How To Tell How Many Rats Are In Your House

People say that if you see one rat, there is likely more nearby. If you see a furry creature scurrying across your kitchen floor, you should act quickly before more of them come. But how do you know how many rats are in your house?

In this blog, we’ll talk about some of the best ways to figure out how big your rat problem is and what you can do to get rid of these pests for good.

How Many Rats Are Typically In A House?

The number of rats in a house can vary depending on its condition, how much food and shelter it has, and what’s happening in the area. A rat problem can usually involve anywhere from a few rats to dozens or hundreds of rats.

If rats have found a good source of water and food in your residence, they can quickly start having babies and grow into a big group. In agreement with the Journal of Thermal Biology Female, rats can have 5–10 litters a year, with 5 to 10 babies in each litter. 

A single rat pair can have up to 50 babies in a year, which can quickly lead to a big problem. It’s important to take care of rat problems as soon as possible so that the number of rats doesn’t grow.

From Where Do Rats Come?

It turns out that the rat came from southeast Asia, moved to northeast Asia around 200 BCE, stayed there for a while, and then moved to the Middle East around 3,600 years ago. Then, about two thousand years ago, the rat’s family tree shows that rats moved to Africa. Rats can come from many different places, such as:

Signs That Rats Are In Your Home

There are a few signs that rats might be living in your home, such as:

• Rats’ droppings are usually about the size of a grain of rice and are oval and dark in color. Look for rat droppings along walls, cabinets, and basements where rats are likely to go.
• Rats’ teeth never stop growing, so they need to chew on things to keep them in shape. Check the wires, baseboards, and other surfaces for signs of chewing.
• Rats leave tracks in dusty or soft things, like insulation or dirt. 
• They have oily fur that can leave grease marks on walls and floors.
• Rats are active at night, and you might hear them running, scratching, or squeaking in your home’s walls, attic, or other parts.
• They can use different things, like shredded paper, fabric, or insulation, to build their nests. Look for these things in places that are hard to reach, like your attic or crawl space.
• Rats will eat almost anything, even food for people and pets. Look for chew marks or holes in food packages and food crumbs spread around.

Signs Of Rats Under The Decking

Rats can nest and hide in the space under the decking, which is sheltered. Here are some signs of rats under the deck:

• Look for rat droppings where rats are likely to go, like along the edges of the deck or in planters nearby.
• Using shredded paper, fabric, or insulation, rats might build nests under the decking.
• Look for signs of nests that are hard to see under the decking.
• Check for signs of chewing on the wood decking or things near it.
• Rats can leave tracks in dusty or soft materials under the decking, like dirt or mulch.
• Rats are active at night and can be heard running, scratching, or squeaking under the decking.
• Rats may dig holes in the ground under the decking so they have a way to get in and out.

If you think there are rats under your decking, you should take care of the problem as soon as possible to stop the problem from getting worse.

Risks Of Having Rats In The House

Having rats in the house is dangerous in a number of ways. The following are some of the most serious risks:

• Rats can chew on wood, plastic, and even electrical wiring, which can damage the house and make it more likely that an electrical fire will start.
• Rats carry diseases and parasites that can be passed to humans, such as salmonella, hantavirus, and rat-bite fever. They can also get their urine and poop on food and surfaces, which can be bad for human health.
• Some people, especially children, are allergic to rat droppings and urine, which can make them sick.
• Rats can have a lot of babies quickly and live in large groups, which makes it hard and expensive to get rid of them.
• Rats can bite and scratch people, especially if they feel scared or backed into a corner. These cuts and scrapes can cause infections and other health problems.

How Many Rats Can Live in the Same House?

A study in the Journal of Urban Ecology says that a couple of rats can have up to 2,000 babies in a year if conditions are favorable. This means that the rat population multiplies. 

According to another study published in the Journal of Mammalogy, a single female rat can have up to 84 babies in a year, and each of those babies can start having babies of their own at about three months old.

A nest inside a house will usually have between 5 and 10 rats, but it’s important to know that there can be more than one nest with more than one colony of both young and adult rats.

So, if nothing is done to stop them, there can quickly be dozens or even hundreds of rats in a house. 

How To  Prevent Rats From Entering Your Home?

When rats enter your home, they can cause a lot of trouble. They can damage your property, spread diseases, and make you feel uncomfortable. You can stop rats from coming into your home by doing the following:

1. Seal any points of entry: Rats can get into your home through very small holes, so it’s essential to seal up any holes or gaps in your walls, floors, and roof.
2. Clean your house: Rats like food and trash, so keeping your home clean and neat is important.
3. Clean up your yard: Debris and clutter can attract rats. Keep your yard clean and free of trash, and cut back any plants that might give rats a place to hide.
4. Use traps: If you already have rats in your home, traps can effectively eliminate them. Live traps, glue traps, and traps that snap shut can all work.
5. Get help from a professional: If you have many rats or are uncomfortable dealing with them, you might hire a pest control service.

