Did you know that rats and other vermin represent a major health hazard when they are present in living spaces? If you’ve seen them in your house or noticed the tell-tale signs that they are around, it can be a frightening situation. However, it’s not something to panic about, as help is affordable and available.
When the situation gets bad enough that you are actually noticing your unwanted houseguests, it’s time to call rat removal experts. These professionals will provide peace of mind, better health, and an effective pest control strategy. If left unchecked, these animals can leave behind extremely hazardous droppings containing diseases or viruses, such as Hantavirus, that can be harmful or even lethal, especially to the elderly, infirm, and babies.
Detection
The first step towards combating unwanted vermin infestations is to detect the presence of these animals. If you are seeing them, that means that the infestation is serious, and professional help will almost certainly be required. However, there are more subtle signs, such as finding their droppings or hearing them scurrying and scratching in the walls. When you see these signs, it’s time to take action.
Some of the first steps that a homeowner or renter can take towards fighting back against unwanted pets are:
- Inspecting hard to reach areas such as attics for signs of rats
- Removing crumbs or excess food from areas
- Checking entryways such as doors or windows for spaces that can be used for entry
- Removing litter or any material, such as newspapers, that can be used for nesting
- Examining the house where pipes or other utility lines enter and sealing them
If you have done all of this and still notice signs of rat infestation, it’s time to take the next step.
Seek and Destroy
When it comes to the safety and security of your household, no line can’t be crossed. Although even rats are sometimes considered beautiful and innocent creatures, it is too dangerous to let them roam around the house, especially if children are present. The CDC lists many diseases, including plague, that are carried by household rats and other rodents.
This means that a professional-level trap setup is necessary. Although you can try trapping them yourself, a professional will bring you stronger peace of mind and guaranteed results. They know the behavior of these animals inside and out, and they know how to keep them from coming back.
Poison or Traps?
Generally speaking, poisoning and other rodenticides have seen decreasing usage, due to the harsh environmental and collateral effects they cause. This has led many to use traps as a final resort and coup de grace which, if done correctly, is guaranteed to bring results and lower your infestation. These traps are a more environmentally friendly way to remove unwanted pests and provide a safe and effective means for rodent control.
Professional rat removal companies can use exterior control programs that trap and evacuate rats off of your property, as well as a strong indoor trapping regimen. These companies will come to the property to evaluate the issues you are having, provide an estimate, and then come up with a plan to deal with them.
Often, this plan will involve steel tamper-resistant bait stations that are meant to target the rats themselves while not harming the residents of the house or other animals. These types of systems are approved by regulatory agencies and are safe and effective ways to get the rats out of your house. If the problem has progressed far enough that these are necessary, it’s probably best to contact the professionals and make sure that the job is done right the first time to prevent repeat infestations.
Send Them Packing
It may seem like rats or rodents aren’t the end of the world, but in reality, there are serious consequences caused by infestations that affect huge portions of the population. Rats can be harmful to birds or pets that you own, a hazard to the immunocompromised or babies, or they can chew on and destroy electrical equipment and wires. They are destructive creatures, like all wild animals, and can blemish or even ruin your furniture or even property value. The smell of their urine presents a disgusting odor that is offensive to you and your guests, and their droppings are toxic health hazards.
Every homeowner or renter should take preventative measures to keep rats at bay. However, these measures aren’t perfect, and professional pest removal companies can be literal lifesavers. Having a rodent issue doesn’t mean you did anything wrong; however, it is important to do what is best for your family and seek professional help with the issue as soon as possible. This will keep you, your house, and your family in the healthiest and best shape possible, as well as enable a pest-free life where you can relax and enjoy your house and loved ones in peace.
