Rats are a triple threat for South Pasadena properties – they reproduce rapidly, leading to large infestations, they spread disease, and they damage property. If you suspect you have rats on or near your property, it's important to seek pest control in South Pasadena to eliminate current populations and prevent future infestations.
How To Tell If It's Rats Lurking Around Your Property
There are a few ways to tell if rats are lurking around your property, including:
- Droppings: Rat droppings are one of the most common signs of a rat infestation. They are larger than mouse droppings and are generally shiny black and between 1/2 and 3/4 of an inch long and rounded from end to end.
- Gnaw marks: Like all rodents, rats must chew constantly to prevent their teeth from growing too long. This can lead to gnaw marks around your home which are another clear indicator of an infestation.
- Nests: Rats nest in dark, secluded areas of your home where you are unlikely to come into contact with them. They use all sorts of items to build these nests, including shredded paper, cotton, packing materials, insulation, and fabric. If you come across a collection of these materials in your home, it's worth checking out.
- Tracks or rub marks: Rats often travel along the same pathways night after night which can lead to grease marks along walls and floorboards from their oily fur.
- Noises: While rats are secretive creatures, as populations grow, you may begin to hear scratching noises throughout the night as they scurry through your home.
- Rats: The least likely sign you are apt to notice of a rat infestation is a live rat. If you do see one of these pests, it is a sure indicator that there are others nearby.
If you are not sure whether it's rats in your home, the professionals at Kat's Pest Solutions are happy to provide you with a free inspection of your home.
Rats Cause Property Damage And Spread Diseases
Rats have strong jaws and an insatiable urge to gnaw, which can lead to a wide variety of property damage. From structural supports to furniture and even pipes and electrical wiring, nothing is safe from rats once they are in your home. Even your insulation is at risk of being pulled out for nesting materials or soiled by rat waste.
In addition to the problems that they can cause inside your home, rats also present a risk to the health of you and your family. Some of the diseases rats carry include leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, tularemia, and salmonellosis. Eliminating rat infestations on your South Pasadena property is essential for the safety of you, your family, and your home.
The Most Effective Way To Get Rid Of Rats On Your Property
The best way to get rid of rats on your property is with professional help from Kat's Pest Solutions. If our free inspection uncovers signs of rats in your house, we will provide you with a proposal for our services that includes treatment, removal and sanitation, exclusion work, and a complete rodent proofing evaluation. Our rodent control process uses organic rodent repellent that is safe for use around humans and pets. If you want to get rid of rats, it's as easy as picking up the phone and calling Kat's Pest Solutions.
Five Tips To Prevent Future Rat Infestations On Your Property
Kat's Pest Solutions can help eliminate rats from your property, but preventing them in the first place is a better alternative. The best home remedies for rats include:
- Eliminate entry points: Make it harder for rats and other pests to enter your home by sealing cracks and crevices, installing weather stripping and door sweeps, and replacing damaged or missing screens on windows and vents.
- Eliminate sources of food: Don't give rats a free meal. Keep food stored in airtight containers, cover indoor and outdoor trash cans with tightly-fitting lids, clean up after eating or preparing food, and remove bird feeders and uneaten pet food.
- Eliminate excess water: Rats need water, and you can limit available sources of moisture on your property by fixing leaks, maintaining drainage, and using dehumidifiers in poorly ventilated areas.
- Eliminate harborage areas: Rats need a place to hide. Debris in your yard, brush piles, and cluttered storage areas in your home are all excellent nesting locations. Keep your property neat and organized to prevent rats from building a nest.
- Eliminate the chances: One of the best ways to prevent rats on your property is with professional residential pest control.
For help preventing or eliminating rats and other problem pests in South Pasadena, call on the pest control professionals at Kat's Pest Solutions.