What you need to know about rat infestations
Rat infestations are more common than you might think. While many of us associate rat problems with big cities like New York, rats can be found almost anywhere, even in the country and suburbs. In addition to being an unwanted presence, rats can damage your home and spread diseases such as rat bite fever, salmonellosis, fleas, and other pathogens or parasites. And, if you’re not well versed in the common signs and methods of prevention, it can seem like the infestation appears out of nowhere and intensifies almost overnight.
Scared yet? don’t be Our experienced pest control team at Black Diamond can handle any type of infestation. Read on to find out everything you need to know about dealing with rats effectively.
Are all rats the same type?
Most rats that exist in the wild in the US are of two types: the roof rat or the Norway rat. Interestingly, these two species do not get along and have been known to fight to the death. Norway rats tend to be larger than roof rats and frequently dig burrows. If they are in buildings, they are generally found in base and first floor areas. Roof rats are most often found nesting in higher places, including dense brush, trees and shrubs, or attics and spaces along the roof of a house. Roof rats have darker fur and lighter bellies, while Norway rats are more of a brown/grey color. Both types of rats are found in people’s homes and both can be very destructive.
Typical behavior of rats
All rats are nocturnal; they tend to sleep during the day and come out at night. Although their vision is not good, they have excellent hearing and sense of smell. Although rats do make sounds, their noises usually have a pitch that humans cannot detect. If you are going to hear a rat, it is most likely the sound of gnawing, chewing or scrambling in search of food and nest building. While rats are often fearful of people, they are known to be much more aggressive than mice. They tend to be very fast when moving and are excellent at jumping, wall climbing, and swimming.
What about the rats?
In the warmer months, rats and other rodents often live outdoors in woodpiles, brush, dumpsters, and tall grass. When it starts to get cold, they seek shelter in warm, dry spaces, like your house. In fact, the insulation between walls or the dusty cardboard boxes in your basement are a haven for rats.
What turns a rat situation into a full-blown infestation is the presence of food. Just finding crumbs, spilled oils, or loose grain can be more than enough to jump-start generations of a rat family. Female rats can have more than 7 litters in a year, each producing 6 to 20 pups. Furthermore, the rats reach maturity in a month, allowing them to go on and start their own families. Bottom line: Rat populations can grow very quickly.
signs of infestation
One of the main indicators of a rat infestation is the presence of a nest. Rats will chew through almost anything to build a nest, including newspapers, clothing, drywall, even electrical wiring and soft concrete. If you notice bite marks, holes, and other subtle damage to items in your home that could suggest rats, pay attention.
Other signs of rat presence are droppings, dark oily stains on surfaces, and urine. Look for droppings in food containers, cabinets, and behind appliances. Rat droppings are typically around 0.75 inches long, or three times the size of mouse droppings. Urine may be more difficult to see, but it can often smell foul and strange.
Infestation prevention
The best way to reduce the possibility of a rat infestation is to prepare both your home and backyard.
Outside, you should clean up potential sources of food and water, such as bird seed, overgrown berry/fruit bushes, compost bins, birdbaths, and standing water. Also consider removing potential nesting spaces, such as leaf piles, hay, and mulch. The more you maintain your garden, the better. There are also rodent-proof construction measures you can take, such as sealing gaps and holes in addition to windows, doors, fireplaces, basements, crawl spaces, etc.
Indoors, you can take action by plugging any stuffy spaces between walls and floors with steel wool. Also, proper cleaning of your kitchen is key. Seal food in heavy plastic or metal containers, clean up crumbs, store pet food, and properly seal your trash bin.
How to deal with infestations
Ow rats! You have an infestation! Fortunately, our pest control professionals at Black Diamond can safely and effectively eliminate any rat problem. As one of the largest pest control companies in the Kentuckiana region, we pride ourselves on offering responsive, personalized, and efficient service. Don’t wait, call us at 877-DEAD-BUG for help today!