Rats are medium-sized, long-tailed rodents typically distinguished from mice by size. As one of the most notoriously hated pests, the different types of rats in San Diego can cause absolute havoc in your home. Not only do they cause you stress and concern, but they are also vectors, meaning they can transmit diseases to people. Even if they aren't carrying diseases, they can make you and your family ill by contaminating food or surfaces with their droppings and urine. They will infest any area that provides shelter and easy access to food and water sources, including near garbage, under sinks, and inside cabinets or walls. If you suspect you have rats, an experienced San Diego pest control professional can provide the solutions to eliminate these unwanted pests.
How To Tell If It's Rats On Your Property
As fast as a rat infestation can impact your property, it's essential to know the signs of rat activity before they cause problems in your home, including getting people sick, causing annoyance, and damaging property. There are clear signs of rats in your house, including:
- Noises: Rats do not move silently throughout your home, so you should listen to their paws' noises as they travel. They typically prefer to move through dead spaces, such as in the attic, under floorboards, through ventilation, and between sheets of drywall. As nocturnal creatures, rats are typically the most active at night, and it's easier to hear them when the house is quiet.
- Rats’ Nests: Rats build their nests in places they're likely not to be disturbed, so they often seek hidden places that are dry and warm.
- Foot and tail prints: Rats prefer to stay in areas where there aren't many people so that you can look for their footprints in the dust. If you notice a place you don't frequently use, such as a basement or storage room, has small paw prints or large swoops in the dust, you know your property is infested with rats.
- Gnaw Marks: You may notice gnawed holes on the wall or food packaging. To tell if the marks are newly chewed, the marks will be lighter in color.
- Droppings and Urine: As one of the most unsanitary signs of a rat problem, rat droppings are a telltale of an infestation. Rat droppings are black or dark brown and similar in shape to rice grain. Another sign is the smell of urine, which is a sign of a more extensive infestation and can be toxic to humans.
Do any of these signs sound familiar to you? If so, it's essential to act quickly to prevent the infestation from growing into an even bigger problem.
The Damage And Dangers Rats Can Create
Dealing with rats chewing and damaging your home can be enough pain, but rats can also create numerous dangers to your and your family's health and safety. After living amongst humans for thousands of years, they can quickly spread harmful illnesses such as salmonellosis, tularemia, and rat-bite fever. They also often carry annoying pests such as ticks, fleas, and other parasites known to spread disease, making them one of the most terrifying pests in San Diego. Along with spreading infection, rats can cause the following health problems:
- Allergic reactions and asthma attacks
- Food contamination
- Respiratory problems
The diseases rats carry can not only transmit to humans by bite or scratch but also by contamination of food through droppings and urine or by running across countertops where food is later prepared.
The Most Effective Way To Get Rid Of Rats On Your Property
Rat control is never easy, but thankfully, your local pest control experts at Green Flash Pest Control are here to help. With decades of combined pest industry experience, the Green Flash Pest Control team draws upon collective knowledge to find the most trusted and science-based pest solutions to address your rat infestation. They use a multi-pronged approach that ensures a guaranteed solution for your rat problem. Contact our experienced team today for a consultation.
Five Simple Ways To Prevent Future Rat Infestations
Even if you have lucked out this time, it's essential to know how to keep rats away from your San Diego home in the future.
- Repair Cracks and Fill Gaps: Close up all exterior holes with rodent-proofing material, paying specific attention to vents, windows, and doors.
- Clean Up Your Yard: Eliminate all outdoor trees, shrubs, and bushes that could provide easy access to your home or serve as a hiding spot from predators. Make sure all plants are at least three feet away from your home and remove piles of garbage, clutter, and debris from around the yard.
- Make Your Home Minty Fresh: Ever ask yourself, what scent will keep rats away? The answer is peppermint. You can plant mint in your garden or rub peppermint oil indoors in areas you've experienced previous rat problems, such as the attic.
- Store Food Properly: If rats don't have food, they will not have any reason to invade your home. You can avoid attracting rats into your clean home by ensuring all food is stored correctly and not left sitting out.
- Set Traps and Bait: If you have seen rats or evidence of them near doors or access points, set traps to deter them from entering the home.
Remember, while you can take some steps to try to prevent future rat infestations, if you suspect a current problem, call the professionals at Green Flash Pest Control immediately to take care of the situation before it gets worse.