How To Estimate How Big The Infestation Is In House?

There are a few things you can look for to figure out how many rats are in your home:

Rat Droppings

Rat poop can be an excellent way to determine how many rats are in your house. Look for the following:

Quantity	The more droppings you find, the more likely there are a lot of rats. Check where rats might go, near food sources or along walls.
Freshness	If the droppings are new, rats are still living in your home. Older droppings could mean that the rats have moved on or that there aren’t as many of them as there used to be.
Size	Rat droppings are usually about the size and shape of a grain of rice, but the size can change depending on the size of the rat. If the droppings are bigger, it could mean that the rats are bigger or that the infestation is further along.
Location	Look closely at where the droppings are. If they are all in one place, like a pantry or basement, rats spend a lot of time there and the problem may worsen.

Gnaw Marks

Gnaw marks can also give you a good idea of how many rats are in your home. Look for the following:

Quantity	The more gnaw marks you see, the more pests there are likely to be. Check your home’s wood, plastic, and other materials for gnaw marks, especially in places rats like to go.
Freshness	If the holes are new, rats still live in your home. Older gnaw marks could mean that the rats have moved on or that there are not as many of them as there used to be.
Size	You can also tell how big the rats are by how big their teeth marks are. If the holes are bigger, it could mean that the rats are bigger or that the infestation is further along.
Location	Notice where the gnaw marks are. If they are all in one place, like a pantry or basement, rats spend a lot of time there.

Holes

Holes can also give you a good idea of how many rats are in your house. Look for the following:

Quantity	The bigger the infestation is likely to be, the more holes you find. Check the walls, floors, and ceilings for holes, especially in places rats like to go.
Freshness	If the holes look like they were made recently, rats still live in your home. If you find old holes, it could mean that the rats have moved on or that there aren’t as many of them as there used to be.
Size	You can also tell how big the rats are by how big the holes are. If the holes are bigger, it could mean that the rats are bigger or that the infestation is further along.
Location	Be aware of where the holes are. If they are all in one place, like a pantry or basement, rats spend a lot of time there and the problem may worsen.

Nests

Nests can also give you a good idea of how many rats are in your home. Here is what to look for:

Quantity	The bigger the problem is likely to be, the more nests you find. Check for nests in attics, basements, and crawl spaces where rats are likely to live and have babies.
Size	You can also tell how big the rats are by how big their nests are. Rats may be bigger if their nests are bigger, or the infestation may be further along if the nests are bigger.
Location	If they are all in one room or part of the house, the rats spend a lot of time there, and the infestation may be worse there.

Noises

If you think your house is full of rodents, you can listen to certain sounds to figure out how bad the problem is. Here are some sounds that could indicate pests or rodents around:

Sounds Like Scratching or Biting	You probably have mice or rats in your home if you hear scratching or chewing on your walls, ceiling, or floors. Since these animals are active at night, you may listen to these sounds while trying to sleep.
Sounds Like Rustling or Running	If you hear noises like rustling or scurrying in your walls, it could signify that there are more rodents than you thought. There could be more than one animal making these sounds.
Noises That Squeak or Chirp	If you hear high-pitched chirping or squeaking sounds, birds or bats are probably nesting in your attic or walls. These animals can do a lot of damage to your home, so you should take care of the problem right away.
Sounds That Buzz or Hum	It could mean a beehive or wasp nest in or near your home if you hear buzzing or humming sounds. These pests can be dangerous, so you should hire a pro to eliminate them.
Sounds That Click or Tap	If you hear clicking or tapping sounds in your walls, it could be termites or carpenter ants. These pests can do a lot of damage to your home’s structure, so you should take care of the problem right away.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Since rats are sneaky and often only move around at night, it can be hard to tell how many are in your home. But there are a number of things that can point to a rat problem, like droppings, chew marks, and noises.

If you see one rat or a few droppings, it might not mean you have an infestation, but if you see more rats or more droppings, it could mean you have a more serious infestation. Getting rid of the rats is important because they can breed quickly and cause a lot of damage to your home and health problems for you and your family.

References

Heather A. Green, Robert K. Rose, Growth and Survival in a Northern Population of Hispid Cotton Rats, Journal of Mammalogy, Volume 90, Issue 4, 14 August 2009, Pages 851–858,

Diana Rubel, Sergio I Nemirovsky, Irene Gorosito, Andrea Servián, Graciela Garbossa, Factors affecting canine fecal and parasitic contamination of public green spaces of Buenos Aires city, Argentina, and visitors’ perception of such contamination, Journal of Urban Ecology, Volume 5, Issue 1, 2019, juz012,