If rats are in your home, finding out exactly where they are is crucial. It is important to remember that rats are nocturnal and are therefore typically found in dark places. Attics are popular places for them to be found, as are your walls, since they can seclude themselves in the dark and nest within your insulation. They will also try to stay near a food source. Droppings in your pantry are a good indicator that there are rats nearby.
Rats in Attics
Why do these little critters love your attic so much? Rats enjoy calm, warm places where they have easy access to food, which makes your attic the ideal home for them. There is plenty for them to chew on plus they have access to your attic insulation which makes great nesting material. Rats can fit through holes the size of a nickel, so it may be hard to tell when they have entered. However, if not dealt with promptly, they can inflict a lot of harm on your home and your family’s health.
Dangers from Rat Infestation
When rats get into your home, the results are disastrous. Rats are known to be major carriers of infectious diseases.
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
- Rat-Bite Fever
- Leptospirosis
- Lassa Fever
They are also destructive to the structural integrity of your home, as they shred your insulation and gnaw on wiring, creating a dangerous fire hazard.
- Damage to your personal belongings or stored goods
- Damage to your insulation can increase your electric bills
- Frayed wiring from their gnawing, creating a fire hazard
- Ruined ceiling below your attic and walls due to their urine and feces soaking
- Exposure to harmful diseases like leptospirosis and rat-bite fever
- Irritating noises at night
Signs of a Rat Infestation
The most obvious signs of a rat infestation include:
- Droppings and urine pools
- Gnawing marks on wood, food containers, electric wires, and more
- Odors originating from the attic or walls
- Scratching, squeaking, or thumping noises in the walls or ceiling
- Strange or unusual pet behavior
- Seeing rats
Professional Advice: How to Keep Rats Out
How to make your home less desirable for rats:
- Ensure all food containers are sealed
- Don’t leave out pet food throughout the day
- Keep trash cans closed inside and outside of your home
- Clean up spilt food and regularly sweep or mop your floor
4-Step Process for Rat Control
Here at Critter Control® Sarasota, we’ve come up with a proven 4 step process to locate and remove rats from your attic and keep them out for good.
Step 1: Inspect – The first thing we must do to assess a critter problem is to inspect your home. We need to verify the type of pest, its location, and the damage it’s caused. At this point, we can offer a free estimate and set a plan of action for removal. To learn more about our inspection process, visit our webpage.
Step 2: Remove – We use various techniques to trap and remove rats from your home. The method that we use will be determined in the inspection process. Implementation of the chosen method will happen at this step. Because our technicians are skilled and knowledgeable about mouse behavior patterns, rest assured that this process will be very efficient.
Step 3: Repair – Any damage we find in your home caused by rats in your attic, we will repair. Keep in mind that critters leave behind damage and excrement in almost every situation, so it’s imperative a professional take care of the clean-up and removal of contaminated items, such as insulation.
Step 4: Exclude – Once we remove and repair the pests and their damage, we put in place preventive measures to keep the rats from coming back and invading your home again.
The Critter Control® Difference
A homeowner may be able to handle a mouse or two, but an infestation is a different matter. These must be dealt with quickly to avoid further population growth and potential problems. Fortunately, Critter Control® of Sarasota technicians can bring their vast experience with rat infestations to your unique situation, so that they can quickly and effectively eliminate the problem.
At Critter Control® of Sarasota, our technicians are passionate about keeping your home safe and pest-free. With decades of experience and a strong understanding of animal behavior, we can get rid of the rat in your attic and keep them out for good.
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