Signs Of Rodent Activity
Don’t you just love the cute little rodents on television? Adorable mice with little pink noses that steal cheese in desperation to feed their family, or singing chipmunks with tons of personality. But in real life, once they are inside your home they can cause a lot of damage and make you, your family and your pets sick. Even though they are just looking for a place to stay warm, as well as water and food for survival, they are uncaring about the effect they have on their surroundings. Most rodents can get into surprisingly small holes and cracks, and your home's foundation or exterior walls may offer these. If they are desperate enough and the hole isn't big enough they will chew their way in.
Once rodents are inside, they are going to start to look for food. And as they go, they leave their feces and urine behind. They rip, tear, and gnaw into packages, knocking them over and contaminating all of the food they touch. If a home offers a convenient food source or even just shelter with food nearby, they will look for a place to nest, reproduce and raise a family. While they are at it, they will chew and pull apart things for their nests. They will also constantly gnaw on hard things to whittle down their teeth that grow constantly. This causes damage to furniture, books, clothing, memorabilia, and other items. Rodents don’t know that plumbing pipes and electrical wires are dangerous, so they may chew on those as well. In some cases, entire homes have burned down due to one mouse or rat chewing on a wire.
Here’s what to look for to determine if you have an infestation:
Rodents are seen continuously around your house
Rodent droppings around food sources or in basements, attics, and along baseboards
Strong urine smell
Sound of scratching or scampering in walls and ceilings
Food packages that have gnaw marks, rips, tears, and spills
Greasy rub marks on walls close to the floor
In order to prevent these rodents from getting into your home, you will need to seal up all entry points, including around utility wires, pipes, and cables. Keep the vegetation trimmed back away from your house and keep woodpiles a distance away. Eliminate junk and trash piles, and keep outdoor trash bins tightly sealed. Empty indoor trash regularly and never leave dirty dishes and cookware in the sink overnight. Keep all food stored in sturdy containers with tight-fitting lids, and clean up food and drink messes immediately. Although these tips are helpful, the best way to eradicate and prevent rodents from your home is to seek professional help from an experienced pest control company.
Rodent Removal
If you are a homeowner in the Greater Houston, Texas area, you can count on Modern Pest Control. Our philosophy is to deliver prompt, personalized pest control to our community. We use only the most modern tools and methods to eliminate all pests and stop them from returning. If you have seen signs of rodents in your home, give us a call at Modern Pest Control for more information.
The Best Way To Get Rid Of A Rat Infestation On Your Property
Belonging to the order Rodentia, rodents are the largest single group of mammals that exists today. Common types of rodents include mice, rats, squirrels, and beavers. Many rodents will reside in residential areas near humans – particularly when food sources are plentiful. One common characteristic among these pests is having overgrown front teeth (incisors), which causes them to chew or gnaw on things continually.
The two predominant rat species that plague homeowners include Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) and roof rats (Rattus rattus). Norway rats have a bulky body style and brown fur. Roof rats generally have darker brown or black fur and a slender body for climbing. Despite their name, most experts conclude that Norway rats originated in northern China or Mongolia and likely traveled to the U.S. on boats in the late 1700s.
Are you trying to figure out how to deal with rats? After detecting rat activity, property owners should promptly consult with a licensed pest control professional. A local pest control professional will have the knowledge and training necessary for safely ousting these pests and may identify other existing property conditions that make the home vulnerable to future intrusions. Find out more about our rat control services today.
Clear Signs Of A Rat Infestation On Your Property
In most cases, homeowners will notice multiple signs of rats following an invasion. The most definitive indication of an infestation is encountering live or dead rats inside a home. Other telltale signs include:
Many people will hear rats scurrying around at night within attics, crawlspaces, or inside walls.
You might notice damage to food packaging and rat droppings throughout cupboards and pantries.
Trash bags containing food scraps will often be damaged.
As infestations expand, a foul odor will often develop, resulting from accumulations of urine, feces, dead rats, etc.
Homeowners should remember the importance of keeping the property's exterior areas free of attractants. Common examples include leaving food scraps or packaging materials behind after cookouts, placing pet food bowls on decks or patios, or having birdfeeders positioned near structures that scatter seeds all over the ground beneath them.
Rats Can Damage Property And Spread Dangerous Diseases
Rats routinely travel through garbage and likely encounter harmful fleas, ticks, and other parasites. Rats may pose risks associated with salmonellosis, tularemia, rat-bite fever, and other health concerns. Keep in mind that after removing rats from a home, surfaces and materials often require remedial efforts involving cleaning, sanitizing, or replacement.
Can rats bite you? Although equipped with teeth, rats rarely bite humans unless they become cornered.
Why Do-It-Yourself Rat Control Usually Fails
Too often, local property owners purchase do-it-yourself products such as traps and baiting systems from home improvement stores that produce very lackluster results. Each home and each rat infestation is unique; therefore, one-size-fits-all solutions typically prove unsuccessful. A professional pest control professional closely inspects the nature and extent of the problem before creating a truly customized plan of treatment.
How To Safely And Effectively Get Rid Of A Rat Infestation
The team of seasoned experts with Modern Pest Control knows how to eliminate rats and will explain many of the best practices for preventing subsequent intrusions involving these and other types of unwanted pests. We also help local property owners with solutions for ants, cockroaches, ticks, and a host of other troublesome and potentially harmful pests. Our staff has many of the latest tools and products in the pest control industry today that create consistent, safe, and effective results.
To schedule an onsite property inspection, contact our friendly staff today.