Rats have caused more human suffering and more economic damage than any other vertebrate pest. From causing plague epidemics to rat-bite fever, whether feeding on stored grain or gnawing electric wires, rats are enemies of humankind. Statisticians estimate that rats destroy 20 percent of the world’s food supply every year by feeding, and indirectly through contamination.
In most instances, rats are very wary. Hundreds may be nesting in a city block-in underground burrows, in sewers, on roofs, inside buildings-with few people in the area realizing it. Within a population, some rats will be easy to control, some difficult.
Store human and animal food in rat-proof buildings, rooms, or containers. Old World rats are very capable of chewing through heavy-duty plastic garbage cans when they can get started chewing on a corner or the lid or a handle. Use metal garbage cans where this is a problem.
Rodents Mouse Rats Mice spread diseases on their own and carry fleas and ticks that spread even more diseases. Rats can also carry mites, whose populations can grow significantly enough that they feed on residents. Their populations grow rapidly, and they can chew up gas lines and even disrupt your home’s foundation. Rodent issues should always be taken care of by a professional exterminators.
Rodents are some of the most resilient creatures on the planet. Unless you remove all of the pests in a short span of time and eliminate all of their possible access points, the chance you will end up with another infestation is high. Knowledge about rodent life cycles and habits is crucial for an effective removal plan.
Do-it-yourself methods for homeowners rarely work for long, and poisons should not be handled without training in safe, effective use. Cornered rats will attack humans, and groups of rats can attack pets. It is always best to leave rodent removal to the professionals.Buildings are different, and each type of rodent must be treated in a different way. During your initial consultation, your pest control specialist will take the time to assess your problem, try to identify the kind of rodent you are dealing with and possibly offer some short-term solutions like sealing foods in thick containers and trimming branches that overhang your home.
You can expect your pest control specialist to create a customized plan to eliminate your rodent problem and help keep your home rodent-free. A variety of tactics may be combined into a strong action plan. The simplest, less expensive and less invasive options are often used first, but with large infestations, aggressive treatment may be necessary.Rodents, mice and rats are problematic inside of any structure. While rodent issues will generally be more pervasive in areas where construction may be older and sanitation may not be ideal, rodents can infest any building. Recognition of a mouse or rat problem is not necessarily a reflection on one’s tidiness or cleanliness; it is unfortunately a byproduct of living in the Seattle and Puget Sound areas, and requires expertise and care to manage.
Rats of either species, especially young rats, can squeeze beneath a door with only a 1/2-inch gap. If the door is made of wood, the rat might gnaw to enlarge the gap, but this might not be necessary.