Hey everyone!
I ignored the faint scratching in my walls for weeks, until a rat chewed through my $2,000 mattress and left 137 droppings in my silverware drawer. After this trauma, I became a rodent detective. Here’s how to spot infestations before they escalate:
- Grease trails: Shined UV light revealed oily rat highways along baseboards
- Ammonia stench: Their urine pooled under floorboards created a chemical burn smell
- Nest confetti: Shredded insulation + my kid’s homework made a cozy rat nursery
90% of clients miss the #1 sign: rub marks. Rats secrete oily fur residue on paths. Shine a flashlight sideways, greasy streaks mean infestation. @FirstTimeHomebuyer Check behind fridges first!
Thought my compost was safe until maggots appeared. Nope, rats bred under the bin! Their nests smell like rotting coconut. Now I use trail cams with night vision.
My son’s asthma spiked from rat dander. rats shed 1M hairs/year. Found hairs in vents using duct tape lint rollers.
Historic plaster cracks hid rat highways. Infrared thermometer showed 5°F warmer spots where they traveled. 50 tool beat 300 inspections!
Landlord denied rats until I recorded nighttime chattering via stethoscope app. Legally, what decibel level proves infestation? Suing now!
Rat vs squirrel teeth marks: Parallel grooves = rats (1.5mm spacing). Squirrels leave jagged edges. Measure with calipers, evidence for lawsuits!
Rotting coconut = advanced decay. You had dead rats inside walls. Immediate enzyme cleaner needed, stench attracts new colonies!
Recordings alone won’t win. Collect 20+ droppings in ziplock as evidence. Health Dept requires fecal ID. My case settled for $12k relocation!
Found grease trails behind oven! Used baby powder to confirm foot traffic. Traced to attic entry. @PestProMark Safe to clean trails with vinegar?
Used your caliper trick, proved landlord’s “mouse problem” was actually Norway rats. Broke lease penalty-free! Don’t let them gaslight you!