Seeing rats inside of your home is a sign that you need to call a rat removal company immediately. Rats are destructive and gnaw on everything from baseboards to electrical wires.
Rodents carry diseases like hantavirus and rat-bite fever, and they can cause serious damage to your property. Look for signs of a rat infestation including gnaw marks, chewed food packages and squeaks or rustling in the walls.
Droppings
Rat droppings are a common symptom of a rat infestation. They resemble dark grains of rice and are usually found near food sources or nesting areas, like cupboards or drawers, in attics and basements, or along walls.
These dark pellets also mark trails, which rats use for travel and to communicate with other rodents in the area. Rat urine can also stain surfaces and leave a strong odor, so keep an eye out for wet spots or stains in your home.
Rats enter homes and businesses through small cracks, holes, or gaps in the roof, floor, or walls. To prevent rats from entering, seal all entrance points and keep the surrounding area clean by storing trash in containers with tight lids and trimming trees and bushes. Rats can be carriers of harmful diseases, including hantavirus and rat-bite fever, so if you see signs of a rat problem, contact a pest control company immediately. Also look for gnaw marks, grease stains, rodent sounds, and tracks or tail drags in dusty areas.
Smells
Rats leave behind a foul smell, especially as they decompose. They produce methane, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia as they break down, creating a strong and unpleasant odor.
Other odors rats leave behind include urine and feces, which are both a health risk to humans and pets. They also chew on food packaging and paper, which can cause holes in containers and furniture. Rats can even gnaw through electrical wires, leaving greasy marks on baseboards.
Footprints around the house can be another sign of a rat infestation, particularly in dusty or less-used areas. They can also make tracks through your yard and attic space.
Finally, if you notice unexplained property damage, such as chewed-up wiring or a gnawed-out section of your insulation, it may be time to call in a professional rodent control company. They can set up traps to capture rats and then professionally remove them from your home. They can also seal any access points that the rodents use to enter your home, preventing them from returning in the future.
Damage
Rats can cause a lot of damage in homes. They chew through walls, insulation and electrical wiring. They also leave smudge marks on the walls from urinating. These smudge marks can be difficult to clean, especially if you have a large infestation of rats in the home.
Unlike roaches, rats don’t need a large opening to enter the house. They can squeeze through holes the size of a thumb. Therefore, it’s important to check your attic, basement, garage and storage spaces for signs of rats.
If you see rod-shaped droppings and gnawed wires, it’s time to call a rat removal company. Also, look for scurrying and scratching sounds in the walls and ceiling. Rats are nocturnal creatures, so you will hear these noises at night. You may even have a burrow in the attic, wall or crawl space. The tunnels are made from shredded paper, cloth and other debris that rats gather for their nests.
Nests
Rats often build nests inside homes and other buildings, causing structural damage and leaving dangerous debris in their wake. These include rats’ urine and feces, frayed and exposed electrical wiring, and carcasses of dead rodents. It’s important to avoid these dangers by hiring a professional pest control company.
Rat infestations can be difficult to notice without a professional inspection. However, if you hear scurrying in walls or ceilings, scratching sounds, gnawing sounds, or rustling noises, you likely have a rat problem.
It’s possible to prevent rat infestations in the first place by denying them access to shelter. Keep trees and bushes trimmed, and remove piles of wood or brush. Also, close entry points by repairing cracks and holes in walls, floors, roofs, and doors. Finally, store food in airtight containers and keep it off the ground. These simple steps can significantly reduce the risk of a rat infestation in your home or building. If you do encounter rats, a professional exterminator can use safe traps and repellents to safely remove them.
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