Written by the Job Hound team. Last reviewed .
Rats or squirrels?
- Roof rats are mostly active at night. Scratching and running overhead after dark is the classic sign
- Droppings show where they travel and where traps should go
- Squirrels chew larger holes in soffits and fascia and are usually active in daytime
- Both can chew wiring, which is a fire risk
How they get in
- Roof rats can squeeze through a gap about the size of a quarter, or half an inch under a door
- Common entry points: gaps around the garage door, roof vents and flashing, and gaps under or around siding
- Squirrels need only about half an inch and often widen loose spots where the roof meets the siding
Getting rid of them
- Seal entry points with cement, low-expansion foam, or brass or stainless steel wool
- Set snap traps along rafters and next to stored boxes where you find droppings. Use more traps than you think you need
- Check traps every day
- Bait is a second choice. Dead rats in walls cause odor and fly problems, and bait must be in child-resistant stations
- For squirrels, a pro can fit a one-way door at the entry so they leave and can't get back in