While there are a number of pests that like to gnaw on wires and pipes rats are the worst offenders.
How to know if you have rats in your attic.
The most obvious indicator of a rat infestation in the attic is the presence of feces and urine.
They usually don t leave the attic for very long.
Then they return to the attic.
Using a flashlight carefully inspect your attic for signs of droppings and small patches of urine.
Here is the evidence of having rats in the attic.
Beware of roof rats in the attic roof rats are known by a variety of other names including palm rats fruit rats ship rats and alexandrian rats.
The most obvious sign that you have rats in the attic is they will leave rat droppings all over the place.
You are probably already aware that rats are not the cleanliest of creatures that could be living in your house.
It s not something most homeowners want to think about but rats defecate several times a day leaving behind small rice sized droppings.
Rats leave the attic during the night to go out and forage for water and food.
If you think you may have a rat living in your attic then you need to get up there and investigate further.
Droppings they multiply very fast and tend to leave droppings in their wake.
Unfortunately when rats make home in your attic the hard substances they chose to chew on are usually important objects pipe insulation or pieces of electrical work.
Like food rodents also need a constant water source so look out for chewing around pipes.
You could also hear a scurrying noise as they move quickly across your attic.
Chirps and squeaks are also common in mice but rats usually communicate at a pitch that humans cannot hear.
In the attic pay attention for chewed or ripped up insulation as this is a common indicator that mice have been tearing into it to make nest materials.
Sometimes rats even chew through wires turning your entire attic into a safety hazard and possibly damaging your appliances.
When they re in your attic mice and rats make several sounds.
If you live in these zones your attic may become the target of roof rats which can create a variety of problems for your family and property.
Chew marks rats have the tendency to chew on things such as cables and wires.
You might hear scratching and gnawing as they crawl around or chew on your walls and wires.
Tampered packages rats will tear into any packaging they can to get to food or water.
Squeaking or scurrying sounds in the walls.