If you’ve noticed some of the tell-tale signs of a rat infestation in your house, it’s time to look into some rat control options. There are two main rat species that infest houses in North America, the roof rat and the Norway rat. Both species can carry harmful diseases and germs, and pose serious risks to both the housing structure itself, along with the inhabitants.
Types and Dangers of Rats
Norway rats, also called brown rats or sewer rats, are grayish brown, have smaller ears and eyes relative to their bodies, and their tails are usually shorter than their bodies. Roof rats, also called black rats, are skilled climbers and tend to make their nests in roofs, attics, trees, or other secure, elevated positions. Both types of rats pose serious risks, and can spread diseases through bites, scratches, or contact with their urine or feces.
Due to the serious health hazards posed by rats, it’s important to deal with them promptly, and take steps to secure your dwelling so they are unable to enter. Some of the diseases spread by these two common rat species are Hantavirus, Leptospirosis, Rat-bite fever, and Salmonellosis. Rats can also damage pipes, beams, joints, concrete, or most other housing materials, and if they chew through wires it can lead to power outages or even deadly house fires.
How to Keep Rats Out of Your House
Because of these severe risks, if you notice a rat infestation then it’s definitely time to call the rat control professionals. However, every homeowner or renter should preemptively take steps to secure their dwelling from rats. Let’s take a look at five of the most important ways you can prevent rats from entering your house and keep them away permanently.
Step #1: Keep the house clean.
One of the most important tips is to maintain a strict general level of cleanliness. One of the main dangers of living like you’re on an episode of “Hoarders” is the pests that come with food waste and trash laying around, especially rats.
Never leave crumbs or other food on the counter, and be careful about leaving piles of soft nesting material, like newspaper, laying around. Keeping up with a regular house cleaning schedule is the best first step toward keeping rats out of your house.
Step #2: Reduce excess moisture collection.
Rats, like all other living beings, require plenty of water to survive. Most of the time rats infest a house, they have found an easy source of water, like a leaky pipe, a spot where rain collects indoors, a damp basement, or a garden near the house with lots of water. Keep loose moisture to a minimum, and it will help prevent rats from creating a permanent abode inside your house.
Step #3: Maintain and clean your yard.
One of the primary entry vectors for rats is a yard that isn’t maintained. Remove any potential habitats, such as old cars, wood piles, or an overgrown, weedy garden. Also, consider trimming back any branches, trees, shrubs, or limbs that come near your house to at least four feet away from the building, as this clearance will help prevent rats from getting near.
Step #4: Block easy entryways.
Rats tend to navigate and enter a house through cracks and holes, especially between the walls and floors. First, begin by sealing any entryways found outside the house, like where pipes or other utilities enter the building, then make sure that there are no holes inside the house that can be used by rats. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recommends sealing all outside entryways until they are smaller than ¼ inch.
Step #5: Set traps and bait.
It’s been said many times, many ways: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you live in a rat-prone area or have neighbors that have experienced rats, it’s probably a good idea to preemptively set traps and bait. If you end up catching some, consider calling the professionals for deeper treatments.
Rat-free is the Way to Be
Unless you share a wall with an extremely unsanitary neighbor, following these basic steps should prevent any serious rat infestations from taking hold. These steps are simply basic preventative measures that help keep other pests, like cockroaches, away as well. Follow them in your everyday routine and keep your house clean, and you shouldn’t have to worry.
However, even the most careful and clean person can end up with rats through no fault of their own. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t hesitate to call the rat control experts. A pest control company will be more than capable of dealing with rats and will be happy to provide you with expertise, information, and help to restore your house to a clean and uninfested condition.