Since rats are among the smallest of wild animals, it's extremely easy for them to make their way into people's homes and wreak havoc. Once inside the house, rats often set up shop in the basement since this area tends to see less activity and feels generally quiet and safe.
Plenty of people also store dry food goods in the basement, which rats will happily gnaw on in addition to ripping shreds off of items such as furniture to use as nesting materials. Signs of a potential rat infestation include signs of gnawing and chewing alongside droppings and occasional sightings of the rats themselves. Further investigation may also reveal nests, as well as increased signs of rat activity around their points of entry.
Information. The first course of action when it comes to dealing with a rat problem is figuring out where they managed to get in. When rats have established themselves in the basement, this usually indicates entry points at ground level. These entry points should be thoroughly sealed off before any further measures are taken for rat removal, otherwise new rodents will simply continue to replace the ones that have been removed. Once the basement has been secured, it's important to remove any food supply that's present in the area as well to help get rid of the rats. This step is crucial in making sure that any traps set to remove the rats will be as effective as possible, since hungry rats are more likely to go for bait.
Humane trapping. While countless old cartoons present classic snap traps as the ideal way to remove vermin from the home, it isn't truly necessary to fatally exterminate rats that have made their way into a basement. They were simply looking for an ideal habitat and, once the basement has been closed off and made less appealing, most rats won't come back after they're released in a new location. Humane cage traps are baited with sticky food like peanut butter just like snap traps are, but safely contain the rats so that they can be relocated. Live traps are most effective when only a few rats have invaded, and they need to be checked every few hours before the trapped rats expire from stress exhaustion.
Lethal pest control. Many people do not have the time to humanely trap and relocate rats, and consider lethal pest control in the form of snap traps to be a quicker and less stressful end. In addition, live traps simply may not be a practical approach in cases where a rat infestation has gotten out of hand and there are too many rats to catch. Glue traps and poisons should be avoided, since these are the slowest, least effective, and least humane forms of lethal pest control. Snap traps, on the other hand, make quick work of the rat without prolonging any suffering and are considered to be the most effective form of lethal pest control. Traps should be placed in areas where accumulations of droppings indicate high rodent traffic.
Hiring a professional to get rid of the rats. When confronted with a rat problem, many people choose to immediately contact a professional-especially if gnawed holes and large accumulations of droppings or urine indicate that the problem might have reached overwhelming levels. Professional exterminators will be able to take a look at the signs and assess the level of damage that the rats might have caused, and can use their experienced-based expertise to recommend the best course of action to take. They'll be able to help homeowners pinpoint entry spots to seal off, and can usually make far quicker work of the necessary rat removal.
DIY rat removal. Not everyone wants to pay a professional to look into a rat problem in their basement, especially if it seems like the problem is small and manageable. In cases where only a few rats may be present, homeowners can set a few strategically placed snap traps or live traps on their own. This will usually be enough to keep the problem from getting out of hand, and a simple patching of any entry points will prevent further invasions. Other easy preventative measures, such as keeping any dry goods in tightly sealed containers and checking regularly for signs of a rodent problem that can be nipped in the bud, are perfectly manageable without the need for professional help.