Rat Treatment
How Do I Identify A Rat Infestation?
Appearance - Rats have red eyes, black or white fur, and shrieks. They are typically 6-10 inches long (depending on the type) with a hairless tail. Brown rats (also known as Norway rats) are slightly larger than roof rats, with a thicker body, smaller eyes, and a shorter snout than their black rat cousins.
Behavior - Rats tend to be bigger than mice or other rodents, often found in basements, garages, outside near garbage disposals and even scurrying around your home. They are nocturnal. Rats can fit into holes that are ½ inch or even smaller, so having any open holes or gaps in your home may be a way that rats are getting in. Rat droppings are pellet-like in appearance.They are dark colored and about ¾ inch long.
Why Could I Have Rats?
Rats, like any other species, need a place to live and breed. Homes, garages, and apartments provide the perfect location for rats to keep safe and be able to eat, sleep and reproduce without disruption.
Holes in your foundation or walls that lead from a basement or outside are an opportunistic entrance for rats to find their new accommodations within your residence. Being able to fit in ½ inch or less spaces gives rats a leg up in entering your home, even if you have tried to fill in obvious holes and gaps in your walls and foundation.
Having rats does not mean you live in unhealthy conditions, but having food sources accessible could entice a rat to enter and begin living in your home. Professional rat control is recommended before one rat turns into a full blown rat infestation.
Why Should I Treat My Rat Problem Immediately?
Rats tend to scrounge through garbage for food, and this causes them to be carriers of many different bacteria and diseases. They also are known for being traditional carriers of fleas and ticks due to the conditions they tend to live in. Flea bites from rats can cause extreme allergic reactions and ticks can carry Lymes disease.
Beyond topical threats, the bacteria carried on rats can cause leptospirosis, which can affect the liver and kidneys, and salmonellosis, which produces cramping and diarrhea.
These threats and the rat droppings they will leave behind could cause you and your family to become very sick if a rat infestation is left untreated.
How to Get Rid of Rats
Rats have gotten a much worse reputation as a pest than mice. That's not to say that homeowners want mice in their homes. However, rats are often seen as the worst pest. These rodents are larger than mice. They are also associated with dirty, gross locations. Another major issue with rats is their ability to spread disease. Salmonella, rat-bite fever, hantavirus, and the plague are all diseases that can be carried by rats.
You don't want it, but if you happen to have a rat infestation getting rid of them as soon as possible is key. Rats multiply extremely quickly. The sooner the problem is solved, the better.
How Do I Spot A Rat Problem?
The first step in getting rid of rats is spotting the problem. Obviously, actually seeing a rat is a good indication of a rat infestation. Rats are nocturnal animals. They are also shy of humans. If you see a rat in your home, there are likely many more that you haven't yet seen.
Other signs of a rat infestation include
- Seeing rat nests.
Rat nests are usually found in attics, wall cavities, lofts, and under eaves. They will be made of a variety of materials. This could include your home's insulation, cardboard, and other soft materials. Rat nests are quite a bit larger than mouse nests. - Seeing rub marks.
Rats will rub on boards and walls as they navigate your home. They do not see well, so touching these surfaces help them move around. Grease stains will collect along these paths. - Seeing rat droppings.
Rat droppings look similar to mouse droppings. They are just larger. They will also be found in specific areas where the rats tend to congregate. - Hearing scratching noises.
Most rats are great climbers. They also tend to live on walls. As they move through your home, they will create scratching noises. Because rats are nocturnal, these noises will likely occur at night.
How Do I Get Rid of Rats?
No one wants a rat problem. If you notice any of the signs of rats, you should take steps immediately to get rid of them. These steps are listed below.
- Seal any gaps in your foundation or exterior walls.
Rats are geniuses at fitting through tiny openings. They can fit through any opening that is as wide as two fingers. You want to seal any gaps to prevent them from entering your home. - Try rat traps and poison.
Rat traps and poison may be a good way to keep the rat population under control. They do not work as well for removing the whole colony. - Talk to a rat removal expert.
These experts have tools and products to get rid of all the rats in your home. They can also find and remove the rat nests and seal entry points. This way your home will remain rat-free from now on.
Finding the right rat exterminator can be hard. At GoLocal Pest Control we can connect you with the top companies in your area. Contact us today to learn more.
How to Prevent Rats
Homeowners are aware of the possibility of mice getting into their homes. But many people underestimate the ability of rats to invade as well. Although a dirty home may be more attractive to rats, they can infest clean homes as well. Knowing why rats are targeting your home and how to prevent them is an important part of rat control.
Why Do I Have Rats??
Rats are a bad pest to have invaded. They are dirty. They can contaminate food. And they can spread diseases like rabies and hantavirus. You really want to make sure that your home is not attractive to them.
Rats may be targeting your home because of the following reasons.
- It is warm.
Fall and winter are the most common times for rat infestations. During cold weather, the rodent is more likely to enter a house seeking warmth. If there are a lot of warm places to make nests in your home, all the better. - It has easily accessible food.
One of the main attractants for rats is food. They are scavengers, so are not picky about what they eat. Open trash cans, pet food, or unopened containers in the pantry can all attract a rat's attention. - It has fruit trees.
Some types of rats, like roof rats, prefer to eat fruit. If you are someone with nut or fruit trees in your home, you may be more prone to rat infestations. - It is easy to enter.
If the home is attractive enough, a rat will attempt to find their way in. However, they would much prefer an easily accessible home. They can fit in any crack that is over a half-inch. Rats can climb, so are even able to access holes in your roof.
