Why Do Rats Make Burrows in the Ground?

Rats make burrows in the ground for a variety of reasons. For example, they are fond of dumpsters, so they make their burrows underneath them. They also like to make burrows in low, dense shrubbery. Usually, these burrows are less than 18 inches deep, but they can be as deep as a foundation. The burrows are filled with soft debris, and they often have two or more exit holes.

If you suspect that rats live in your home, you can place traps to trap them. But these traps can be easily ruined by wild animals. To prevent this, you can keep a careful eye on your lawn, garden, and backyard. Look for signs of rat damage such as gnawed roots and engraved soil.

Rats also leave footprints, gnaw marks, and grease tracks wherever they go. You can even see these marks on the walls near the burrowing holes. Most rats make their burrows in dense vegetation and can have an entrance that is 2 inches or more in diameter. Generally, burrows are about 18 inches deep and three feet long, but they can extend as far as 3 feet beneath your house’s foundation.

Burrowing occurs in bouts, and a period of burrowing may last from a few seconds to a few minutes. The duration of each bout was overestimated by about 25% and the frequency was underestimated by about 70%.