Getting Rid of Rats

I find it amusing to hear that even the most mammals on earth are scared of some of the smallest. With that said, the chance that you are standing on the top of your chair screaming at the top of your lungs because a small rodent has scurried within reach of your domain is clearly in a positive bearing. Although the likelihood of that little guy being a ninja attack rodent on a path to destroy your pride is not worth much consideration, rodents being in and around your home are worth a thought. Rats are resourceful little animals that can carry dangerous pathogens and parasites; they gnaw through pipes, walls, ducts and even electrical wires that can cause extensive damage to buildings and homes. Ridding these pests of your home is necessary in maintaining the quality of your home and avoiding sanitation and health hazards.

Considering that rodents need the same life necessities as we do: food, water, shelter; taking away these resources is an immediate source of preventive maintenance. If you feel that you may have a rat problem there are a few steps you can take to rid them of your residence.

1.The first step is of course to examine your property frequently for any signs of rodents. You can look for signs of feces, gnaw marks, and urine marks in and around your home.

2. Eliminate any sources of water, food and shelter that may be available in and around your home. Places to not overlook would include: closets, attic spaces, garage, gardens or any less trafficked areas of your home.

3. Search for any entries to your home that rats could get in and seal them: crawl spaces, attic ventilations, exterior piping – remember a rat can move through spaces as small as half an inch.

4. Keeping your trash and food storage bins covered helps to close off any sources of food.

5. The use of rat and mouse traps can be very effective in problematic areas. Make sure to check these regularly as a dead corpse can give off unpleasant odors and sanity problems.

6. Getting a cat has been a powerful source of pest removal for a long time, however, are not the most reliable basis as they are selective about they're prey.

7. Baiting rodents with poison should only be used as a last resort. These poisons can be harmful to others in your home (pets / infants). One of the largest issues with bait rodents is that they end up dying in limited access areas leaving way for foul odors and health hazards.

Taking the necessary precautions and steps to ridding your home of pests and rodents is necessary in the upkeep of the quality of your dwelling. If your rat problem is beyond personal repair consulting a professional is a logical and safe pursuit of action.