Rats generally avoid humans and will flee when they can, but they do bite and attack under certain circumstances. An estimated 20,000 to 40,000 rat bites occur each year in the United States alone. Most of these happen not because rats are hunting people, but because the animals feel cornered, are protecting a nest, or encounter sleeping individuals who can’t fend them off.
When and Why Rats Bite Humans
Rats are not predators of people. Their default response to a human is to run. Attacks happen when that escape route is cut off. A rat trapped in a corner, inside a wall, or caught in a container will lunge and bite in self-defense. Mothers guarding a nest of pups are particularly aggressive and will charge at perceived threats several times their size.
The other major scenario is bites on sleeping people, especially infants, young children, the elderly, and anyone who is immobile or incapacitated. Rats are nocturnal and boldest in complete darkness. They’re drawn to the smell of food residue on skin, particularly on hands and faces. In overcrowded displacement camps in Gaza, humanitarian workers have documented rats routinely biting sleeping children in tents at night, drawn in by stored food, wastewater, and the inability to seal living spaces. These aren’t random attacks. They follow a pattern: food sources attract rats into living areas, darkness emboldens them, and people who can’t react become targets.
Hunger also plays a role. Rat populations that outgrow their food supply become bolder and more aggressive. In cities with severe infestations, rats have been observed entering homes through toilets, open doors, and gaps as small as a quarter to reach food.
Rats as Predators of Other Animals
While rats rarely hunt humans, they are genuine predators of smaller animals. They regularly kill and eat insects, birds, and mice. The behavior of rats killing mice even has a scientific name: muricide. Interestingly, rats that kill mice don’t always eat much of the body, suggesting aggression and territoriality drive the behavior as much as hunger does.
Rats also pose a real threat to small pets. There are documented cases of rats killing puppies, kittens, and caged animals like hamsters or rabbits. Pet food left outdoors is one of the most common attractants, drawing rats into yards where they encounter vulnerable animals. Some semi-aquatic rat species hunt fish, turtles, and crabs in wetland environments, showing how adaptable their predatory instincts can be.
What a Rat Bite Can Do to You
A rat bite itself is typically a puncture wound or a series of small lacerations. The real danger is infection. Rat-bite fever is the most well-known illness transmitted through bites, caused by bacteria found in the mouths of healthy-looking rats. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, muscle pain, and a rash, usually appearing within a few days to two weeks after a bite. Left untreated, rat-bite fever can become serious.
One thing you probably don’t need to worry about is rabies. Small rodents, including rats and mice, are rarely found to be infected with rabies and have not been known to transmit it to humans. Public health agencies generally advise against rabies treatment after a rat bite unless the animal was behaving bizarrely or appeared overtly sick.
People with diabetes or weakened immune systems face higher risks from any rat bite because their bodies are slower to fight off infection and heal wounds.
What to Do After a Rat Bite
If the wound is minor and only breaks the skin, wash it thoroughly with soap and water, apply antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a clean bandage. For deeper puncture wounds, heavy bleeding, or torn skin, get medical attention promptly.
Watch for signs of infection over the following days: increasing swelling, redness, warmth, pain, or oozing from the wound. If you haven’t had a tetanus shot in the past five years and the bite is deep or dirty, a booster is recommended within 48 hours.
How to Keep Rats Away From Your Home
Rat encounters are almost always about food and shelter. Remove those two things and rats have little reason to come near you. Store garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and keep them clean of grease and food residue, even when empty. Pick up fallen fruit and nuts from your yard. If you feed pets outdoors, don’t leave food sitting out overnight.
Eliminate hiding spots by storing firewood, lumber, and boxes off the ground and away from exterior walls. Trim tree branches to at least three feet from your roofline, since roof rats use overhanging limbs as bridges. Remove climbing plants from the sides of buildings. Compost should go in rigid plastic or metal containers with secure lids, though keep in mind rats can gnaw through plastic given enough time.
If you already have rats, snap traps remain the safest and most effective option for homeowners. Place them along walls, in dark corners, and wherever you’ve spotted droppings. For roof rats, set traps on elevated surfaces like shelves, ledges, or fence tops. Use more traps than you think you need. A heavily infested home may require a dozen or more to make a real dent. Check traps frequently and dispose of dead animals promptly. If children or pets are nearby, place traps inside protective boxes or stations to prevent accidental contact.
Rats have strong attachment to their nesting sites. If you clean up food sources but leave the nest intact, they’ll come back. Finding and removing nests during any cleanup effort is essential to keeping them gone for good.