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Have you ever noticed a tiny hole in a garden wall, or little footprints in the mud? Maybe a rat walked over it.
Rats are good at hiding, especially during the day. But they do often leave clues. If you know what to look for, you can tell if there are rats living nearby.
Here are seven signs to watch for.
1. See their body and tail
A rat is typically larger and more robust than a house mouse. Its tail is long, mostly hairless and impossible to miss.
The tails of brown rats tend to be shorter, and their bodies heavier in relation to their length. Black rats are slimmer with longer tails and more pointed faces.
The colour of the fur isn’t always a good clue. Both species may be either grey or brown in colour.
2. Check for Small, Dark Stool
You can tell rodents have been in an area by their droppings.
Rat droppings are dark in colour and shaped like small, long pellets. They are often found near food sources, along trails, or near places to hide.
Size varies from species to species. Brown rats usually leave larger droppings than black rats.
Do not handle them with bare hands. Rat droppings may carry dangerous bacteria.
3. Look for Chewed Wood or Plants
Have you ever seen a wooden fence with bite marks on it, or broken seeds on the ground?
Rats may be to blame.
Their front teeth grow continuously, so gnawing helps wear them down. They eat plant stems, wood, seeds and sometimes other materials.
The young rats also develop these feeding habits as they grow. If you want to know how rats develop from birth to adulthood you can read more on the life cycle of a rat.
4. Finding burrows and hidden nests
Not all rats live in the ground.
Brown rats often burrow in soft soil, especially near vegetation, riverbanks or protected areas. They use the burrows to rest and hide in.
Not so the black rats. They are good climbers, often nesting above ground, including in trees.
A hole in the ground doesn’t necessarily mean a rat lives there. Other small animals dig burrows, too.
5. Search for tracks in the mud
Soft ground can show where animals have been moving.
Rats have small footprints with back feet prints usually larger than the front feet. Sometimes a thin line can be seen between the tracks where the tail has been dragged across the ground.
You often find these marks on the banks of muddy rivers, in garden soil and in dusty corners.
Mouse tracks may resemble these so footprints are not always sufficient.
6. Search for Worn Trails in Grass
Rats often use the same routes instead of trying a new route each night.
Over time their movement can flatten grass or make narrow trails through vegetation. They may follow walls or fences near buildings where they feel less exposed.
You might also see dark, greasy marks on surfaces they brush against frequently.
These little details can tell us a lot about how animals move.” If you enjoy learning about the habits of wildlife, Animal Kingdom has more guides to various animals and their surroundings.
7. Look for After-Dark Activity
Rats like to move around when it is quiet.
You may see one running along a wall looking for dropped fruit, or disappearing into thick bushes after sunset.
Brown rats are often seen walking on the ground, whereas black rats tend to climb up trees and other elevated areas.
They can also be seen during the day, especially in areas with food readily available or little human activity.
Last Thoughts
Sometimes you don't have to see a rat to know one has been around. Droppings, chewed plants, footprints and small burrows can all be useful clues.
But one sign alone does not confirm the presence of a rat. Look for several clues at once, and avoid touching droppings or nests.
