Rat Control at First Sight
The first signs of a rat can cause a frenzied reaction from a homeowner. And it absolutely should be a signal to act quickly considering the amount of damage a single rat can cause and how quickly it can expand to an entire colony of rats residing in and around a home. The first signs of a rat can frequently be the smell of rat urine, the visible signs of their droppings or even the shredded pieces of paper or grass rats frequently use to build their nest.
A female rat actually produces between four and seven litters every year making it important to act fast to prevent further infestation and property damage from rats. Rats can carry an enormous amount of disease including salmonella, forms of meningitis through their urine and droppings and infections as a result of their bites. By following rat pest control techniques, a home owner can prevent property damage and harm to their family and pets as a result of a rat infestation.
Tips for Rat Prevention
Preventing rats is far easier than exterminating an existing rate infestation. By having a firm understanding of areas a rat is known to inhabit, a homeowner can check regularly for any potential issues. The following
rat control and prevention tips can help a homeowner keep their property rat free:
• Rats can live as low as a house foundation and as high as an attic. Check regularly for access areas that can be as small as half an inch.
• Rats can gnaw through many materials with their strong teeth. Using metal sheeting or concrete plugs are some of the most effective ways to seal an area.
• Silicone caulk should be used around all access areas including pipes, windows and doorways. Rats are typically fond of warm areas with access to food and especially water so limiting the opportunity for exposure to these areas can help to prevent a rat infestation.
• Clean duct work regularly. One of the most horrifying things for a homeowner to discover is a rat population running through the ventilation and duct work of their home. A rats nest in this location also exposes the household to the spread of germs caused by the accumulating rat urine and feces through the ventilation system.
• Clean gutters routinely. Rats are expert climbers making the eaves and attics of homes great options for setting up a nest. Gutters provide an excellent assortment of rotting vegetation, water and nesting material for rats, further encouraging them to grow and expand in your roof top.
By considering the access points for rats, homeowners are able to keep up with rat control in the most effective and preventative manner. It is important for homeowners to remember that finding one rat and killing it is not preventative or even the end of the pest extermination process- it is just the beginning. Until the nest and access point are discovered, thoroughly sanitized, removed and prevented with the proper materials, homeowners will still be faced with a rat issue.
Make It Difficult For Rats
Having the right controls in place will allow a homeowner some peace of mind when it comes to rat control. Homeowners unknowingly can make their home an easy target for a rat family. The following tips will help a homeowner to keep their home and property from being an easy rat target:
• Store garbage in tightly sealed containers.
• Minimize the length of time rotting food is exposed outdoors. Consider composting food in secure containers or freezing food garbage until closer to the garbage pick up day.
• Large bags of pet food or bird seed are rat havens. They appreciate the food source and even the paper from the bag as a nesting material. Keep these products in plastic or metal bins that can be securely closed.
• Use metal storage containers for products kept in the garage such as grass seed or fertilizer products. The paper from the boxes or containers is a favorite nesting item in addition to some yard products being a great food source.
Rat prevention is far less time consuming than rat control and extermination. The high rate of rate reproduction combined with their quick ability to spread germs and disease while eating through components of your property are all reasons for homeowners to invest time and effort into rat prevention tips and techniques.