You can also try loud television, talk radio, or other types of audio.
Sit in a comfortable position, such as cross legged or on a chair. Focus by breathing in through your nose, holding it for a few seconds, then slowly exhaling through your mouth. Try to clear your mind of worries by focusing on a single visual object, repeating a short mantra (like “I am at peace”), or visualizing a place that makes you feel calm and happy. Do this as long as you like, but at least for a few minutes.
You may also smell a distinctive, musky scent if rats are present. If you smell an especially foul odor, a rat may have died within the walls, roof, or flooring of your home. Dark, coffee-bean sized droppings are also a tell-tale sign of rats.
Place several traps in places where rats are (look for their droppings). Set them in narrow places (such as behind boxes or furniture) so that rats are forced to walk on them. Bait the traps with food rats are likely to enjoy, such as peanut butter, raisin bread, bacon, or candy. If you find a rat has been trapped and killed, wrap it in newspaper or a plastic bag and throw it away. Wash your hands afterwards.
Many forms of bait will come installed in pre-made, secure containers. Place these near the suspected rats. The rodents will enter the container, eat the bait, and die. Poisons are often not recommended for use in buildings. Rats may eat the bait, then die and decompose in a hard-to-reach space like the interior of a wall.
Play loud music or other audio during the day and night. Shine strobe lights in areas you suspect rats to live. Soak cotton balls, wads of cloth, or other items in ammonia. Set them in places where you suspect rats are coming in and out (such as a hole in a wall).
Cover all trash cans with tightly fitting, locking lids. Avoid leaving food or waste out in the open. Clean up all crumbs and other debris. Avoid letting things like newspapers, cardboard boxes, or clothing pile up. Keep grass and other plant material trimmed, and discard the trimmings.
Cover access points with wood, foam sealant, or similarly solid material. For a thorough job, ask a professional to inspect your home and deal with any potential access points they identify.
