Seeing a rat is unsettling. Here’s what to do about it

There’s something about seeing a rat that hits differently than a mouse. Maybe it ran across the alley behind your garage. Maybe you found a hole under the deck that wasn’t there last month. Or maybe you heard something heavy moving in the ceiling and you just know it’s not a mouse.

Rats are smart, careful, and stubborn. They avoid new objects, they learn from mistakes other rats make, and they’ll keep testing your house until they find a way in. That’s why rat problems rarely go away with a couple of traps from the hardware store.

A professional rat exterminator in Minneapolis deals with rats the way they actually live: finding the burrows and travel routes, removing the colony, and blocking the ways in so the property stops being a target.

Norway rats: the rat you’ll find in Minneapolis

The rat you’re dealing with is almost certainly a Norway rat, sometimes called a brown rat or sewer rat. They’re big, heavy-bodied, usually 7 to 10 inches long plus a tail that’s a bit shorter than the body. They have a blunt nose, small ears, and coarse brown or gray fur.

Norway rats are burrowers. They dig along foundations, under garage slabs, beneath decks and sheds, under woodpiles, and along fence lines. From there, they make nightly trips for food, and if your house has an opening, they’ll use it.

What attracts rats to your property

Rats need three things: food, water, and shelter. In Minneapolis neighborhoods, these are the usual culprits:

How rat removal works

Here’s what the rat control technician we connect you with will do:

1. Inspect the whole property. Inside and out, they’ll look for burrows, runways, droppings, rub marks, and gnawing. They’ll check the garage, foundation, deck, sewer cleanouts, and floor drains.
2. Figure out the size of the problem. One rat passing through is different from an established colony living under your garage.
3. Give you a plan and a price. Before any work starts.
4. Remove the rats. Rats are cautious around new objects, so traps are often pre-baited before being set. Exterior tamper-resistant bait stations may be used along the foundation and fence lines.
5. Treat and close burrows. Active burrows are treated and then collapsed or blocked.
6. Seal entry points. Gaps around pipes, garage doors, foundation cracks, vents, and drains get sealed with heavy-duty materials like hardware cloth and metal flashing. See rodent exclusion.
7. Follow up. Rats usually need more visits than mice. Expect return trips to monitor and adjust.

Rat problems we handle

How rats get in through drains and foundations

People are often surprised that rats can come in through plumbing. Norway rats are strong swimmers and can travel through sewer lines, then come up through broken pipes, open floor drains, or loose cleanout caps in older basements. It’s not common, but it happens, especially in older homes.

More often, rats get in through:

• Cracks in old stone or block foundations
• Gaps where utility lines, gas pipes, and A/C lines enter the house
• Damaged garage door seals and corners
• Holes in soffits and roof returns (they’re good climbers)
• Dryer vents and crawl space vents without proper covers

A rat can fit through a hole about the size of a quarter. Sealing those spots is the only long-term fix.

Are rats dangerous to your family or pets?

Rats can carry diseases, including leptospirosis and salmonella, and they can contaminate food and surfaces with urine and droppings. Their fleas and mites can be a problem too. Rats also chew through wiring, which is a real fire risk, and they can damage insulation, wood, and plastic pipes.

Rats generally avoid people and pets, but a cornered rat may bite. Dogs and cats that catch or eat a poisoned rat can get sick, which is another reason bait should only be placed in secured stations by someone who knows what they’re doing.

Rats in Minneapolis: a note on the city

The City of Minneapolis takes rats seriously, and you can report rat activity in public areas, like alleys and parks, through 311. But on private property, it’s generally up to the owner to deal with it. If you rent, talk to your landlord in writing. If you own, a professional service is the fastest route.

Rat exterminator FAQs

What attracts rats to my yard or garage?

Food, water, and shelter. The big ones are bird seed, garbage and compost, pet food, gardens and fallen fruit, and clutter like woodpiles or stored junk. Garages are especially attractive because they’re sheltered and often store food like grass seed or dog food.

Where do rats nest around a house?

Norway rats usually nest in burrows dug into soil along the foundation, under garage slabs, beneath decks and sheds, and under woodpiles or thick shrubs. Inside, they may nest in wall voids, crawl spaces, basements, or behind stored items in the garage.

How do I know it's a Norway rat?

Norway rats are large and heavy, usually 7 to 10 inches long plus a tail that’s slightly shorter than the body. They have a blunt nose, small ears, and coarse brown or gray fur. They dig burrows. In Minneapolis, nearly every rat problem is Norway rats.

How do rats get in through drains and foundations?

Rats can swim through sewer lines and come up through broken pipes, loose cleanouts, or open floor drains in older basements. They also squeeze through foundation cracks and gaps around utility lines. A gap about the size of a quarter is enough. Sealing and drain covers stop most of it.

Why do rats suddenly disappear, and are they gone?

Not always. Rats may move because a food source dried up, the weather changed, or they’re avoiding something new. They can come back just as quickly. If you never dealt with the entry points or burrows, assume they’re still nearby and get an inspection.

Are rats dangerous to my family or pets?

They can be. Rats carry diseases, contaminate food, chew wiring that can start fires, and may bite if cornered. Pets can be poisoned by eating rats that ate bait. That’s why professional, secured bait stations and trapping are safer than DIY poison.

Do rats freeze when scared?

Sometimes. Rats may freeze for a moment when startled, especially in the open, before running for cover. It’s a defense reaction, not a sign they’re sick or friendly. Don’t try to grab or corner one. Give it space and call for help.

Rat removal across Minneapolis and nearby

From North Minneapolis to Nokomis, and out to Brooklyn Center, Fridley, and St. Louis Park, help is one call away.

Other rodent services

Norvane Rodent Control is a free referral service. Calls are connected to independent, licensed pest control providers serving the Twin Cities. We do not perform pest control services ourselves. Learn more.