The worst time of year for rats indoors is typically late fall and winter, from October through February, when outdoor temperatures drop and natural food sources become scarce. Like mice, rats seek warmth, shelter, and a steady food supply inside homes, garages, basements, attics, and sewers during cold weather, a behavior known as overwintering. October and November are often peak months for new rat infestations because rats actively scout for entry points and move inside before the first hard freeze. However, rats are active year-round and do not hibernate, so if they have already established nests inside, you can see activity in any month, especially at night when they forage. In spring and early summer, rat activity may increase outdoors as they breed more, with breeding peaks in spring, and then they may move indoors in fall. In warmer southern states, rats can be a year-round problem with less seasonal variation. Roof rats may be more active in late summer and fall when fruits and nuts are ripening, while Norway rats may be more active in winter when they seek warmth in basements. For prevention, late summer to early fall, around August and September, is the best time to seal holes larger than a quarter inch for mice and half inch for rats and set up exclusion.
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