Caring for Texas Wildlife ... One Animal at a Time
NUISANCE - RATS
Gnawing and scratching during the day will probably be squirrels, while gnawing and scratching during the night will be rats. Rats and mice can be very destructive and will eat almost anything. They can cause damage by chewing both wood and wiring. They do carry diseases that are transmittable to humans but are not a rabies threat. Rats may or may not leave home at night to feed making it harder to get them out of your home.
Trapping is not a long-term solution as another animal will just move in. Sticky traps are very cruel and may catch other animals, and poisons are hard to control (who eats the dead animal?).
Rats can squeeze through holes about the size of a quarter, while mice can enter through holes the size of a dime. For rats, seal these holes with 1/4-inch hardware cloth or heavy-gauge screening. For rats or mice, plug openings in walls and floors with wire mesh or aluminum window screen by stuffing it into openings to deter entry. Wire mesh and quick drying cement can be used to plug cracks around drainpipes and other small openings. For small to medium sized holes, use expanding foam insulation.
To minimize attracting rats and mice, keep grass mowed and debris clear around buildings; store food in rat- and mouse-proof containers; properly dispose of garbage; when feeding pets outdoors, remove uneaten pet food after 20 minutes; and remove wood and debris piles.
To prevent burrowing along building foundations, create an L-shaped footer of hardware cloth or concrete.
