Rats are a serious health concern because they spread diseases and cause property damage. Their droppings and urine contaminate food and can destroy insulation. A reputable pest control company will perform inspections, baiting, and trapping. They will also seal entry points and install tamper-resistant rodent bait stations around the house.
Sealing Entry Points
Rats are microscopic animals that can squeeze into the tiniest cracks and holes. Sealing all entry points into your home is essential to prevent these critters from getting inside and setting up a nest. Professional pest removal services have the knowledge and experience to identify the most common rat entry points and seal them properly. If you’re facing a rat infestation, it’s crucial to prioritize your safety and property and get professional rat removal services to efficiently and safely address the issue. A thorough property inspection is the best way to find and repair rat entry points. Look for gnawed wood, scratches, and other signs of rodent activity. Pay special attention to areas around the foundation and lower window frames, as these are common entry points for rats. Look for grease marks, which rats secrete from their fur and skin while scavenging for food or other materials. These grease marks tell you where they travel to reach a new food source and shelter. Also, check for utility and plumbing openings, which can be sealed with caulking or metal mesh wool.
Trapping
Rats are adept at finding ways into homes. Their bones are flexible enough to shift their bodies to fit into small spaces, and they have many places to hide, including attics, crawl spaces, garages, and basements. They also tend to chew through anything in their path, including pipes and electrical wires. Rodents carry diseases that can be transmitted through bites or contact with urine, droppings, and contaminated food. They can also cause damage to property and lead to respiratory problems like asthma. Rats are among the most challenging and expensive pests to remove from a home. However, with the right pest control company and preventative measures, you can keep rats away for good. Some of the most effective methods include repellents with unpleasant odors or tastes for rats that drive them away and traps that use poison to kill rodents without harming humans or pets. You can also use more permanent solutions, such as tamper-resistant bait stations and a professional fumigation service. This involves tenting your home and releasing a deadly gas that quickly exterminates rats.
Bait Stations
A bait station is a tamper-resistant rodent control tool that holds solid or liquid bait, traps, and glue boards. The stations can be built at home or purchased from pest control specialists. They should be placed on the exterior of structures at a minimum distance of 8 feet for mice and 15 feet for rats. The stations have a locking lid and multiple compartments to hold snap traps, glue boards, and block bait. Some also include rodenticides and liquid toxicants. They should be close to common rodent entry points such as cracks, crevices, soffits, torn crawl space covers, and openings where pipes or HVAC enter through walls. Placements closer than 50 feet increase the risk of non-target species and decrease the effectiveness of the bait. The stations should be positioned so they are not exposed to afternoon sunlight, as this increases the internal temperature of the bait and causes it to melt quickly.
Fumigation
Rodents cause property damage and can even lead to health issues for humans. They transmit diseases through urine, droppings, and contaminated surfaces. These include salmonella, leptospirosis, and the plague that caused the Black Death in medieval Europe. Fumigation is typically the last step in a comprehensive pest control plan. This includes the labor, equipment, and time required to prepare the building for treatment, remove all food products from the house, and seal them in airtight containers. A professional can also seal crawl spaces, repair holes, screen roof vents, trim trees, and fill cracks to make your home unappealing for rats and other pests. Once the property/building is fumigated, the pheromone trails that lure rodents to your home will be eliminated, and the pest removal process can begin. This helps to prevent future infestations and a more costly home pest treatment.
