Rats are known to infest homes in search for food, shelter, and water. Excluding the health dangers that they can cause to humans, simply seeing a rat in your home is frightening enough. If you’re tired of living in fear of encountering rats in your home and considering hiring professionals to get rid of them, this article will guide you through the whole process.
How to recognise the signs of a rat infestation?
They are nocturnal animals, meaning they are most active at night. These little creatures also like to hide during the day and rarely show themselves unless there is something in their way.
If you see signs of rats in your home, then you may have an infestation on your hands and you may need to get in touch with Terminix pest control technicians. These experts are equipped with all the necessary tools to get rid of rats in your home. The most common signs include:
- Droppings- Rats produce two types of droppings, one solid and one runny. They are usually dark brown or black in colour but can sometimes be grey or white. Droppings can be found on floors, walls, and counters so it’s important not to mistake them for normal household dust or dirt.
- Nests- Rodents tend to build nests where they can get warm and safe from predators such as humans and cats. Nests may be located inside cupboards, behind furniture, or in corners of rooms where there is no light or ventilation.
- Smell- The most obvious sign of rats is their smell. They have a distinctive musky odour that’s hard to describe, but you’ll know it when you smell it. If there are rats in the house, they’ll be leaving their scent everywhere they go, and that means anywhere they have been will smell like them.
- Sound- They are nocturnal animals who are active mostly at night. Their squeaking and scurrying around will be all too familiar if you have rats on your property!
- Smears- Rats smear their urine on surfaces to mark their territory, so you may see smears on walls or floors near where they have been spotted.
- Footprints- They leave distinct footprints that can be seen in the dust and dirt, or even on top of paper products such as bags and boxes. Rats will also use their front paws to pull things towards them, so it’s not uncommon to find that your rat has dragged something across the floor or against a wall.
How do you get rid of rats in the home?
If you have rats in your home and want to get rid of them naturally, there are several methods that can help you get rid of the rodents for good. Here are some tips for how to get rid of rats in your home:
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Know who to contact
To get rid of rats in your home, you need to call a pest control company that knows how to deal with different types of rodents and their habits. Rats are nocturnal animals that live in groups, so you need someone who knows how to deal with these creatures effectively.
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Block entry points
Rats can enter your home through many different entry points, so it’s important to identify all potential entry points and block them off with hardware cloth or metal sheeting before setting traps or baiting them with poison bait stations. Rats have been known to chew through wood and even brick walls to reach food sources inside homes. You should also check around pipes entering your house as well as any cracks or holes that might allow rodents to enter your home unnoticed by using an inspection mirror while shining a light behind it (this will make it easier to spot holes).
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Declutter and clean
Rats love clutter, so remove all things that might attract them such as piles of paper, boxes and food scraps from counters and the ground outside your home. If there are holes in your walls or floorboards, fill them with steel wool or copper mesh before sealing over with cement or caulk.
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Get rid of potential food sources
Rats are opportunistic feeders and will eat anything. Keep food items in airtight containers and seal trash bags tightly so they cannot be opened.
Conclusion
Rats are a nuisance in the home, and they can also carry disease. Getting rid of them can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. You just have to know where to look and how to proceed. It is important to take all the precautions to not let those little creatures into your home.
If you do find yourself with an infestation,you should contact an exterminator immediately. They can get rid of the rats for good before they spread more disease or damage your home further than necessary.
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