliances and furniture, to see if any tracks show up.

Noises

As rats travel around the home they make noise. This is most noticeable at night, when things are quiet, and you may hear squeaking and gnawing sounds.

Grease marks

Norway rats have a coat of grease on their fur, and when they travel a lot along a pathway or wall, they will leave a greasy mark behind. If you look carefully, you will start to notice these smears, and then you can use some flour or baby powder to see if they leave some tracks behind.

What to do if you notice the signs of an infestation

If you notice any of these signs in your home, it’s likely that you have a Norway rat infestation and you have to act fast. Rats can both cause damage to the home and spread diseases, and they reproduce very quickly. The best way to deal with the infestation once you’ve detected it is to work with a pest control pro, who will have the tools needed to effectively eliminate the infestation. Contact us today if you have noticed any of these signs in your home and you need the help of a pro to get the infestation under control.