What should you do if there are rats in the basement of a house? - briefly
Identify and seal all cracks, gaps, and utility openings that allow rodents access. Then place traps or bait and engage a licensed pest‑control professional to eliminate the infestation safely.
What should you do if there are rats in the basement of a house? - in detail
If rodents are discovered in a basement, start by eliminating food sources and protecting personal health. Remove any stored food, place it in sealed containers, and clean surfaces with a disinfectant. Wear thick gloves and a mask when handling droppings or nesting material to avoid disease exposure.
Next, conduct a thorough inspection. Look for droppings, gnaw marks, greasy runways, and nesting debris. Trace the paths to locate entry points such as gaps around pipes, cracks in walls, or openings around utility penetrations. Record each opening for later sealing.
Implement control measures promptly.
- Traps: Use snap traps or electronic devices, positioning them perpendicular to walls where rodents travel. Bait with peanut butter, dried fruit, or commercial rodent attractant. Check traps daily, dispose of captured animals in sealed bags, and reset as needed.
- Bait stations: Deploy tamper‑resistant poison stations in concealed locations, following label instructions and local regulations. Keep stations away from children, pets, and food preparation areas.
- Exclusion: After confirming activity has ceased, seal all identified openings with steel wool, copper mesh, or cement. Use expanding foam only for non‑structural gaps; avoid materials that rodents can chew through.
When the infestation is extensive, the population reproduces quickly, or DIY methods fail, contact a licensed pest‑control professional. Experts will perform a detailed assessment, apply integrated pest‑management techniques, and provide a guarantee period for continued monitoring.
Finally, adopt preventive practices to avoid recurrence. Maintain a dry environment by fixing leaks and installing a dehumidifier if humidity is high. Store items off the floor, keep the basement well‑ventilated, and perform periodic inspections of potential entry points. Regularly clean the area to remove crumbs and debris that could attract rodents.