Rat burrow treatment in Memphis, TN

Holes along the foundation, under the slab porch or beneath the shed, with smooth, packed edges. Call to reach a local technician who can treat active burrows and keep rats off the house.

Call (901) 256-2861 Free call · Same-day appointments are often available

Memphis and Shelby County
Rats and mice only
Independent local providers

Rat on the edge of a roofline at night near tree branches

What rat burrows tell you

Burrows almost always mean Norway rats. They dig along foundations, under slabs, sidewalks and patios, beneath sheds and woodpiles, along fence lines and in thick ground cover. An active burrow has a smooth, packed opening without leaves or cobwebs, sometimes with fresh dirt fanned out in front and a worn path leading away.

Burrows matter because they put rats right against the house. A burrow under a slab porch or along the foundation is often a few feet from a crawl space vent, a gap under the brick or a garage corner. Rats from the yard become rats in the house.

Burrow treatment knocks back the yard population, and it works best alongside sealing the house and removing what drew the rats in.

What thorough burrow treatment includes

A provider should cover:

Finding and marking every active burrow, and tracing runways to food and shelter
Treating active burrows with methods allowed by the product label. Under EPA rules, outdoor burrow baiting is limited to pelleted bait placed at least six inches down an active burrow, by licensed applicators
Locked, tamper-resistant exterior bait stations or traps where kids, pets or wildlife could reach them
Collapsing or filling treated burrows and checking for reopening
Removing harborage: woodpiles, debris, dense ground cover against the house
Sealing foundation openings so yard rats cannot get inside

Ask the provider what product they will use, where it goes, and how pets will be kept away from it.

How burrow treatment usually goes, step by step

The technician walks the yard and foundation, marking burrows and runways.
Burrows are tested by lightly closing them; the ones that reopen within a day or two are active.
Active burrows are treated following the product label, and stations or traps go along runways.
Food and cover are addressed: trash, pet food, bird feeders, woodpiles and overgrowth.
Return visits check for reopened burrows and new ones, and service stations.
Foundation gaps are sealed so the rats cannot move inside.

Want a technician to look at your place?

(901) 256-2861

Why Memphis yards hold Norway rats

Memphis has a lot of ground cover rats like. Low areas near the Wolf River, Nonconnah Creek and the Loosahatchie River, overgrown vacant lots, alley edges and bulky waste piles left at the curb all give Norway rats places to dig and hide. Slab porches and concrete steps on older homes are classic burrow spots, since rats tunnel under them where the soil stays dry.

Food matters too. Bird feeders, pet food left outside, dog kennels, chicken coops, compost and fallen pecans or fruit all keep rats close. So does a garbage cart with a lid that does not close.

Shelby County's rodent control program responds to complaints and can place bait around the outside of properties where it finds serious outdoor infestations. If burrows are spreading from a neighbor's lot or a vacant property, the reporting guide explains who to contact.

Yard changes that make burrows less likely

Norway rats pick spots with cover, loose soil and food close by. Take away some of that and they have fewer reasons to dig near your house.

Move woodpiles, lumber and stored materials off the ground and away from the foundation and fence
Cut back dense ground cover like ivy and liriope where it grows against the house; rats tunnel under it unseen
Keep a clear strip of bare soil, gravel or mulch a short way out from the foundation so new holes are easy to spot
Clean up under bird feeders every day, or take the feeder down while you deal with rats
Feed pets indoors and do not leave food outside overnight
Keep compost in a closed bin and do not add meat or cooked food
Keep garbage cart lids closed, and do not leave bagged trash on the ground beside the cart
Fill and tamp abandoned burrows so you can see if they reopen

If a vacant lot, a neighbor's yard or a business next door is the source, outdoor work on your side will only go so far. That is a case for a complaint to the city or county, covered in the reporting guide.

Before you call

What to say when you call

Your call goes to an independent rodent control provider serving Memphis. Two minutes of detail up front gets you a straighter answer on timing and price.

Tell them

✓Rats or mice, if you can tell. Mouse droppings are rice-sized; rat droppings run about half an inch or longer.
✓Where the activity is: attic, ceiling, walls, kitchen, crawl space, garage, yard or under the slab.
✓How long it has been going on, and whether the noise or droppings are getting worse.
✓The building: brick ranch, Midtown bungalow on a crawl space, townhome, apartment, restaurant or warehouse.
✓Your neighborhood or ZIP code and the times that work for a visit.
✓Anything already tried, like snap traps, store bait, foam in a gap or a past service.

Ask them

?Is the company chartered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (or licensed in Mississippi, for DeSoto County)?
?Will the technician seal the entry points, or only set traps and bait?
?How many return visits does the price cover, and what does an extra one cost?
?Can I see the plan and the quote in writing before work starts?
?What goes inside the house, and how is it kept away from kids and pets?

Call (901) 256-2861

FAQ

Rat burrow treatment questions

How do I know a burrow is active?

Active burrows have smooth, packed edges and no cobwebs or leaves in the opening. Loosely fill it with soil or crumpled paper; if it is reopened within a day or two, rats are using it.

Can I pour something down the burrow?

Avoid gasoline, bleach or other improvised treatments. They are dangerous and do not solve the problem. Use labeled products only, and follow the label.

Can I buy burrow bait at the store?

No. EPA rules limit consumer rodenticides to block or paste bait in bait stations. Pelleted bait used for burrows is a professional product.

Are burrows near the foundation a structural problem?

Extensive burrowing can undermine slabs, steps and walkways over time. Treating early and filling burrows limits damage.

Will the rats go away if I remove the bird feeder?

It helps, but rats with an established burrow system will find other food. Treatment plus removing food and cover works better than either alone.

Are rat burrows a sign the rats are inside my house?

Not always, but burrows next to the foundation often lead to rats getting into crawl spaces, garages and wall gaps. A technician should check the house too.