Keep openings in the foundation or sides the house and deck sealed with sheet metal or hardware cloth. This includes holes around pipes, conduits, and gas lines. Keep open floor drains and sewer pipes capped. If a rat can get its head through, its body will follow. A rat is able to compress its ribcage to squeeze through small holes.
Rats are inside.
We recommend snap traps or glue boards. Proper trap placement is important for catching rats. Traps should be placed against a wall in high traffic areas as shown in the diagram, left. A smooth looking hole in your yard that reappears when filled could indicate a break in the sewer line and a rat problem. If the line is broken it must be repaired.