Where Harrow's Rats Come From
Metropolitan line embankments and back gardens
The Metropolitan line runs through much of Harrow, and the embankments alongside it give rats cover and an unbroken route between gardens that back onto the railway. Burrows here tend to sit against a fence or under overgrown vegetation, with fallen fruit and bird feeders often what draws them in first.
Older drain runs near Wealdstone
Wealdstone's denser, older streets sit on drains that predate the Metroland expansion around them, and a cracked pipe or displaced joint gives rats a route from the sewer into the ground beneath a house. Activity under a ground-floor room with no visible hole outside is usually the first clue something below has failed.
Signs to Look For
- Dark, tapered droppings roughly 1–2cm long, often in small groups
- Greasy smear marks along skirting boards, pipes and the edges of holes
- Gnawing on wood, plastic, food packaging or cables
- Scratching in ceilings, walls or under the floor, mostly at night
- Burrows a few centimetres across in soil, under paving or beside a shed
- A stale, ammonia-like smell in cupboards or under the stairs
Making Sure the Rats Don't Return in Harrow
Once they're gone, the route in — an embankment gap or a drain fault — is usually the next thing worth dealing with, alongside rodent proofing for smaller holes.
