Rat and Rodent Control
Don't Live with
Rats! 
Rats and mice can be found in homes, buildings, sheds,
garages, and backyards. Rats will eat any type of food and will climb to
find food or shelter. Rats can enter a building through any opening larger
than 1/2" in diameter and mice a 1/4" opening. They have an excellent
sense of smell, taste, and touch. Rats are extremely anti-social toward
one another, existing in small colonies that usually range from one to
five dozen individuals. Rat populations can expand rapidly. If unchecked,
one pair can produce six to twelve young in 21 days. Sexual maturity is
reached at 3 months. Therefore, assuming adequate food, water, and
shelter, a single pair of rats may multiply into more than 640 in one
year.
Checking For Rats 
The most
common signs of rats and mice are burrows, droppings, tracks, runways in
the grass or through trash, gnawing of wood, urine stains, and odor. Rats
are more apt to be seen or heard shortly after dark and in early morning.
Rodents use the same runways to move from place to place. Active runways
will be clean and smooth, frequently following along a wall or fence.
Along well-used runways, the oils from the rodent's fur leave dirty,
greasy rub marks on the areas they frequently touch.
Where Do Rats Live Outside? 
- Under wood piles, cars, appliances and furniture not being used.
- Under bushes, vines, tall grass and holes under buildings.
- In and around trash and garbage that has been left on the ground.
Where Do Rats Live Inside The
Home?
- In the insulation of walls or ceilings and inside crawl spaces AND
behind or under cupboards and counters.
- Near hot water heaters and furnaces.
- In basements, crawl spaces and attics or wherever things are stored
in boxes, paper or cloth.
What Foods
Attract Rats Into Your Yard?
- Garbage that rats can get into, like garbage cans with loose lids,
plastic or paper bags, and litter.
- Food for pets and birds that have not been eaten and left on the
ground.
- Fruits that have fallen to the ground.
- Compost pile or worm bin that isn't taken care of the right way (do
not put meat, fish, poultry, or dairy in the compost).
- Dog and cat droppings.
HOW TO KEEP
RATS AWAY FROM YOUR HOME 
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©2001 City of Riverside, California, Dept. of Public Works
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