Sign-in to Account
Call Us

(855) 948-5816

aptive_pest_control_lockup-white

Find Service Area

How to Get Rid of Norway Rats

Written by Aptive Pest Control August 1, 2024

Wondering how to get rid of Norway rats? This guide will give you the knowledge and strategies to effectively combat them.

Norway rats—also known as brown rats—are unwelcome guests in any home. These persistent and destructive rodents can wreak havoc on your property, contaminate food sources, and spread disease.

What You Need to Know About the Norway Rat

While you might be tempted to tackle a Norway rat problem on your own, it’s important to know that these infestations can quickly become severe. Consulting a professional from the start might be your best move.

These large rodents measure up to 18 inches long, with brown fur, a blunt nose, and a scaly tail. They are highly adaptable and thrive in various environments, including homes and gardens. These nocturnal creatures are skilled climbers and burrowers, adept at squeezing through small openings.

What Attracts Norway Rats to Your Home?

Norway rats are motivated by three primary needs: food, water, and shelter.

Your home can provide all three, enticing them inside. Common attractants include:

  • Food Sources: Easily accessible food scraps, pet food left out at night, and overflowing garbage cans create a buffet for Norway rats.
  • Shelter: Clutter piles inside or outside your home offer ideal nesting spots for these burrowing rodents.
  • Water Sources: Leaky pipes, overflowing gutters, and pet water bowls can provide much-needed hydration for Norway rats.

Signs of a Norway Rat Infestation

Be vigilant for these telltale signs of a Norway rat infestation:

  • Droppings: Norway rat droppings resemble dark, elongated capsules, often found near food sources or along runways.
  • Gnaw Marks: Rats chew on electrical wires, furniture legs, and walls to wear down their ever-growing incisors.
  • Grease Marks: Rats leave oily smudges along walls and runways as they scurry through your home.
  • Scratching Sounds: At night, you might hear scratching or scampering noises as rats move through walls or ceilings.
  • Pet Behavior: Unusual pet behavior, like sudden nervousness or interest in specific areas, could indicate the presence of rats.

Strategies to Get Rid of Norway Rats

Here are some steps you can take to get rid of Norway rats.

Remove Attractants

  • Store food in airtight containers to prevent odors from attracting rats.
  • Clean up crumbs and spills fast and maintain a clean kitchen and pantry.
  • Secure pet food and birdseed in sealed containers and avoid leaving them out overnight.
  • Address leaky pipes and overflowing gutters to eliminate water sources.

Minimize Shelter Options

  • Declutter your home and yard, removing potential nesting sites for Norway rats.
  • Store firewood neatly away from the house exterior.
  • Trim tree branches that overhang your roof, limiting access points.

Seal Entry Points

  • Conduct a thorough inspection of your home’s exterior, focusing on foundation cracks, gaps around doors and windows, and damaged vents.
  • Seal these openings with caulk, steel wool, or wire mesh, depending on the gap size.

Try Traps

While snap traps and glue traps can be used to capture Norway rats, their effectiveness depends on proper placement and monitoring. Consider consulting a professional pest control service for optimal trapping strategies.

Ensure a Clean Exterior

  • Use secure trash cans with tight-fitting lids to prevent Norway rats from accessing garbage.
  • Regularly inspect your property for potential food sources, such as fallen fruit or overflowing compost bins.
  • When installing a fence around potential food sources, bury it at least a foot deep to prevent rats from burrowing under.

When to Call a Professional Pest Control Service

While DIY methods can be helpful, professional intervention is often necessary for a successful and lasting solution. Here are some indicators that professional help is what you need:

  • Extensive Infestation: If you see multiple signs of a large Norway rat population, professional intervention is crucial to eradicate the problem.
  • Dead Rats: The stench of a decaying rodent in your walls can pose a significant problem. Professionals have the expertise and equipment to locate and safely remove deceased rodents.
  • Ineffectiveness of DIY Methods: If you’ve implemented DIY strategies without success, contacting a professional ensures a more targeted and efficient approach.

Living Without Rats

Trying these steps, remaining vigilant, and calling in professional Norway rat pest control can help you combat a Norway rat infestation and prevent future problems.

If you have more questions about Norway rats or treatment solutions for your home, contact us.

Curated articles for you, from our pest experts.

A Spacious, Empty Room With Light Wood Flooring And Beige Walls, Featuring A White-Trimmed Doorway, An Open Door Leading To Another Room, And A Ceiling Fan With Light In The Center Of The Tray Ceiling. Recessed Lighting Highlights The Clean, Modern Aesthetic.

