Rats are usually more frightened of you than you are of them, so you’ll rarely catch one out in the open. That changes as their numbers grow. Once a colony outgrows its hiding places, the rats are forced into the open, and a garage floor is a common spot to finally see one.
What attracts rats to a garage?
Rats don’t settle just anywhere. They pick a home that offers the things they need, and garages tick a lot of those boxes: quiet, sheltered and often left undisturbed for long stretches. Four factors in particular make a garage appealing.
Food
Like any animal, a rat won’t stay where there’s nothing to eat, and rats aren’t fussy. Fruit, vegetables or packaged food stored in the garage will keep them happy. If you grow food in the garden as well, your garage becomes an even more tempting base.
Water
A reliable water source ticks the second box. Fix leaking taps and pipes, and if you find puddles on the floor, trace the source, clean them up and stop the leak. A water butt sitting just outside the garage can be a draw in itself, so bear that in mind when you’re deciding where to keep one.
Cramped spaces
Garages tend to be cluttered, and clutter means countless tight corners for a rat to tuck into. The space offers warmth and shelter, while the boxes and bric-a-brac give them somewhere to live undisturbed. The simplest fix is a good declutter and tidy-up, which strips out most of those hiding places at once.
A previous infestation
If rats have nested in your garage before, traces of that nest are probably still there. New rats can smell the old residue, and it draws them straight in. The best way to avoid a repeat is to have professionals clear the first infestation thoroughly, so little or no scent is left behind to attract the next lot.
If you’ve spotted a rat or seen the signs of one in your garage, call our rat removal experts sooner rather than later. Rats breed quickly, so the longer you leave it, the bigger the job becomes. We’ve got the skills, experience and equipment to clear them out properly. We’re open every day except Christmas Day, from early until late.