By All-Gone Pest Control – Bournemouth • Poole • Christchurch

Rats are one of the most common pests we deal with across Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch. They’re clever, fast-breeding, and excellent at hiding — which means most homeowners don’t realise they have a rat problem until it’s already well established.

The sooner you spot the signs, the easier and faster the treatment. Here are the 7 most common signs of a rat infestation that we see during callouts.

1. Scratching or scurrying noises

If you hear scratching in the loft, under the floorboards, or inside wall cavities — especially at night — there’s a strong chance it’s rats.They’re most active when the house is quiet, and they often travel along pipe runs and joists.

Common noise areas:

• Loft spaces

• Under kitchen units

• Behind fridges

• Wall cavities

• Attached garages and sheds

2. Droppings (dark, tapered, around 10–20mm)

Rats leave large, spindle-shaped droppings that look like dark brown grains of rice. You’ll often find them in clusters, usually along walls or in cupboards where food is stored.

If you see droppings bigger than mouse droppings, you almost certainly have rats.

3. Gnaw marks

Rats gnaw constantly to keep their teeth short.Look out for:

• Chewed food packaging

• Bite marks on wooden skirting

• Damaged cables (a fire hazard!)

• Gnawed holes around pipes or under units

We regularly deal with electrical issues caused by rats chewing through wiring in lofts and kitchens.

4. Greasy smear marks

Rats follow the same routes over and over, leaving dark, greasy smudge marks along their regular runways.

Typical locations include:

• Lower walls

• Behind appliances

• Around small gaps or holes

• On pipes in lofts

These marks build up quickly — a clear sign of ongoing activity.

5. Holes, burrows, and entry points

Outside your property, rats often create burrows in:

• Soil or flower beds

• Under decking

• Around sheds or garages

• Near compost bins

Inside, look for new gaps around pipework, kickboards, or under doors.Even a gap the width of a thumb can be used by a juvenile rat.

6. Unexplained pet behaviour

Cats and dogs often detect activity long before their owners do.

If your pet is:

• Staring at a specific wall or cupboard

• Sniffing intensely at skirting boards

• Acting unusually alert at night

…there may be movement behind the area.

7. Strange smells

Rats have a distinctive, musky odour when they’re active in an area.If a rat has died inside a wall or loft, the smell becomes very strong within a few days and is impossible to ignore.

This is one of the most common reasons for emergency callouts.

What to Do If You Think You Have Rats

Rats won’t go away on their own — in fact, a small problem can turn into a large infestation in just a few weeks.

Here’s what we recommend:

1. Don’t block holes yourself (yet)

If rats are still inside, blocking access can trap them in the walls and create further damage or smells.

2. Avoid supermarket traps and poisons

DIY treatments often make rats trap-shy and harder to eliminate.Professional-grade products are much more effective and safer.

3. Call All-Gone for a same-day inspection

We cover Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch with fast response times and fully trained BPCA technicians.

We don’t just remove the rats — we also identify how they got in and carry out professional proofing to stop the problem returning.

Need Help Today?

If you’ve noticed any of the signs above, we can help quickly.

📞 01202 028694📱 07512 777714🌐 www.all-gonepestcontrol.com✉️ info@all-gonepestcontrol.com

Same-day callouts available across Bournemouth, Poole & Christchurch.