Rats are common household pests, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy to get rid of. Home remedies for rodents are never as effective as you need them to be, which is why professional services are necessary. Gold Star Exterminators - Del Rio provides effective home pest control in Comstock to protect your home and family from these rodents.
Understanding Rat Behavior: Insights For Effective Rat Control
Rats are one group of common rodents found in Comstock. Along with mice, rats frequently invade local homes and businesses. The easiest way to tell rats and mice apart is with their size and body shape. Rats are bigger than mice, often reaching 7 to 10 inches in body length and another 6 to 8 in their tails. They also have a more elongated body shape, whereas mice are more rounded.
Rats are good climbers who like to stay out of sight, which means you won’t always see them, even in infestation cases. Roof rats, for example, like to live in attics and upper areas of buildings. Norway rats seek out basements and lower floors. All rats will build nests out of sight.
You should be aware of the other signs of a rat infestation, like cylindrical droppings. You might also find footprints or grease spots where rats’ fur has rubbed against the wall. You’ll almost certainly find damaged food packaging since rats scavenge for food. You may hear scratching or scurrying noises from wherever rats hide, such as the attic or inside the walls.
Rat-Borne Diseases: Common Illnesses Transmitted By Rats
Even just the presence of rats in your home can cause illness. Some diseases are spread through bites, like the aptly named rat-bite fever, although this can also be spread through infected food or water. Other diseases spread as rats infest food supplies. Rats carry leptospirosis, tularemia, salmonellosis, jaundice, and trichinosis to humans. They can also bring fleas and ticks into homes.
Besides the risk of disease, rat infestations can cause other problems for your home. Rodents have strong teeth capable of chewing through drywall, plastic, and electrical cables. They might also tear through insulation.
Catch and treat rat infestations as quickly as possible to minimize your risk of property damage and disease.
Rat Prevention: Simple Measures To Keep Rats Out
Once rats have established themselves in your home, they can be hard to remove. Getting rid of rats involves finding every single one; otherwise, any rat left behind can restart the colony. It’s much easier to take precautions that prevent rat infestations in the first place.
Try these tips to keep rats away from your house:
- Seal or cover any gaps or holes in the walls.
- Repair or replace loose siding and mortar.
- Keep firewood and yard debris several feet away from your house.
- Address any moisture issues and repair anything causing water pooling.
- Store food in solid, sealed containers.
- Dispose of trash properly and use bins with animal-proof lids.
A rat infestation has four main factors: easy access, harborage sites, water, and food. Holes in the walls, including those caused by damaged siding, allow rats to get inside. Rats can get pretty big, but they can squeeze into tight spaces. Make any necessary repairs to make sure rats can’t get inside your house.
Harborage sites are areas where rats can make nests. These include piles of firewood and yard debris. When these are too close to your house, rats can move inside more easily. Keep your yard as clear as possible, and make sure any harborage sites are far from your home.
Excess moisture, especially when it causes water pooling, can attract rats by providing a water source. You might need to make some repairs, but addressing moisture issues is essential to rat prevention. Keeping your food inaccessible is another critical step to take. Rats can chew through plastic bags and cardboard boxes, so use solid containers whenever possible. Make sure all lids fit and latch properly. You should also use trash cans with animal-proof lids so rats can’t get into your garbage.
If you’re dealing with a rat infestation in Comstock, call a professional pest control company for help.
Call The Rat Control Experts: Ensuring Safe And Effective Elimination
Gold Star Exterminators - Del Rio provides expert rat removal and control in Comstock. We’re local leaders in residential and commercial pest control, providing effective and affordable professional services.
Our rat control services always begin with an inspection so that we have all the information. A technician will also speak to you about what you’ve been noticing. We'll discuss your treatment options once we know what we’re dealing with. We use a variety of methods to ensure total removal of the infestation, including bait boxes and multiple types of traps. Once we’ve set up the treatments, a technician will return for follow-up visits to make sure they’re working.