Rats are persistent invaders that can cause significant damage to homes and inflict serious health risks. If you're dealing with an infestation in your Raleigh home, it's important to take immediate action to keep rats away.
By implementing prevention methods, you can safeguard your house from these destructive pests and secure the well-being of your family. When it comes to getting rid of rats for good, our Raleigh pest control experts recommend professional services to ensure long-term solutions.
Our guide below will explore the physical characteristics of rats, the hidden hazards they present, the importance of calling rat control experts, and essential prevention tips to help you keep them outside where they belong.
Physical Characteristics of Rats: How To Identify A Rat
Rats are medium-sized rodents characterized by their long, hairless tails, large ears, and sharp incisors. Common rat species in Raleigh include the Norway rat and the roof rat.
Norway rats are larger, measuring up to ten inches long, and have brown or gray fur. Roof rats are slimmer with black or dark brown coats.
Identifying these physical characteristics can help you determine what type of rats you're dealing with in your Raleigh home.
Hidden Hazards: Health And Property Risks Posed By Rat Infestations
Rat infestations go beyond being a mere nuisance. These rodents pose significant health and property risks. Rats can contaminate food and surfaces with their droppings, urine, and saliva. Diseases rats carry include hantavirus, and they can also contaminate food via salmonella.
Rats also gnaw on electrical wires, leading to potential fire hazards and property damage. Their constant chewing can cause structural damage to walls, insulation, and furniture. Rats will also use items they have chewed on, such as newspaper and old clothes, as nesting materials. Aside from the damage they cause, their resulting stale smell is one way to identify a rat infestation.
Call The Rat Control Experts: Ensuring Safe And Effective Elimination
When faced with a rat infestation, seeking professional rodent control services in Raleigh is essential. Rat control experts have the knowledge, experience, and specialized tools to safely and effectively eliminate rat infestations rather than trying DIY methods because rats are extremely skilled at hiding. By leaving rat removal to pest professionals, you can have peace of mind knowing that your home is in capable hands.
Rat Prevention Tips: Eliminating Attractants And Sealing Entry Points
Prevention plays a key role in rat control. Here are some essential tips to prevent rat infestations in your Raleigh home:
- Remove access to food sources: Store food in sealed containers, clean up spills promptly and secure garbage bins to eliminate easy access to food for rats.
- Seal exposed entry points: Inspect your home for any gaps or other openings that rats can use as entry points. Seal them with caulk or steel wool to prevent them access.
- Cut back overgrowth: Trim trees and shrubs near your home, as rats can use branches as natural bridges to enter your home.
- Reduce clutter: Eliminate clutter and keep your home clean and well-maintained. Rats prefer dark hiding spots, so reducing clutter will make your home less attractive.
Rats are known to fit into tight spaces in their efforts to seek out food and shelter. Taking these simple steps now can save you a lot of trouble down the line, though professional pest control for rats is the most effective, long-term solution.
Contact us today at Go-Forth Home Services to schedule an inspection, get a free estimate and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Raleigh.