How do I remove rats from my attic?

Step 1: Seal Potential Access Points

The first and crucial step is to inspect your attic and the entire exterior of your home for any potential access points. Rats can squeeze through small gaps, so it’s important to seal holes, cracks, or gaps around pipes, vents, windows, and roof edges with sturdy materials like metal flashing, wire mesh, or concrete. Although it might seem counterproductive to trap them inside, this step is essential to ensure they cannot escape or receive external assistance.

Step 2: Set Traps

With the rats now having no way to escape, setting up traps inside the attic becomes your next course of action. Place snap traps or live traps around areas where rat activity is high, such as near droppings, along walls, or close to any nests you’ve discovered. Bait the traps with peanut butter, nuts, or seeds to attract the rats. Check the traps daily, and dispose of any captured rats following local regulations. Remember, trapping is a humane way to deal with the rats as long as it’s done properly and safely.

Step 3: Clean Up

Once you’ve sealed off entry points and set traps, it’s time to clean up the attic. Wear protective gear (gloves, masks, and goggles) to avoid contact with harmful bacteria and viruses present in rodent droppings and nesting materials. Remove all droppings, debris, nesting materials, and contaminated insulation carefully. This step not only helps in eliminating the source of odors and pheromones that attract other rodents but also reduces the risk of rodent-borne diseases.

Step 4: Disinfect

After the cleanup, disinfect the entire attic space to eliminate any pathogens left behind by the rodents. Use a commercial-grade disinfectant or a solution of bleach and water (one part bleach to ten parts water) to thoroughly clean the floors, walls, and any surfaces the rodents may have contacted.

Step 5: Apply a Biological Enzyme Spray

The final step involves the application of a biological enzyme spray using an industrial-grade fogging machine. This spray helps in breaking down and eliminating any residual odors, pheromones, bacteria, or viruses. It’s a crucial step in ensuring that your attic becomes inhospitable to future rodent invasions by removing scent markers that could attract new rodents.

Conclusion:

Removing rats from your attic requires a thorough and methodical approach. By sealing off entry points, trapping the existing population, cleaning up their remnants, disinfecting the area, and applying a biological enzyme spray, you can reclaim your attic from these pests. Remember, patience and persistence are key, and if the infestation persists, consider consulting with professional pest control services for assistance.