Rat control in New York City

Rodents are a huge pest.  They can cause property damage to homes and businesses and most species of rodents have health risks associated with them. In New York City, it is rats that cause the most issues. With its busy city life, rats are very prominent both outside and inside many restaurants, hotels, and even homes in New York City.

Rats breed fast. Any sign of rat activity, like droppings, rub marks, or nests, should never be ignored. One rat can quickly turn into an infestation if not treated properly. Ehrlich Pest Control in New York City will help eliminate an infestation as soon as it's reported.

If you own a commercial property or are a homeowner and you need help with rats, contact your local Ehrlich Pest Control office.

Signs of rats in NYC

Unfortunately, rats tend to stay in the structures of our homes, crawl spaces, attics, and other hidden places, so it can be harder to tell if your home is infested than with some other pests. Hearing scratching noises in your walls is a good indicator of rodent activity. You might have also found rat droppings in corners of your home, rub marks where rats run along your walls, or nests in your attic made of shredded cardboard insulation, or similar material.

If you’ve noticed any of these signs, check around your home for holes that rats could have squeezed through. Keep in mind that they can fit through gaps the size of a quarter! Here are some things to check for around the outside of your home:

• Cracked foundation and siding
• Broken pipes and gutters
• Broken or loose shingles
• Gaps around windows and doors

If you have already spotted signs of rats, such as droppings, prevention may already be too late. Contact us to arrange an inspection and we’ll check for signs of rats, which include:

Eliminating rats in New York City

The quickest way to eliminate rats in your home or business is with professional rat control. While DIY rat control may be the inexpensive option, the chances of not finding all of the rats or entry points and the infestation returning is incredibly high. There are, however, some steps you can take to help prevent rats from invading your property. You should:

• Close up all small entry points in exterior walls and under doors.
• Keep food in metal or glass containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Clean both the inside and outside your house - less clutter means fewer places to hide.
• Place outdoor garbage bags in metal bins with securely fitted lids to prevent rats from feeding on its contents.
• Clean up pet food and bird seed debris, and store pet food in robust containers with fitted lids - preferably above ground level.
• Keep gardens free from debris. If you have a compost heap don’t include organic food waste, as this will attract them.
• Eliminate clutter and items like firewood next to your home.
• If you have already spotted signs of rats, such as droppings, prevention may already be too late. Contact us to arrange an inspection and we’ll check for signs of rats.

How to get rid of rats in your apartment

Apartment living is very popular in NYC, and if you notice you have rats in your apartment, you need to contact your landlord right away! In New York City, property owners and managers are legally responsible for keeping their properties rat-free with proper maintenance and pest control services. Proper maintenance includes keeping the building clean, sealing any openings where rats could enter, and keeping garbage containers closed so that rats don’t have a place to hide. Refer your landlord to us, the professionals in rat control, because finding rats in your apartment can lead to an infestation in the whole building if it is not handled properly.

Rats in restaurants

Restaurants, food trucks, and any establishments in NYC that sell food are very susceptible to rats. To keep rats out of your business, it is crucial that you have proper food removal procedures, garbage management, and pest control. On top of our tips to eliminate rats in your home, like cleaning and eliminating clutter, you should also follow these tips as a restaurant owner:

• Follow the "First in, First out" rule — what you buy first, sell first.
• Inspect all of your deliveries, as rodents can hide in delivery boxes.
• Before closing each day, wash the garbage area.
• Store your garbage in heavy-duty plastic garbage bags in hard plastic or metal cans with tight-fitting lids.

Grease stains, odors, and improperly stored food waste will attract and continue to feed rats. It is important to have a solid system in place to make sure you do not end up with an infestation.

Types of rats in New York City

There are many different types of rats, but the most common rat found in New York City is the Norway Rat. Also known as the Brown rat, this type of rat is primarily nocturnal. It is roughly 7-9 inches long and weighs about 12 ounces. Norway rats are generally brown or grey in color with white on their abdomen. They have coarse, shaggy fur and small ears and eyes. Norway rats are often found in piles of garbage or under concrete slabs. They like to live within close proximity to people, typically in places like stores and warehouses.

The black rat can also be found in NYC, but is less obtrusive. Black rats are roughly 16 inches long, including their tail, and weigh anywhere between 8-12 ounces. They are either entirely black, dark gray or brown with white on the abdomen. Their tails are typically longer than their bodies and they are much sleeker than the Norway rat. Black rats are known for their climbing abilities, which is why they are also known as the Roof rat.

Rat control services in New York City

Rat control from Ehrlich will involve a preliminary property inspection, both inside and outside your home or business. Your Technician will look for any signs of rat activity and any openings where rats may be entering and then decide if interior, exterior, or both treatment solutions are needed. 

Interior control services may include the use of tracking powder in containerized stations and voids. It may also include the use of snap traps, glue boards, and/or bait stations. Control tools will be strategically placed along the travel pathway, near areas of activity, and in multiple directions.

Exterior control services may include proactively using monitoring bait or rodenticide in exterior rodent bait stations. Your Technician will add more bait when there is an increase in feeding activity or if the bait is totally consumed.

New York City rat control professionals

Ehrlich Pest Control has been getting rid of rats for decades. Ehrlich specialists are trained to identify what types of rats are present and which treatment will work best to get rid of them. We will eliminate the problem and treat the area so that the rats do not come back. 

If you are trying to deal with a rat infestation, you can save a lot of time and money by contacting our local New York City Ehrlich Pest Control office today.