Rats in the Yard, Shed and Alley in Louisville
A lot of Louisville rat calls start outside. Somebody sees a rat run along the back fence at dusk, finds holes under the shed, or watches one come out from under the deck to the bird feeder. Outdoor rats are close to the house, and when the weather turns cold or the burrows flood, they look for a way in.
Outdoor work is different from inside work. Traps and bait have to be locked up away from pets, kids and wildlife, and the yard itself usually needs some changes.
What a rat yard looks like
Norway rats dig burrows about two to four inches across, often under something solid: a shed floor, a concrete stoop, a slab, a pile of pavers, the edge of a deck. The dirt at the opening gets packed smooth from traffic. You may see a worn path in the grass along the fence or the house.
- Holes under the shed, deck or garage slab with smooth, packed edges
- Paths worn along fences and foundations
- Chewed holes in plastic compost bins or the bottom of trash carts
- Spilled seed under feeders disappearing overnight
- Rats seen at dusk near the alley, the garage or a woodpile
Alleys and detached garages
Alleys are a big part of the rat story in the older parts of town. In the Highlands, Germantown, Crescent Hill and Old Louisville, garbage carts line up along the alley and the detached garages back right onto it. Rats move down the alley, under fences and into garages with gaps under the doors. One neighbor's compost pile or chicken coop can feed rats for the whole block.
Louisville Metro's code says yards and alleys should be kept clear of trash and that weeds and grass can't be taller than 10 inches. If a neighboring lot is overgrown or full of junk, you can report it through Metro 311. Our Metro 311 guide explains how.
How outdoor rat work is done
The tech maps the burrows and runways, then sets traps in covered, locked boxes along those paths. If bait is part of the plan, it goes only in locked stations that are fastened in place. Burrows get watched. Once one goes quiet, it can be collapsed and filled. A shed or deck that rats keep digging under may need a hardware cloth skirt buried around the base.
You'll get a list of yard changes too, and they matter as much as the traps. Move the woodpile off the ground and away from the house. Use a closed compost bin with a metal bottom or mesh under it. Bring pet food in at night. Pick up dog waste, which rats will eat. Hang bird feeders away from the house and clean up what falls under them, or take feeders down for a while.
If rats from the yard have started getting into the garage or basement, see rat proofing and crawl space and basement rats.
Common questions
Should I fill in the burrows myself?
Not yet. Open burrows show the tech where the rats are working. Filling them early just makes the rats dig new ones nearby.
Do chickens attract rats?
The feed does. Keep it in a metal can, feed only what the birds eat in a day and pick up spilled feed. Coops with dirt floors are easy for rats to dig into.
My neighbor's yard is the problem. What can I do?
Talk to them first if you can. If the lot has piled trash or tall weeds, you can report it to Metro 311 so Codes and Regulations can look at it.
Serving Old Louisville, The Highlands, Germantown, Crescent Hill and Clifton, St. Matthews, Jeffersontown, Middletown, Prospect, Shively, Okolona, Pleasure Ridge Park and Valley Station.