Hear rats in your walls but never see one in the house? Learn why rats stay hidden, where they eat and drink, how to confirm it's rats, and how to get them out.
Can rats climb walls? Yes. Rats scale brick, wood and concrete, shimmy up pipes and run along wires. See what stops them and how to keep them off your home.
Use this rodent poop chart to match droppings by size, shape and location. Compare mouse, rat, squirrel, chipmunk and bat droppings plus common look-alikes.
Rat poop is dark, capsule shaped and 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, about the size of a raisin. See photos, rat vs. mouse poop, fresh vs. old, and how to clean it up.
Maryland has four rat species, but only two get into houses. See how to tell them apart, where rats are worst in the state, and what keeps them out for good.
Rats in Virginia come down to five species, and only two get into houses. See how to tell them apart, where each one lives, and what keeps them out for good.
Does baking soda kill rats? Not reliably. See the dose math, why homemade rat poison recipes fail, and what kills rats fast in Northern Virginia homes.
What smells do rats hate, which rat repellents hold up outside, and what a licensed DC-area tech has watched work and fail on real Alexandria homes.
How to tell if a rat is male or female: size, anogenital gap, nipples and behavior. Plus why it matters for rat control in Northern Virginia homes.
Different types of rats invade homes differently. Learn to identify Norway rats, roof rats & more with our expert species identification guide.
How long do rats live? Discover rat lifespans by species and learn why this knowledge impacts your control strategy. Expert tips included.
Rat lifespan directly impacts pest control strategy. Discover the biology behind effective rat elimination and why timing matters for your home.
A 4-step rodent control plan for mice and rats: inspect, bait or trap, seal entry points, monitor. What works in Northern Virginia homes, and what doesn't.
