Introduction
Around 11% of homeowners in the United States report signs of rat presence in their properties. Mice and rats spread more than 35 different deadly diseases, including Salmonella, rat-bite fever, murine typhus, infectious jaundice, and the plague. They also cause major damage by chewing through woodwork, drywall, and insulation and causing fires by nibbling through electrical wires.
This is why effective rat control and removal in Tacoma, University Place, Puyallup, Federal Way, WA, is something you cannot compromise on.
What Attracts Rats To Your Home In Winter?
For effective rat control and removal in Olympia and Lacey, WA, you must first understand what attracts these rodents in winter.
Rodents are mammals, which basically means they need to maintain a warm body temperature to survive. And in cold, harsh winter months, there are already fewer food sources readily available, so you can guess why rats might decide to enter your home when it gets cold out.
Some other factors that can attract rats to your house, too, include,
- A messy, cluttered, untidy home, especially if you leave food out for long or don’t clean up spills immediately.
- Areas that provide shelter include shrubs, woodpiles, leaf piles, or debris.
- Warmth and shelter.
- Pet food or excrement
- Water sources like leaky pipes and faulty taps
- Easy access to food, water, and shelter(rats are opportunistic when it comes to food and shelter, meaning they’ll climb into garbage cans and compost heaps for meals.)
- Pet waste and open trash cans.
- An easy entrance to your home(through a small hole or crack)
If you notice either of the signs above, contact a reliable, trustworthy rat removal and control contractor in Auburn and Lakewood, WA, as these rodents quickly multiply and can cause significant, expensive damages to your property.
Signs There’s A Rat Infestation At Your Place?
If you suspect rats and mice are hiding out in your home, you can look for the following signs of a rodent infestation in Lakewood and Federal Way, WA.
- You notice small black becks of rodent droppings.
- There’s a strange, foul odor.
- There are bite marks or gnawed holes on food packages and woodwork.
- You find rodent nests.
- You constantly hear scratching or scampering sounds (especially at night)
- You also notice rodent runways(signs like dust debris that mark their tracks)
- Your pets are acting differently.
- Damage to cables and wires
- Piles of fabric, cardboard, or shredded paper. Rats use materials like these to build their nests.
How To Prevent Rat Infestation During Winter?
If you notice one or more of the above signs of a rodent infestation, you need to take proper rat control and removal steps immediately in Tacoma, University Place, and Federal Way, WA. Use either of the steps below to eliminate your rodent infestation.
- Get rid of water sources
While warm food and shelter are inviting, an easily accessible water source is just as appealing to rodents. Rats in Auburn, WA, need to drink up to 60 ml of water daily! If you have a dripping outside tap, potted plants with saucers, or watering cans with excess water, rats and mice can definitely use them as a water source.
- Install a brush strip
Adding brush strips to exterior doors is another effective rat control and removal tip in Gig Harbor and Puyallup, WA, to prevent rodents from entering your property. By blocking the small gaps at the base(especially common with older doors), mice and rats will have fewer ways to get inside. It will also help you save money on heating in freezing weather.
- Seal up entry points into your home
Rats can enter a home through a hole as small as one-fourth inch. Take a long walk around the exterior of your home and seal up any holes these rodents could use as entry points.
- Set rodent traps
Mouse and rat removal traps in University Place, WA, are your best bets for removing rodents already in your home. Place bait traps with food like cheese or peanut butter throughout the property, out of the way of existing pets and children. Don’t forget to check the traps and dispose of any caught rodents regularly.
- Clean up trash and debri
Rodents habitually make nests in trash and debris around your home. So, clean up areas like crawl space and attics and remove any piles of trash and garbage.
- Call a pest control company
While DIY rat removal in Lakewood, WA, may work for some rodent infestations, it might not always be effective. If things seem more exaggerated than a basic problem, call a professional rat removal and control company in Federal Way, WA. A credible rodent removal specialist will use different remediation methods and equipment to ensure your pest problem is treated effectively.
Conclusion
Rats can breed rapidly, so getting rid of them as early as possible is important. Once you notice, gnaw marks, small holes in woodwork or packages, and rat droppings all over the house, immediately contact a qualified rat control and removal service in Olympia, Tacoma, Lacey, and Gig Harbor, WA.
Long Pest Control Inc. offers full pest control and removal services in Gig Harbor, Puyallup, Lakewood, University Place, and Auburn, WA, to help you effectively and safely remove rodents from your property. When you need immediate pest exterminators who are skilled, experienced, and updated, you can depend on our reliable team. Since 1979, we’ve been helping property owners maintain clean, sanitary, and pest-free environments.
