Rat Identification

Knowing what rats look like can help homeowners confirm infestations. Common household rodents include Norway, roof, and pack rats. Norway rats have brownish fur, hairless tails, and short, furry ears. Slightly smaller, roof rats are black in color with dark tails and hairless ears. Pack rats, or woodrats, average six inches in length with brown or gray fur, hairy tails, and big, furry ears. While species vary in appearance, they are all recognizable by their dark coats, rounded ears, and long tails.

image of roof ratNesting Sites

Some species of these pests depend on manmade habitats for shelter and food. Norway rats burrow and nest along foundations or in basements, while roof rats prefer elevated locations like attics. Pack rats are less frequent houseguests, though barns and buildings in wooded areas are prone to infestations. While immature rats of many species resemble mice, rats have disproportionately large heads. Mice are more consistent in size and have triangular heads, pointy snouts, thin tails, and large eyes and ears. Conversely, rats have beady eyes and thick tails.

Diseases & Hazards

Personal health and wellness are at stake when rats are present. In addition to rat-bite fever and food poisoning, rodents can spread Hantavirus, a serious disease transmitted through breathing infected air or direct contact with rat poop and urine. The pests can also gnaw on electrical wires and support beams. This not only incurs costly repairs, but may create fire hazards or undermine the structural integrity of homes. Trained to handle these risks, the professionals at Critter Control can get rid of stubborn rat infestations.

Rat Pictures

roof rat on trash bin

 

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Best Bat Removal

Anett B.
5/8/2023
Brandon was out to please and make out lives easier with out bat situation. Above and beyond of the call of duty and got the job done. Thank you!
Celia G
3/9/2023
Bat removal. Very knowledgeable and dedicated.
Emily G.
9/1/2022
BAT POOP CLEAN-UP AND PREVENTION! Bat guano removed from gables. No bats found in attic, so put new screens on all gable vents, as one screen was close to breaking and then bats may have gotten in! Great work in Tulsa!
Jerry M.
10/14/2021
Squirrels and chipmunks were in our attic. So we called Critter Control to do an inspection. Their representative climbed all over our very steep roof and found several places where squirrels had entered our attic.

Upon inspection of the attic, evidence of bats was also found. The Critter Control team came on time to completely caulk the entire perimeter of the house and create an exit strategy for the squirrels and bats.

Because bat droppings can cause histoplasmosis, this also required total removal and replacement of our attic insulation and sanitizing the space. Not a small job in a 1,300 sq. ft. attic! While Critter Control’s cost was high, our homeowners insurance covered most of it. Everyone representing Critter Control was professional, courteous and timely. I would highly recommend them to anyone who thinks they might have unwelcome guests living in their attic
Vincent S.
10/30/2020
On recommendations from a nearby pest control company, I called Critter Control for suspicious bat droppings.

Madison came out the same day to do an inspection. She was knowledgeable, thorough, and highly professional. She examined the ‘matter’ that had been scattered on my threshold and thought it was foliage. But she then asked to go up to my attic space where the bats could be roosting. She had to walk up 3 flights of stairs with a heavy ladder. She again spent some time searching all the nooks and crannies and found nothing.

She seemed so interested in her craft, it was truly inspiring to see! She reassured me and is writing up a prevention strategy for my appraisal. She charged me NOTHING!! I am so impressed. We need more Madisons in this world!

Service: Bat Removal
Sonia-Maria R.
9/3/2020
We noticed droppings on our brand new deck - we were given their number from our contractor. They came the next day. Brian looked at it and said - yeah, bats!! He then checked every area in our attic and he explained exactly what needed to be done.

He found evidence of a mice infestation, provided a referral and they are helping us as well. Great service, very informative, very professional! We are very satisfied and would recommend them to anyone who has any issues with any critters!

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