Rats in the Walls and Ceiling – Nothing Works So Far

Rodents, Reptiles & Bats
1

Hi everyone,

I’ve been hearing rats in the walls and ceiling for weeks now, mostly late at night and early in the morning. At first it was just occasional scratching, but now it sounds like full-on movement above the ceiling and inside certain walls.

I’ve already tried:

  • Basic snap traps

  • Sealing a couple visible gaps

  • Different food baits

But honestly, nothing seems to be solving the problem long-term. Either they avoid the traps completely or they just keep moving to another area of the house.

At this point I’m wondering:

  • What actually works when rats are already inside walls/ceilings?

  • Is this more about finding entry points?

  • Or do you need a completely different trap setup for hidden spaces?

Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who finally got this under control.

2

Once they’re inside walls, basic trap placement usually isn’t enough anymore.

3

I had the same issue and realized they were traveling between multiple entry points.

4

Sealing gaps helped me more than the traps did.

5

@EntrySealNoah Same here. They kept coming back until every opening was sealed properly.

6

Placement matters a lot. Rats usually follow the same wall routes repeatedly.

7

I started placing traps directly along wall edges instead of open spaces and got better results.

8

If they’re in the ceiling too, check attic access points carefully.

9

@HiddenNoiseGrant Did you notice if the sounds happen at the same times every night? Mine did.

10

Tiny openings are enough for them. I was shocked how small the entry point actually was.

11

For me it took a combination of sealing, proper trap placement, and patience before things finally improved.