EMERGENCY PEST GUIDE
I Have a Rat in My House
Roof rats and pack rats are common in Arizona homes. Here's what to do when you hear or see one.
Confirm What You're Dealing With
Roof rats leave dark, capsule-shaped droppings about 1/2 inch long. You'll usually hear them at night — scratching, running, or gnawing sounds in the attic or walls. Chewed food packages, grease marks along walls, and shredded insulation are also signs.
Secure Your Food
Move all food into sealed glass or thick plastic containers. This includes pet food, bird seed, and fruit on counters. Rats can chew through cardboard and thin plastic. Take pet food bowls inside at night.
Check Common Entry Points
Rats enter through gaps as small as a quarter. Look for openings around: roof vents, pipe penetrations through walls, gaps where the roof meets the wall, garage door seals, and AC line penetrations. You don't need to seal these yourself — that's what exclusion is for.
What NOT to Do
Don't use poison bait inside your home — rats die in walls and create terrible odors that last weeks. Don't use snap traps in areas where children or pets can reach them. Don't seal entry points before trapping — you'll trap rats inside your walls.
When to Call a Pro
If you're hearing noises or finding droppings, you need professional trapping AND exclusion. Trapping alone doesn't solve the problem — new rats will come in through the same holes. Our wildlife biologist Jacquie specializes in rodent exclusion. We trap, remove, sanitize, and then seal every entry point so they can't return.
NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP?
We're Here Right Now
Same-day service available. Call or text us — we'll get someone to your property fast.