Rats can be difficult and oftentimes tiresome to fend off when they’ve invaded your home. They breed exponentially like other short-lived pests, and rat infestations quickly get out of hand. Longview pest control takes time and patience, so here are some helpful tips for rat control from the technicians at Gecko Pest Control.
Habits And Behaviors Of Common Rats
There are two common breeds of rat that typically infest and propagate within homes: Roof rats and Norway rats. While both rats are generally distinguishable from each other, they share a number of common factors. Both rats are nocturnal group pests that tend to stay close together with other rats in colonies.
Roof rats are smaller than Norway rats, and typically more agile. These rats will search for food in packs of no more than 10, find a food source, and regularly return to this food source to feed themselves. Roof rats, true to their name, prefer to build their nests higher up, such as in attics, on shelves, or anywhere generally out of reach of conventional predators such as snakes.
Norway rats, also called sewer rats or street rats, are larger and more industrial than their smaller counterparts. These rats live in colony burrows, with typically two means of escape from each burrow. These rats tend to take their food and return to their burrows or anywhere less traveled as they consume their food safely.
The Dangerous Diseases Rats Are Known To Spread
All rats are spreaders of diseases, from the rare bubonic plague to more common ailments such as jaundice or rat-bite fever. Rats are often the spreaders of these dangerous diseases, but they are not always the root cause. Because rats breed exponentially and resist many diseases that are debilitating or even fatal to other animals, they are ideal spreaders of parasites, bacteria, and viruses that would have difficulty spreading through other creatures due to their lethality. For example, Roof rats became one of the most feared creatures in history due to their fleas spreading the bubonic plague throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa.
How To Remove Factors That Attract Rats To Your Home
Keeping rats away from your home requires diligence as you must remove both the attractants and the entrances in order to keep your home safe and secure. Here are a few ways to remove the factors attracting rats to your home.
- Seal up holes in your home that are bigger than a nickel to prevent rats from entering your home.
- Clean your house regularly, especially where you store and consume food products, to reduce the chance of rats being attracted inside.
- Tightly secure garbage bags and trash cans to prevent rats and other unwanted pests.
- Reduce areas of clutter to remove hiding spots for rats, such as wood piles or attic spaces.
- Repair leaky pipes, faucets, and other areas of the house that may get damp.
- Thoroughly inspect items such as boxes, grocery bags, and other packages before they’re brought into your home.
These steps can go a long way toward keeping your home as unattractive as possible to rats. However, when prevention fails and rats become a problem, the only solution is to call a professional pest management provider for help.
The Most Effective Way To Get Rid Of Rats For Good
Getting rid of rats is a challenging process that is best left to professionals. Rats are carriers of disease and have had thousands of years to perfect their ability to hide from humans and other animals. When dealing with a rat infestation, you should contact your local pest control specialists to use their expert knowledge and specialized equipment to remove the rat problem and prevent them from coming back. Get started today with the technicians at Gecko Pest Control.