How to Get Rid of Rats in Asheville, NC

Getting rid of rats takes four steps: find where they live and travel, remove what feeds them, trap them with rat-size traps on their runways, and seal the gaps they use to get into buildings. Skipping any one of those usually means the rats come back.

In Asheville, the rat you are dealing with is nearly always the Norway rat. The Mammals of North Carolina guide describes the roof rat as rare and local across most of the state and much less common than the Norway rat. That matters, because Norway rats live low, in burrows and crawl spaces, so that is where the work happens.

Know the Norway rat

NC State Extension describes Norway rats as larger and heavier than roof rats, with small eyes and ears and a shorter tail, and as spending large amounts of time underground. They dig burrows along foundations, under sheds, decks and slabs, in retaining walls and in creek banks.

Their droppings are about half an inch to three quarters of an inch long with rounded ends, and NC State Extension says rats leave 30 to 50 a day. Adult rats get through gaps of half an inch, and young rats through a quarter inch.

Rats are wary of new things. NC State Extension says it can take up to a week to start catching rats in newly placed traps. Plan for that.

Step 1: Find the burrows and runways

Walk the outside of the house and yard in daylight. Look for:

Burrow openings about the width of a fist, often with fresh dirt fanned out, along foundations, under stoops and decks, beside sheds and under woodpiles.
Smooth, packed paths through grass or mulch.
Dark, greasy rub marks along walls and beams where rats brush past.
Droppings near trash carts, compost bins, bird feeders and pet or chicken feed.
Gnaw marks on wood, plastic and wire.

Then check inside: the crawl space or basement, the garage and lower kitchen cabinets.

Step 2: Cut off food and cover

Rats stay where food is easy. Most of it is outside:

Keep trash in your city cart with the lid shut. Asheville's sanitation rules say trash left outside the cart will not be collected and overfilled carts cannot be emptied.
Store birdseed, pet food and chicken feed in metal bins with tight lids, and clean up spilled seed under feeders.
Use a closed compost bin with hardware cloth underneath, and keep meat and cooked food out.
Pick up fallen fruit and nuts.
Move firewood, lumber and debris off the ground and away from the house.

See our guide to Asheville trash and yard rules.

Step 3: Trap with rat-size traps

Use traps made for rats. NC State Extension says mouse snap traps are typically not an effective tool for rats. Set rat traps along walls and on runways, with the trigger toward the wall. Inside a crawl space, set them along the sill plate and pipe runs.

Because rats avoid new objects, it can help to place traps baited but unset for a few days, then set them. Use enclosed trap boxes or place traps where kids and pets cannot reach. Check them daily.

Live traps are a poor fit. NC State Extension points out that they do not give caught rats food or water, so the rats die if not checked often.

Consumer rodent baits must be in ready-to-use bait stations under EPA rules. Inside a home, bait can leave a dead rat in a wall. Outdoors, any above-ground bait must be in tamper-resistant stations. NC State Extension advises never using exposed bait, and notes that rodenticides are best handled by professionals.

Want a technician to take it from here?

Your call goes to an independent rodent control provider serving Asheville and Buncombe County. Describe what you are seeing and ask for the plan and the price in writing before any work starts.

(828) 503-0038Tap to call · Free to call

Step 4: Seal the gaps

Close every gap of half an inch or more, and a quarter inch where young rats travel. Use materials rats cannot chew easily:

Quarter-inch hardware cloth over crawl space vents.
Sheet metal, mortar and concrete for gaps at the foundation.
Copper mesh or 00 steel wool packed tight and caulked over for pipe holes.
A metal-edged door sweep and a good bottom seal on the garage door.

Seal inactive gaps first and active runways last, once trapping slows down. Close burrows by filling them with soil and gravel after the rats are gone, and watch for new holes.

Why Asheville rats are stubborn

Creeks and rivers run through or near most Asheville neighborhoods, and their banks give Norway rats places to burrow. Older homes on stone foundations have more gaps. Hillside lots hide the low side of the house behind shrubs and walls.

Flooding made things worse in some places. After Hurricane Helene in 2024, Pest Control Technology magazine reported that an Asheville pest control company saw more customers calling about rodents, which its owner linked to wet ground and flooding. Debris piles and damaged outbuildings give rats more cover.

When to call a professional

Call for help if you see rats inside the living space, find more than a couple of burrows, cannot find the entry point, rent and need records, or have trapped for a few weeks without results. A good provider inspects outside and in, traps, treats burrows and seals, and gives you a written plan and price first. Ask for the company's North Carolina pest control license. See rat control in Asheville and how to verify a North Carolina pest control license.

Frequently asked questions

Are there roof rats in Asheville?

They are possible but uncommon. The Mammals of North Carolina guide calls the roof rat rare and local across most of the state and much less common than the Norway rat.

How long does it take to get rid of rats?

Usually two to four weeks of trapping and sealing. The first week can be slow because rats avoid new traps.

What bait works best in rat traps?

Peanut butter, nut spreads, dried fruit or bits of the food the rats are already eating. Pre-baiting unset traps for a few days helps wary rats.

Should I fill rat burrows?

After the rats are trapped out, fill burrows with soil and gravel and watch for new holes. Filling them first just moves the rats.

Do I have to report rats to the city?

Not for your own property. If rats come from a neighboring property or dumping, see our guide to reporting rats in Asheville.

Get a rodent technician on the phone

Free to call. You are connected with an independent provider serving Asheville and the rest of Buncombe County. Same-day appointments are often available.