DIY approaches cannot match professional services when it comes to pest control; therefore, when dealing with an extensive infestation it is always wise to contact professionals immediately.
Rats can be an immense nuisance and pose severe health threats to both humans and pets alike. Furthermore, rats carry numerous diseases including Hepatitis E and typhus which could put your family and pet’s wellbeing at risk.
1. Detection
As a homeowner, it is your duty to safeguard your property from pests – rats in particular can do considerable damage.
Prevention is key when it comes to dealing with rat infestation, and that means understanding the signs that indicate an issue.
Identification of signs such as gnawing, droppings, nesting materials or grease spots is critical in protecting yourself against pests. If any such indicators appear, call an extermination service immediately for advice and control measures.
Dirty marks on walls or baseboards is another telltale sign of rats in your home. Smudges from their chewing and gnawing on the walls and floorboards could indicate they’re searching for food or nesting materials.
Rats have extensive burrow systems for shelter and food storage. They also build nests in loft insulation, under eaves and cavity walls. Rats often gnaw soft materials such as cardboard and loft insulation before damaging furniture or upholstery.
2. Prevention
Rats can be an immense nuisance and cause extensive damage to both residential and commercial properties. Not only can they chew through walls and wires, they can also spread diseases that are potentially hazardous to human health.
Prevention is key when it comes to keeping rats out of your home or business, so make sure that all potential points of entry, such as holes or cracks in the foundation, vertical pipes running uphill towards your house, air conditioner and attic vents are sealed up as soon as possible.
Rats need food and shelter, but water is also an attractive attraction. Look for leaky pipes and drains, kitchen wastewater disposal systems, birdbaths or any other potential sources of liquid that might attract them.
Keep your home tidy and safe by using rat-proof containers to store trash. Be careful not to leave food scraps lying around, and ensure any spills are promptly addressed.
3. Trapping
Rats can be an immense source of damage in both residential and commercial spaces, not to mention spreading diseases like salmonella.
Trapping is often considered the go-to approach for DIY rat control, though this approach doesn’t always prove successful.
Rats are social creatures and do not do well when separated from their social groups, becoming highly stressed out – so it’s usually best to seek professional assistance for handling.
Trapping may fail for other reasons related to bait. Rats may see another of their group snap up a trap and understand that it means being relocated away from their familiar home into an environment they no longer recognize, away from friends and family members who may no longer be around anymore.
When setting a trap for rats, it’s a good idea to use cheese and peanut butter or other food items that attract rats as bait. This way there will always be something available for the rodent to consume even if they can’t access either the bait or trap itself.
4. Removal
If you have a rat infestation, professional help should be sought as DIY methods typically will not be effective and could even put your health at risk.
Rats can pose serious threats to both humans and pets alike. Not only can they spread pathogens that pose health concerns to us humans, they can also damage homes leaving dangerous debris like their droppings and urine as well as destroyed insulation, dead animal carcasses, and exposed electrical wiring behind.
Rat infestations can be difficult to exterminate, particularly when they have taken residence in hard-to-reach spaces or locations that require professional exterminators’ expertise to reach. As a result, extermination costs increase significantly since professional exterminators will need to use their skills in reaching these hard-to-reach spots.