When rats get into your home, they cause contamination as they leave feces and urine everywhere they go. They can chew through your walls and damage your belongings. If they chew through a wire, it could lead to a fire. Worst of all, rodents don’t come in alone. They bring ticks, fleas, lice, mites and other parasites. This can create even more opportunity for sickness. It is wise to do all you can to keep rat infestations from starting.
Rat Attractants
Rats are looking for a bit to eat. They can get into an open trash can. They can feed on bugs. They can nibble on pet food left outside. There are many things these rodents consider to be food. Keep food sealed and protected.
Rats are looking for water. If you have standing water around your home, it is like having drinking holes for rats. Fix gutters, leaky spigots, and other issues that create puddles near your home.
Rats are looking for hiding places and harborage. If you have lawn clutter, you’re going to draw rats in. They are skittish creatures that hide as they explore. Norway rats, in particular, are attracted to piles and they dig burrows underneath.
Entry Points
Damaged door sweeps, weatherstripping, door frames, and door frame seals can give rats a starter hole. They’ll use their teeth to make holes bigger. It only takes a hole the size of a quarter to let a rat in.
Damaged window frames, window frame seals, and screens are other common areas of vulnerability.
Gaps around plumbing, air conditioning units, and other objects that pass through your walls are a prime target.
Roof rats target roof vents, soffits, rooflines, the seals around roof penetrations, and more.
Rodent Control
At Smith’s, our highly trained wildlife control professionals use a three-step rodent control process to monitor, manage, and get rid of rats around homes and businesses in the San Francisco Bay area. This process includes a phone consultation or onsite inspection, the development of a management plan and the systematic implementation of the selected rodent control treatment selected. If you want professional service with professional results, trust the experienced trappers at Smith’s Pest Management.
