How to Find Rat Entry Points

Rats are the last critter you want lurking around your home. Not only can their chewing be incredibly destructive to your house, but these pests can also pose a serious threat to your health by spreading deadly diseases. Here in Las Vegas, rats are common year-round, but as temperatures drop they will be trying extra hard to get out of the cold by sneaking indoors. It’s important to find and fill rat entry points quickly.

What Do Rodent Entry Points Look Like?

Rodent entry points can be difficult to spot, especially because rats are capable of squeezing through holes as small as a quarter! Though heavily trafficked entrances may have signs of gnawing or fur, most will just look like small cracks or gaps. Here are some of the most common places that rats enter houses:

• Cracks, gaps, or holes in foundations.
• Holes or gaps around pipes and gutters.
• Loose shingles or holes in your roof.
• Broken window or door screens.
• Gaps near windows or doors.
• Broken seals along garage doors.

To identify rodent entry points, go around your home and look for small holes that could be used as an entrance. While the areas above are some of the most common places for rodent entry points, these entrances could be anywhere, so you’ll want to carefully check your entire home for signs of these pests.

How to Seal Rat Entry Points

Once you’ve found the rat entry points around your home, it’s time to seal them up to keep pests out. While we recommend making formal repairs for large openings, there are a few easy methods that you can use to seal off small entry points:

1. Use caulk to fill small cracks and gaps. A little bit of caulk is usually enough to seal off very small openings, such as cracks in your foundation or near your window.
2. Cover larger holes with sheet metal. If you have a large opening but don’t want to perform a full repair, you could cover it with sheet metal and screws.
3. Use lath screens to curve around openings. Irregularly shaped holes can be difficult to cover, but lath screens are flexible and can help cover openings.
4. Make repairs around your home. If you have loose shingles or siding, gaps around your gutters, or broken screens, it may be best to perform repairs. Makeshift covers may be a good short-term fix, but repairs can help you keep pests out for good.

Superior Rodent Protection

Finding and filling rodent entry holes can be a meticulous process. Though it’s important to close off any openings, it can take several hours to search every square inch of your home’s exterior for rat entry points. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it all alone!

With the experienced rat control specialists at Pest Control Inc. in Las Vegas, NV, you can protect your home without breaking a sweat. Our technicians are highly trained in identifying and sealing rodent entry points, so you can rest assured that your house is safeguarded against these pests. Just give us a call to get started!