How To Identify Rat Droppings; What Size Are They?
If you are worried about having a rodent infestation in your house you may be wondering how to identify rat droppings. They tend to be about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch in size (12 to 18 mm), similar to a large raisin or an olive. They are shiny black or very dark brown and tend to appear in groups in certain areas. It is important to know how to identify rat droppings and get rid of them as soon as possible as they can transmit several very nasty diseases to humans. These include rat bite fever, salmonella and leptospirosis (Weil’s disease).
Rat droppings do have a distinctive smell but their urine smells much more strongly. If there is a bad smell, it is more likely to be coming from the urine than the faeces. If the droppings are wet and shiny they are fresh and you have a current rat problem, if they are dry and dull, they are old.
If you spotted a rodent in your house or garden and want to work out whether it is a rat or mouse then take a look at our post on how to tell the difference between rats and mice. Alternatively here is another great post which can help you https://www.brodybrotherspestcontrol.com/blog/important-differences-between-rats-mice/
Make sure you ventilate the area well for half an hour before clearing them up. Wear PPE, including a face mask and gloves. You don’t want to inhale any dust or get it in your eye so it is worth wearing goggles as well. Use bleach and hot water and spray the area with the solution. Avoid vacuuming or brushing the droppings up as this can spread bacteria into the air. Use a bag or paper to pick up the droppings and seal them in a plastic bag. Make sure you don’t put them in a bin in your house, dispose of them safely in an outdoor refuse area. Knowing how to identify rat droppings means you can keep yourself safe.
Wipe everything down with diluted bleach and wash your hands. Use soap and disinfectant and give them a good scrub. If you come into contact with the faeces or urine make sure you see a doctor as soon as possible as you are at particularly high risk if you are pregnant.
The presence and location of the droppings can give you a clue about where rats are getting in and moving about. Use these clues to direct you to block holes to limit their entry and remove any food, water or sources of warmth and shelter in the area. Unfortunately, many commercially available rat repellent solutions are not effective.
If these solutions do not help then you need a RatMat. By creating an electrified perimeter around your car or across the doorway to an outbuilding you create a rat proof area which rats will not enter. Despite this, you can drive over it or walk cross with shoes. It works like an electric fence, requiring very little maintenance and working for many years. Please visit 'Buy Now' or contact us for more details.