How Do I Prevent Rats?
Preventing rats is the key to protecting yourself from their negative effects. Rat infestations do not have to be a fact of life. Instead, follow the tips outlined below, and you will be rat-free in no time.
- Fix any crack over a half-inch.
The best way to keep rats out of your house is to physically remove their access. Make sure any crack or hole over a half-inch is sealed. This will keep the rats from finding a way in. Make sure to look for cracks on your roof, as rats can climb trees and enter your home from above. - Keep food stored properly.
Trash should always be stored in a bin with a locking top. Pet food should be put away, or the area kept as clean as possible. And you should keep your human food in plastic, lidded containers. - Contact a good rat exterminator.
Rats can be hard to remove once they get in your home. It is always best to prevent them before they become a problem. At GoLocal Pest Control, we can help you find a great rat exterminator in your area. They can point out ways for you to prevent rats from entering your home. Contact us today to learn more.
What Do Rats Look Like?
Rats and mice are extremely common pests. These rodents are actually two of the most plentiful mammals in the world. They each will contaminate food and chew on your home. Mice and rats also multiple extremely quickly. It is important to nip a rat or mouse problem in the bud as soon as you discover it.
Mice and rats have very different appearances, but if you are unfamiliar with them, you can mistake them. Some rodents are also called rats, but they do not belong to the family Muridae, which is the true rat's family. Because all these rodents do have different habits, it is important to know what a rat looks like. In the rest of this article, we will discuss the most types of rats in the U.S. and their appearance.
How Many Species of Rat Are There??
As mentioned above, true rats belong to the family Muridae. This is the largest family of rodents and mammals. The Muridae family encompass Old World mice and rats. These rodents are non-native to the United States. They came with European settlers. The most common Muridae rodents are the House mouse, the Norway rat, and the Black rat.
True rats also belong to the genus Rattus. These Old World rodents originated in Asia. They are not the only rodents to be called rats. Native U.S. species such as the woodrat and kangaroo rat are both called "rat" but belong to different families and genuses.
There are 64 Rattus species in the world. Most are found in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Only a few true rat species live in the United States. All of them were transplants. The most common rats in the U.S. are the Norway rat (also called the brown rat) and the Black rat.
What Do Rats Look Like??
Because the Norway rat and Black rat are the most common rat species in the U.S., we will focus on these in our description.
- Norway rat:
Norway rats go by a lot of names. They are called the common rat, street rat, sewer rat, Hanover rat, and more. They are typically about 11 inches long from nose to tail but can range from 6-11 inches in length. They have a sturdy body shape, their tail is shorter than their torso, and they have a slanted snout. They are typically brown or dark gray with a lighter undercarriage. - Black rat:
The Black rat is quickly different than the Norway rat. It is also called the roof rat, ship rat, and house rat. Its tail is longer than its body. It has a slender body shape and a pointed snout. Black rats are usually 5-7 inches long from nose to tail. They can be many different colors from light brown to black. It is also smaller than the Norway rat.
It is not a good idea to let rats move into your home. They can spread disease and be a real nuisance. Instead, make sure to contact an exterminator at the first sign of a rat problem. Let GoLocal Pest Control help you find the top company in your area. Contact us today.
How to Find an Exterminator to Help with Rats
Rats are a gross pest. You may think that they are more common in urban areas, and that is true. But rats can invade no matter where you live. Although they prefer a messy home, rats have even been found in immaculately clean houses as well. Essentially, you may end up with a rat problem.
If you notice the signs of a rat infestation, you need professional help. Rats can carry disease. And, like all rodents, they can be damaging to the home and contaminate food. Finding a good local exterminator is the key. Follow the advice in this article to do just that.
What Should I Look for in a Rat Exterminator?
Before hiring just any company, you should interview several candidates. This will help you find the pest control services that most fit your situation. You also want the values of the exterminator to align with your own.
Because rats are a common pest, you will likely have a lot of exterminator options to choose from. Use the questions below to help whittle down the candidates.
- What is your experience with rats?
- How can I be sure the issue is rats and not another rodent?
- How do you determine where the rat are nesting?
- What are your treatment options?
- Do you collect and dispose of the rat bodies?
- Are your technicians licensed or certified?
- Do I have to worry about the rats coming back?
What Should I Expect from Rat Exterminators??
The cost and services involved in your rat treatment will depend on what you hire the exterminator to do. Some treatment plans are more involved than others. Here is a general outline of the services you can expect from rat extermination.
- Inspection:
All exterminators will perform an inspection first. This service is even offered for free by some pest control companies. During the inspection, the technician will determine where the rats are entering your home and how big an infestation you have. - Treatment:
Once the technician has completed their inspection and you have agreed to a quote, it's time for treatment. The treatment could be full-service or not. Full-service treatment involves setting the traps and poisons, coming back to remove the traps and the dead rats, and disposing of the bodies. The technician will also seal any entry points to your home. Full-service treatments are expensive, though. Many people just prefer hiring an exterminator to set traps, which will be less. - Follow-up:
Some exterminators will schedule a follow-up appointment during the initial treatment. This allows them to learn if the rats have returned to your home. You can also ask for a follow-up yourself.
How Do I Find an Exterminator to Help with Rats?
The best place to find an exterminator to help with rats is in your area. Local companies provide higher quality and more individualized service. At GoLocal Pest Control, we can help you find the best quality and most qualified pest control companies near you.