Why Do Rats Die In Houses Or Attics?

Rats are one of the most common pest animals that home owners around the country are likely to have to deal with from time to time, and there are a lot of problems that these little creatures can cause if allowed to thrive unchecked. While dealing with live rats is one challenge, another issue that people may face is dealing with a rat carcass on their property, and this is particularly an issue as they can attract other pest animals and flies to the property. It is true that rats can die in the attics of houses, as well as any other areas where they are active, and if you find a dead rat present, this can often be a sign that there are rats present in the property, and needs to be dealt with.


Getting Trapped In An Enclosed Part Of The Property

One of the reasons that can lead to rats dying in a property is if they become trapped in an enclosed space where they cannot escape from, and the most common of these is if they find themselves slipping down into a wall cavity. This can be a significant problem for the householder, as it can be difficult to get to the carcass to remove it, while the smell of the rat decaying will certainly not be enclosed in the same way. If the carcass is behind a plasterboard wall, then you may have to cut a small hole to get the dead rat out, while behind a brick wall it can be even more difficult to gain access to it.


Poison And Lethal Traps

The most common reason that will lead to rats dying in houses and in the attics of domestic properties is that people will try to trap or poison these animals, and when it comes to dealing with the dead rat, trapping is certainly easier. The problem with poison is that you will have no way to influence where in your home the rat will die, which can mean the animal may well be quite decayed by the time it can be smelled by the human nose. When animals feel ill or threatened, they will also tend to retreat to where they feel safest, which means that the hidden and dark corners of your home can be where you have to search to find the dead rat.


Removing A Dead Rat

Because of the parasites and diseases carried by rats, try to make sure you have no direct contact with the carcass, and wear gloves and long sleeved clothing to prevent any lice or ticks from hopping on to your skin. A breathing mask can also help to protect you from any airborne particles that can also transmit disease. Place the dead rat into a thick plastic bag, and then double bag it to seal any scent from the body of the animal. You can then look to either incinerate the dead rat if this option is available, or alternatively it can also be put out with your garbage.


Dealing With A Rat Infestation

It is important to be proactive if you find a dead rat on your property, and unless this has been dragged in by a pet then if there is one rat present there are likely to be more. Snap traps are a simple and easy way to deal with a rat infestation, and in terms of locating them then you should look for areas of the attic and around your property that have signs of activity such as small rat droppings and dark smudges around the walls. Make sure you check your traps regularly, and keep removing any dead rats until you no longer see fresh signs of rat activity.



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