Long Island's South Shore sits on glacial sand and sandy loam, according to general geology, and many yards here have light, loose soil. We cannot say what is under your lawn, and soil varies from lot to lot. The general point is still helpful: sand is easy to dig, and a Norway rat is a digger.
How to read a hole.
A burrow in active use looks lived in. The opening is smooth, the soil around it is packed down and bare and there may be a worn path leading in or out. Spider webs, leaves and cobwebs across a hole usually mean it is not being used.
- Size: roughly two to three inches across for an adult Norway rat.
- Location: along foundations, fences, under decks, sheds and woodpiles.
- Signs: smooth edges, tracks, gnawed items or droppings nearby.
- Activity: fresh dirt kicked out, or a path that stays bare of grass.
Take a picture, put a stick beside it for scale and note the date. A second picture a few days later shows whether anything changed.
What rain and tides do.
Wet weather affects burrows in two ways. Heavy rain can collapse a sandy tunnel, so you may see slumped soil or a hole that wasn't there yesterday. In low areas, standing water can flood a burrow and push animals to higher ground, often toward a dry structure.
Neither effect is a cure. A burrow that collapses is usually reopened, or replaced with a new one nearby. Rats do not give up a good spot because of one storm.
Why the foundation edge matters.
Burrows beside a foundation can open into voids, gaps around pipes or damaged sections of footing. A tunnel that reaches a crack in a wall gives the rat direct access to a basement or crawl space. This is why a good inspection looks at the ground and the building together.
| Where the hole is. | What it may mean. | Next step. |
|---|---|---|
| Against a foundation wall. | Possible access to a crawl space or basement. | Call for an inspection before sealing. |
| Under a deck or porch. | Sheltered nest area. | Photograph, then arrange removal. |
| Beside a shed. | Shed floor may be open or damaged. | Check floor and corners. |
| Along a fence line. | Travel route, not necessarily a nest. | Look for signs of regular use. |
| Under a woodpile. | Cover and nest site. | Move wood away from the house. |
If it is the middle of the night, call anyway.
(888) 686-4821What helps.
The goals are to remove food, reduce cover and block entries. Pick up fallen fruit, secure trash cans with tight lids and keep compost in a closed bin. Stack firewood on a rack off the ground and a few feet from walls. Trim dense plantings that touch the house.
A technician may recommend trapping near active burrows and metal-based repairs where tunnels meet the building. Our rat control page explains how those steps fit together.
What not to do.
- Do not use loose poison bait, which is a danger to pets, wildlife and children.
- Do not flood a burrow with a hose and assume that ends it.
- Do not fill a hole with soil and leave it, since the animal usually digs another.
- Do not ignore holes near the foundation.
A seasonal routine.
Walk the yard in spring and again in early autumn. Look at the base of every wall, under steps and next to every shed or fence. Fix drainage problems that keep the soil soft, and trim back plants. Small changes made regularly reduce the chance of a surprise.
Before you call: a safer way to tidy droppings.
You can follow it without ever calling us; agencies hand the very same advice to every household that finds droppings indoors.
- Nothing dry should be swept, blown or vacuumed, since airborne dust is the main way the germs spread.
- Ventilation takes about thirty minutes, and it should happen before any cleaning starts.
- Take the gloves off inside out, bag them if they are disposable, and then wash with soap and running water.
- Soak pellets and urine marks in disinfectant or diluted household bleach and leave the liquid alone for about five minutes.
- Lift a carcass using a gloved hand or a shovel, with no bare skin involved.
- A fever that will not break, or a struggle to catch your breath, after exposure warrants a doctor.
Public health pages we relied on.
Federal agencies set the rules for cleanup and for bait handling, and their pages are linked here.
- EPA position on household rodenticides: Which rodenticides are restricted and why a number of them never get shelved at retail.
- The CDC method for cleaning after mice and rats: Step-by-step coverage of gloves, airing out, damp wiping and bagging pellets and nest scraps.