Why Are Bugs Falling from My Recessed Lighting?

You're preparing dinner in your kitchen when movement above catches your attention—a small insect dropping from the recessed light fixture directly onto your cutting board. Over the following weeks, this unsettling pattern repeats with increasing frequency, leaving...

Sep 29, 2025
Modern Suburban Home With Beige Siding, Dark Shutters, And A Clean Black Roof, Featuring A Well-Maintained Lawn And A Triple Garage Under A Colorful Evening Sky.

Do New Homes Need Pest Control?

You've just received the keys to your brand-new home, complete with fresh paint, pristine landscaping, and the satisfaction of being the first occupant of an untouched living space. Within weeks of moving in, however, you discover ant trails across your kitchen...

Sep 23, 2025
A Close-Up Image Of A Gold Window Lock On A White Window Frame, With A Mesh Screen And A Blurred View Of Green Trees In The Background.

Can Insects Get Through Window Screens?

You've carefully closed all windows and ensured every screen appears intact and properly positioned, yet you continue discovering tiny flying insects inside your home throughout the day. Despite what seems like adequate barrier protection, gnats hover near...

Sep 23, 2025
A Close-Up View Of Assorted Packaged Snacks On A Table, Including Bags Of Doritos, Goldfish Crackers, And Various Pudding Cups And Fruit-Flavored Squeeze Pouches, All Arranged In Rows.

Can Insects Get into Factory-Sealed Snacks?

You reach for your favorite box of crackers from the pantry, confident in the factory seal's protection, only to discover tiny moths fluttering out when you open the package. Inside, delicate webbing spans across the contents while small larvae move through what...

Sep 23, 2025
A Modern, Two-Story House With A Gray And White Exterior, Illuminated By Warm Interior Lights At Dusk, Showcasing A Clean Driveway And A Small Front Yard.

6 Things Stored in the Garage That Attract Pests Fast

You've organized your garage with careful attention to maximizing storage space, creating designated areas for seasonal decorations, sports equipment, and household overflow items. Despite your organizational efforts, you begin noticing unwelcome visitors—ant...

Sep 22, 2025
A White Range Rover Evoque Suv Parked On A Paved Road Next To A Grassy Area, With Dense Green Trees In The Background.

4 Bugs That Can Infest Your Car (and Follow You Inside)

You return to your car after a weekend camping trip and notice something moving across your dashboard as you buckle your seatbelt. Over the following days, you discover more insects in various locations throughout your vehicle—behind floor mats, near air vents, and...

Sep 22, 2025
A Close-Up Macro Photograph Of A Rhinoceros Beetle With A Dark Reddish-Brown, Glossy Exoskeleton And A Prominent Horn On Its Head, Perched On Green Pine Needles Against A Solid Black Background.

Why Do I Only See Bugs at Night?

You turn on the kitchen light for a late-night glass of water when sudden movement across the counter catches your attention—a dark insect scurrying toward the shadows before disappearing behind the coffee maker. During daylight hours, your kitchen appears...

Sep 12, 2025
A Close-Up Photo Of A Rhinoceros Beetle Perched On Green Pine Needles, Set Against A Dark Black Background. The Beetle Has A Glossy Reddish-Brown Exoskeleton And A Prominent Forward-Facing Horn On Its Head.

Why Do Bugs Gather Around My TV or Monitor?

You settle in for an evening of television when movement near the screen catches your attention—several small insects crawling across the display and others hovering in the glow of your mounted TV. Despite maintaining a clean living room and rarely eating near your...

Sep 12, 2025
A Close-Up Image Of A Silverfish Insect On A Gray Stone Surface.

What Kind of Bugs Eat Clothes in Closets?

You reach for your favorite cashmere sweater to prepare for the season's first cold snap, only to discover a collection of small, irregular holes scattered across the front panel. The damage wasn't there when you carefully folded and stored the garment months ago,...

Sep 2, 2025
A Metallic Green And Gold Beetle Perched On A Green Leaf, With A Shiny Exoskeleton And Blurred Leafy Background.

How Do Insects Breathe Without Lungs?

Insects are among the most diverse and adaptable creatures on Earth, and understanding how insects breathe reveals a great deal about their biology and survival. Unlike mammals, they do not rely on lungs to deliver oxygen to tissues. Instead, they use a specialized...

Sep 2, 2025

Take back your home with pest control today.