How to Get Rid of Pack Rats

Sanitation Measures:

Good rodent control starts with prevention. Keep garbage in sealed bins, clean up spills and clutter, and leave rodents as few places to feed and hide as possible, inside and outside the house.

Exclusion:

Once pack rats are getting into a building, keeping them out is usually the most effective step. The work is the same as sealing out Norway rats and roof rats. Woodrats climb well, so check high and low. Close openings in the foundation and around water lines, wiring, sewer pipes, downspouts and vents. Look at attic vents, damaged roofing and gaps near the eaves. Doors, windows and screens should close snugly. Patch holes with hardware cloth, sheet metal, concrete or mortar, since rodents chew through softer materials, and use coarse steel wool only as a temporary fill.

Clearing Out Woodrats the Right Way

Check the species first. In Florida, most rats around homes are roof rats or Norway rats. A true woodrat has a furry tail, a white belly and large ears. In the Upper Keys, the Key Largo woodrat is a federally endangered species, so a suspected woodrat there should be reported to wildlife officials, not trapped.

Remove cover and food

• Clear brush piles, stacked lumber and junk from around sheds and the house.
• Raise firewood off the ground and keep it away from walls.
• Store birdseed, livestock feed and pet food in metal or heavy plastic bins.
• Pick up fallen fruit and nuts.
• Start vehicles, mowers and equipment that sit outdoors regularly, and check engine compartments for nest material.

Cleaning out a nest: Wear rubber gloves, spray the nest and droppings with disinfectant or diluted bleach until damp, wait a few minutes, then bag everything. Avoid sweeping or shaking dry material.

DIY mistakes: Poison bait put outdoors can kill owls, hawks, snakes and pets that eat poisoned rodents. Moving a trapped animal somewhere else can break Florida wildlife rules, so check with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission first. Sealing a building before the animals are out can trap one inside.

Professional service includes confirming the species, finding where animals get in, exclusion work, trapping where it is legal and appropriate, nest cleanup and follow-up checks. See rodent control for more.