How to Get Rid of Rats in Cleveland, Ohio

To get rid of rats in Cleveland, you need to do four things in order: confirm you have Norway rats and find where they live, trap or bait them on the routes they use, seal the gaps they use to get into your house and garage, and remove the food, water and cover that drew them in. Skip the sealing or the food step and new rats replace the ones you catch.

Cleveland ranked No. 7 on Orkin's 2026 list of metro areas by new residential rodent treatments, so rats are a common problem here. The good news is that the steps are the same on almost every property.

Confirm it is rats and find where they live

Cleveland's rat is the Norway rat, a ground-dwelling burrower. Look for:

Burrow holes about three inches wide with fresh dirt fanned out in front, along foundations, under garage slabs, porch steps and sheds
Droppings about three quarters of an inch long, capsule-shaped, often in the basement or garage
Dark, greasy rub marks along walls, sill plates and joists where rats travel
Gnaw marks on wood, plastic bins and trash carts
Thumping or dragging sounds low in the house at night

The University of Florida's extension guide notes that rats often range 100 to 150 feet from their nest to find food or water. On a city lot, that can mean the rats in your yard are living under a neighbor's garage. Walk the alley and fence line too.

Trap on their runways

The CDC recommends snap traps for reducing rodents around the home and advises against glue traps and live traps. For rats, use rat-size snap traps. Mouse traps are too small.

Placement matters more than the number of traps:

Set traps along walls and fences where you see rub marks or droppings, with the bait end against the wall so the trap forms a T.
Use a small amount of a soft, sticky bait like chunky peanut butter.
Leave traps baited but unset for a few days. Rats are cautious, and the UF guide says a rat may take a week to approach a new trap.
Then set them all at once.
Check traps daily and dispose of catches following CDC cleanup steps.

Outdoors, put traps inside a box or station so kids, pets and birds cannot reach them.

Deal with the burrows

Burrows are where the colony lives. Once trapping is underway, plug burrow openings loosely with soil or crumpled paper and check them the next day. The ones that reopen are active.

Professional burrow treatment uses methods allowed only for licensed applicators. EPA rules allow outdoor burrow baiting only with pelleted bait placed at least six inches down an active rat burrow. When burrows stay closed, collapse and fill them. At slab edges, laying hardware cloth or gravel under the soil helps stop rats from digging back.

See rat burrow treatment for what a provider does.

Want a technician to look at it?

Your call goes to an independent rodent control provider serving Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. Describe what you are seeing and ask for a written quote before any work starts.

(216) 384-0039Tap to call · Free to call

Seal the house and garage

Rats get into Cleveland homes at ground level. The UF guide says rats can squeeze through cracks about half an inch wide. Check and seal:

Gaps between the wood sill and the stone or block foundation
Mortar gaps and cracks in the foundation and around window wells
Holes around gas, water, sewer and air conditioning lines
The bottom of garage doors and side doors
Old coal chutes, vents and openings covered with wood

Use materials rats cannot chew. The CDC suggests lath screen or lath metal, cement, hardware cloth or metal sheeting for larger holes. Foam alone does not stop rats.

Cut off food, water and cover

Rats need water every day. Cornell's IPM program notes that Norway rats need to drink standing water daily, so fix dripping hose bibs, empty buckets and improve drainage.

For food:

Keep trash carts closed and in good repair. Cleveland's waste guide says all waste must be inside the cart.
Use bird feeders with trays, or stop feeding birds until the rats are gone.
Store pet food and seed in metal cans.
Pick up dog waste and fallen fruit.
Use a closed compost bin and keep meat and dairy out.

For cover, move wood piles off the ground and away from the house, clear brush along fences and keep storage off the garage floor.

When the source is next door

If a neighboring yard, vacant lot or alley is feeding the rats, protect your side and report the other. Cleveland residents can file through 311 or the Department of Public Health's complaint form, under the Rodent Abatement category. Our reporting guide has the details.

If rats are already in your basement, or if trapping has not worked after two weeks, it is time for a professional. A technician can find entry points you missed and seal them properly. See rat control in Cleveland.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest way to get rid of rats?

Professional trapping on active runways plus sealing the entry points at the same time. Rats are cautious, so expect a few days before catches start.

Do rats leave on their own?

Rarely. As long as food, water and shelter are available, rats stay and breed. The UF extension guide says Norway rats can have up to seven litters a year.

Is rat poison a good idea for homeowners?

Consumer products must be enclosed bait stations, and rats that eat bait can die inside walls. Traps and sealing are usually the better choice indoors.

How do I know the rats are gone?

The CDC's rule of thumb is a week with no captures and no new signs. Check that burrows stay closed and no fresh droppings or rub marks appear.

Can I get rid of rats in winter?

Yes. Indoor trapping and sealing work in any season. Burrow work is easier before the ground freezes.

Get a rodent technician on the phone

Free to call. You are connected with an independent provider serving Cleveland and the Cuyahoga County suburbs. Same-day appointments are often available.