What To Do About Rats Around Your Richmond Home
October 15, 2022 - Rats
Rats are a common home-invading rodent. They regularly take advantage of residential properties for access to food and shelter, among other resources people unintentionally provide. Unfortunately, when rats get inside, they also cause many problems, including health concerns. Continue reading to learn more about rats and who can assist you with pest control in Richmond.
How To Tell If Its Rats Infesting Your Home
Two types of rats are in our area; the roof rat and the Norway rat. Rats are nocturnal critters, so you may not see them immediately as they infest your home. Instead, you will likely see signs of their presence, which include:
Chew marks on furniture, food packaging, and walls.
Shredded paper, fabric, and other materials that they might be using for nesting.
Droppings, grease marks, and paw prints are usually in areas where they are most active.
You may also hear scratching coming from inside the walls and have a foul odor in areas of the house where they are most active.
A change in behavior in your pets, including restlessness and focusing, and one area of the house.
If you see any of these signs, don't wait to contact local pest control experts for assistance. As you will learn, rats are not a pest you want in your home or near your family.
Rats In Your Home Is A Serious Health Hazard
Rats are not only a gross pest to experience in your home but also one of the most dangerous. Rats are known to spread diseases, cause contamination, irritate allergies and asthma, and more!
The diseases rats can spread include but are not limited to leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, tularemia, and salmonellosis. Once rats get inside a home, they can spread their saliva, waste, and hair, causing contamination and making people sick.
On top of the health hazards caused by rats, they are also destructive critters, chewing their way through pipes, wires, wood, insulation, and many other materials found in a home.
If you believe you are experiencing an infestation in your home, you shouldn't wait to act to get rid of rats, as they are quick at reproducing and can soon become overwhelming.
How Rats Find Their Way Into Your Home
Roof rats are skilled climbers and often make their way into homes along the roofline through damaged areas, open or uncovered vents, or chimneys. In contrast, the Norway rat has a dense, heavy body and is not good at climbing, so they get into homes through damage along the foundation, gaps around windows and doors, and uncovered drains. In either case, rats only need a hole the size of a penny to squeeze through to get inside.
Rats can chew through just about any material, so if you find cracks and gaps where rats can squeeze through, fill it with steel wool before using caulk to seal it.
The Most Effective Way To Get Rid Of Rats For Good
The best way to get rid of rats is with the assistance of pest control experts like our highly trained team at Mitchells Pest Control LLC. We'll start with a home inspection to understand your unique circumstances, such as why rats are attracted to your home and how they get inside. Then, we will implement the necessary rat removal and prevention methods to eliminate your active problems and prevent future ones from occurring.
Call us at Mitchells Pest Control LLC for more information about how we can assist with rats and other rodents on your Richmond property.
