Rats are destructive rodents that can invade and damage your home, storage buildings, and even vehicles. Rats are social creatures that tend to live in large groups. When one rat invades your home, there are sure to be more lurking around.
At Gecko Pest Control, our dedicated Hallsville pest control technicians will keep homeowners safe by eliminating all dangerous rodents from residential areas. Keep reading to learn the best way to prevent rats from invading your home.
Clear Signs Of A Rat Infestation
Rats are athletic and agile rodents that can jump, climb, and crawl their way through tight-fitting areas. They don't have great eyesight, so it is rare to see them running out in the open. Instead, they prefer to stay in the shadows and will usually use the area between your walls and above your ceiling to travel around your home without being seen.
If you have rats in your Hallsville home, instead of looking for the rat itself, you may want to look for clues that these rodents commonly leave behind. Some of the signs of rats in your home include:
- Holes chewed through your walls, cabinets, interior doors, and other areas of your home
- Dark, greasy rub marks on the baseboards and walls of your home
- Holes chewed through food and food packages
- Hearing scratching or squeaking noises in your walls or attic
Rats are also known to leave footprints around wherever they go. They have small, slender feet, with their front feet having four toes and their hind feet having five. If you see these unique footprints in your home, you should have your house inspected for rats.
How Rats Spread Disease And Damage Property
Rats are destructive, and sometimes their destructiveness can lead to dangerous situations. For example, these bothersome creatures will chew through your walls, insulation, and even your electrical wiring. If they can chew through the protective sheath on the electrical wires, it could cause a shortage or even cause a fire.
They can also spread a wide range of diseases that they can transmit to you through direct and indirect contact. Some of the most common illnesses you can catch from having a rat infestation inside your home include salmonellosis, leptospirosis, tularemia, cowpox, rat-bite fever, and trichinosis. They are also known to carry fleas and ticks, which can spread a variety of other diseases if these other pests bite you. If fleas come into your home, they could cause anemia in your pets and spread tapeworms to you and your pets.
How To Identify Factors And Reasons For A Rat Infestation
Rats will come into your home if they think a viable food source is inside. They can chew through almost any material, including hard plastic and wood. You should store all your dry food in a metal or glass container with a lockable lid. Other things you can do to prevent rats from entering your home include keeping a lid on your trash cans and not leaving your pet's food and water bowl out at all times.
The Safe And Effective Way To Get Rid Of A Rat Infestation
It can be dangerous dealing with rats. If you touch the animal or any object that they have touched, it could be hazardous to your health. If you are looking for a safe way to eliminate rats from your home, give us a call today. At Gecko Pest Control, we specialize in rodent control in Hallsville and know how to eradicate the rats from your home. Contact us today for your free quote!