You probably don’t need much motivation to contact a Del Rio pest control company if you’ve seen a rat in your house. Between the diseases rats carry and the amount of structural damage they can cause, you have plenty of reasons to be alarmed.
The most common types of rats we find invading homes in our area are roof rats and Norway rats. It is critical to take immediate action and enlist the help of a company that specializes in rat control services to keep your home and your family safe from these dangerous animals.
How To Tell If It’s Rats Infesting Your Home
Here are some signs of rats in the house to watch out for:
- Rat droppings - Roof rat droppings measure about ½ an inch and have pointed ends. Norway rat droppings are about ¾ of an inch and have blunted ends.
- Gnaw marks - Rats have teeth that never stop growing, so they constantly need to gnaw on things to control them.
- Tracks or rub marks - Rats have oily fur and will leave a trail along walls and tracks on floors between their nest and food source.
- Strange sounds - Rats like to hide in dark, secluded areas; you may hear scratching sounds in the walls or from the attic as they scurry around.
- An actual rodent - Of course, the surest sign is seeing an actual rodent. Norway rats have brown bristly fur, and their tails are shorter than their head and body length. Roof rats have soft brown fur with black intermixed, and their tails are longer than their bodies.
Because of the threats that rodents pose to your home and family, it is crucial to contact a company specializing in rat control services as soon as you notice any of the above signs.
Rats In Your Home Is A Serious Health Hazard
All types of rats we find in Del Rio homes are hazardous to our health and well-being. Some diseases rats carry, like jaundice, cowpox virus, and trichinosis can make us very sick. Rats contaminate the food they touch and prep surfaces, causing food poisoning, and rat droppings can spread salmonella.
Rats will become aggressive and may bite and scratch if they feel threatened. Rat bites and scratches can transmit rat bite fever, with symptoms of vomiting, headache, fever, and muscle and joint pain. Rats in your home can trigger allergies and asthma symptoms. They also introduce fleas to your house, creating an even bigger problem.
Why It Is So Hard To Get Rid Of Rats On Your Own
At the first sign of rats in the house, it is tempting to run to the store and find the first item on the shelf that promises to get rid of rats. Unfortunately, the majority of these products don’t work very well. Some devices sold create noise or discomfort for rats, but they can quickly get used to these products and learn to ignore them.
Rats breed incredibly fast, so even if you catch a rat with a trap, there are likely plenty more hiding around your home. They are clever rodents and rat control baiting is frequently ineffective because they learn to spot baits and traps and will avoid them.
The Most Effective Way To Get Rid Of Rats For Good
The safest and most effective way to get rid of rats for good is to team up with a local company like Gold Star Exterminators - Del Rio. Our certified technicians have experience with both rat control and rat prevention.