Rats are known to spread bacteria like salmonella and cause property damage by chewing on everything from electrical wires to furniture. These scavengers often spend considerable time in unhygienic places like sewers and garbage piles, picking up pathogens and bringing them into our homes.
Still, you can keep them at bay with effective and reliable pest control in Rockville. Whether you suspect an infestation or spotted a rat on your property, Womack Pest Control can help you identify common signs of a problem, share valuable information about rat-borne diseases, and show you how simple rat prevention measures coupled with expert help can keep your home and loved ones safe from these dangerous rodents.
Signs Of Rats In The House: Identifying Rat Activity
You can identify rat activity in your house by learning to recognize the common signs of an infestation, including the following ones:
- Droppings: Rat droppings are dark and pellet-shaped. You might find them near food sources or along walls. They are a clear indication of the presence of these rodents.
- Bite marks or smudge marks: Rats constantly gnaw to keep their teeth from growing too long. You will likely spot chewed wires or wood if your home has a rat infestation. Also, rats often leave greasy marks along their paths, especially on walls or baseboards. They might also nibble your food and contaminate it in the process.
- