A rat exterminator is worth calling once you find burrows, gnaw grooves or droppings. Rats breed fast, so every week of waiting makes the job bigger.
This guide focuses on the Norway rat. UC IPM says it lives throughout the 48 contiguous states.
Not sure it is a rat? Use the sorter below.
Hearing scratching in a wall instead? Our mice in walls guide covers that case.
Rat or Mouse? Sort It Before You Call
Size gives it away. NYC Health says a mouse can get through a hole the size of a dime. A rat needs a hole the size of a quarter.
Droppings help too. NYC Health puts Norway rat droppings at about 3/4 inch. Mouse droppings average about 1/4 inch.
UC IPM also separates gnaw marks by width. Rat marks measure about 1/6 inch across, and mouse marks measure about 1/12 inch.
The sorter below scores your three clues and gives a rough read. For a fuller species guide, read mice vs rats in Westchester.
Rat or Mouse Sorter
How to use this: Answer the three questions. Press the button for a rough read. It is a guide, not a diagnosis.
General guidance only. A licensed provider can confirm the species.
Where Rats Get In
Rats use gaps you can miss. UC IPM says they gnaw, climb, jump or swim through sewers. They can enter through toilets and broken drains.
NYS Department of Health lists foundation cracks, vents and floor drains. It adds pipe and wire openings and door gaps. NYC Health says rats squeeze through cracks and holes as small as one-half inch.
- Foundation cracks and gaps
- Pipe and wire openings
- Vents and basement windows
- Floor drains
- Door gaps (NYS DOH flags quarter-inch gaps under doors)
- Broken sewer lines and toilets
Seal with the right material. NYC Health says to use 16-gauge galvanized hardware cloth with half-inch mesh. It warns never to use chicken wire.
UC IPM warns that rats chew plastic, foam, wood and caulk. For small holes, the CDC suggests steel wool plus caulk.
What a Rat Exterminator Actually Does
Good rat work has five parts. None of them is a lone pile of bait left in a corner.
- Inspect. The pro finds burrows, runways and rub marks along foundations and walls.
- Trap. UC IPM calls snap traps the safest, most effective and most economical way to trap rats.
- Pre-bait. Cornell says rats fear new objects, so traps sit unset at first.
- Seal. Entry points get metal or hardware cloth, not foam or caulk alone.
- Clean up. Tight-lid garbage containers cut off the food source.
Cornell says bait belongs in tamper-resistant stations. UC IPM says all rodenticides are toxic to nontarget species. Loose poison puts pets and wildlife at risk, which is why stations matter.
Pristine Pest is a referral service. We connect Westchester homeowners with licensed providers who do this work. Our rodent control page explains how it works.
Rodent Control · Scarsdale & Westchester
Seeing Rats? Handle It Before They Breed.
Our rodent control partners inspect, trap and seal. Pristine Pest connects you with licensed providers.
Call (877) 938-6799Rat Exterminator Cost: National Ranges
Published prices are national, not Westchester quotes. Use them to sanity-check what you hear.
| Source | Date shown | Average | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angi | Sep 23, 2026 | $396 | $189 to $656 | Inspection $100 to $200. Follow-ups $50 to $150. Exclusion $200 to $600. |
| Fixr | Jan 31, 2025 | $600 | $500 to $750 | Low $300, high $3,000 for a medium infestation. |
Three things move the price: infestation size, entry points and visit count.
Angi lists follow-up visits at $50 to $150 each. Ask any provider how many visits a quote includes. Our mouse exterminator cost guide shows the same logic for mice.
How Fast Rats Multiply
UC IPM says a Norway rat has four to six litters a year. It lists 20 or more offspring annually.
The University of Missouri puts litters at six to 12 young. Gestation runs 21 to 23 days. That math is why waiting costs you.
Health Risks Worth Knowing
The CDC lists leptospirosis, rat-bite fever and salmonellosis among diseases rodents spread directly.
Drop one myth. A CDC document on hantavirus names the white-footed mouse as the Northeast carrier. It does not list the Norway rat.
Clean up with care. The CDC cleanup page says to disinfect droppings before vacuuming. Wear gloves and do not sweep dry.
When to Call a Professional
Call if you see burrows along the foundation. ICWDM puts active burrow holes at 2 to 3 inches wide.
Call if you find 3/4 inch droppings or greasy rub marks on beams. Call if traps keep catching and the noise continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a rat exterminator cost?
Angi lists a national average of $396 with a typical range of $189 to $656. Fixr lists $600 with a range of $500 to $750. These are national ranges, not Westchester quotes.
How do I tell a rat from a mouse?
NYC Health says a mouse fits through a dime-size hole and a rat needs a quarter-size hole. Rat droppings run about 3/4 inch and mouse droppings about 1/4 inch.
Can I handle rats with poison?
UC IPM calls snap traps the safest, most effective and most economical option. It also says all rodenticides are toxic to nontarget species. Cornell says bait belongs in tamper-resistant stations.
How do rats get into a house?
UC IPM lists gnawing, climbing, jumping and swimming through sewers into toilets and broken drains. NYS Department of Health adds foundation cracks, vents, pipe and wire openings and floor drains.
How many babies do rats have?
UC IPM says a Norway rat has four to six litters a year and 20 or more offspring annually. The University of Missouri puts litters at six to 12 young.
Do rats carry hantavirus in New York?
A CDC document on hantavirus names the white-footed mouse as the Northeast carrier. It does not list the Norway rat. Rats do spread other diseases, including leptospirosis and rat-bite fever.
What should I seal rat holes with?
NYC Health says to use 16-gauge galvanized hardware cloth with half-inch mesh. It says never to use chicken wire. UC IPM warns that rats chew plastic, foam, wood and caulk.
Does Pristine Pest send an exterminator?
No. Pristine Pest is a referral service. We connect Westchester homeowners with licensed providers. Call (877) 938-6799 to be matched.