Rat Trapping and Removal

Your safety and satisfaction is our #1 goal!

What Damage Can Rats Do to Your Home or Property?

Rats may be small, but the damage they cause inside homes and businesses is anything but minor. At All City Animal Trapping, we’ve seen just how destructive and costly a rat infestation can become if left untreated. From structural issues to health risks, these pests can turn your safe space into a serious hazard.

How Rats Damage Homes

1. Structural Damage

Rats are constant chewers. Their teeth never stop growing, so they gnaw on wood, drywall, and even concrete to keep them trimmed down. Over time, this leads to:

Weakened walls and floors from chewing and tunneling
Destroyed insulation, which rats shred for nesting, leaving your home less energy efficient and increasing utility costs

2. Electrical Hazards

Perhaps the most dangerous problem is their tendency to chew through wiring. Exposed wires can spark fires, damage appliances, or shut down power to parts of your home—all of which can lead to expensive repairs.

3. Contamination and Health Risks

Rats leave droppings, urine, and fur wherever they travel. This contamination introduces harmful bacteria and can spread diseases that put your family and pets at risk.

4. Water Damage

While searching for water or new nesting areas, rats may damage pipes or ducts. Even small leaks can create water damage, mold growth, and foundation problems over time.

5. Personal Property Damage

Stored belongings aren’t safe either. Rats chew through boxes, furniture, and fabric, leaving behind contaminated and destroyed items in attics, basements, and crawl spaces.

6. Garden and Landscaping Destruction

Outdoors, rats dig through soil, burrow under foundations, and chew through vegetation. They’re opportunistic feeders and will quickly tear into gardens, garbage bins, and compost piles.

Our Process for Rat Removal

At All City Animal Trapping, we don’t just remove rats—we eliminate the problem and prevent it from coming back. Here’s how we do it:

Step 1: Comprehensive Inspection

We start with a full property assessment to:

Identify entry points
Locate nesting sites and areas of activity
Determine the scale of the infestation

From there, we design a customized action plan for your situation.

Step 2: Humane Trapping

We use advanced, humane traps designed to minimize stress and harm. Traps are placed strategically in high-activity zones, then checked regularly for fast and effective removal.

Step 3: Rat Removal and Exclusion

Our trained professionals handle removal carefully and responsibly. To stop future infestations, we seal all identified entry points using durable materials that blend seamlessly with your home.

Step 4: Damage Repair and Sanitation

Once the rats are gone, we restore your property by:

Sealing entry holes, cracks, and gaps
Replacing chewed insulation and repairing structural damage
Fixing electrical issues caused by gnawed wiring
Sanitizing contaminated areas to eliminate health risks

Step 5: Prevention and Maintenance

We help keep your property rat-free with:

Rat-proof barriers around vulnerable spots
Advice on proper food and waste storage
Follow-up visits to confirm that prevention methods are working

Our Pricing

Small Job: $500 or less
This is a simple job in a small house with minor issues. It includes the initial inspection/report ($225).

Medium Job: $500–$1,000
This job involves a larger home or moderate infestation. It may include multiple traps, several visits, more repair work, and a more thorough cleanup.

Large Job: $1,000+
Extensive jobs that require significant cleanup, multiple service visits, and substantial repairs to the property. Typically for severe infestations or large buildings.

Return Service Call: $100 per visit

Why Choose All City Animal Trapping?

Proven Expertise – Decades of hands-on experience handling rat infestations
Humane Methods – Safe, ethical trapping and removal techniques
Full-Service Approach – Inspection, removal, repairs, prevention, and cleanup
Fast Response – We act quickly before the damage spreads
Fair Pricing – Transparent rates and free consultations
Local Knowledge – We understand the unique challenges in Southern California
Satisfied Clients – Our reputation is built on results and customer trust

Identifying Rats

Two species are most common in North American homes:

Roof Rats (Black Rats): Skilled climbers that live in attics, roofs, trees, and walls. They’re usually darker in color with tails longer than their bodies.
Norway Rats (Brown Rats): Larger than roof rats, they prefer basements, sewers, and burrows. Their tails are shorter than their bodies, and they’re less agile climbers.

Quick identifiers: Oversized heads, long feet, larger gnaw marks than mice, and greasy streaks along walls where they travel.

What Rats Eat

Rats aren’t picky. They eat whatever they can find, including:

Pet food and bird seed
Garbage and scraps
Fallen fruit from trees and gardens
Even dead animals if the opportunity arises

Living near people provides endless opportunities for rats to thrive.

Signs You Have Rats

Droppings in attics, crawl spaces, or along baseboards
Gnaw marks on wood, wires, and pipes
Scratching or scurrying noises at night
Dirt or grease smudges along walls and floorboards
Outdoor “rat runs” (worn paths in grass or vegetation)

If you see even one rat in plain sight, chances are the nest is already overflowing.

Health Risks Linked to Rats

Rats can transmit dangerous diseases through bites, scratches, urine, droppings, and contaminated food. Some of the most concerning include:

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome – Spread through droppings and urine; potentially fatal if inhaled
Leptospirosis – Causes high fever, muscle pain, and can progress to liver or kidney damage
Rat-Bite Fever – Spread by bites or contaminated food; can cause fever, rash, and joint pain
Salmonella – Foodborne illness leading to diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
Eosinophilic Meningitis – Rare but serious parasite infection linked to rat contact

Prevention and Maintenance

We implement preventive strategies to make your property less attractive to rats, such as:

Advising on proper storage of food and waste.
Providing tips on maintaining a clean and clutter-free environment.
Installing rat-proof barriers around vulnerable areas.

Follow-Up Services

Our team provides follow-up visits to ensure that the measures are effective and that your property remains rat-free. We are always available for additional support and advice.

Don’t Wait Until Rats Take Over

Rats won’t leave on their own, and the longer they’re inside, the worse the damage becomes. Protect your home and your health by calling All City Animal Trapping today. We’ll provide a free consultation and a customized plan to make your property rat-free—and keep it that way.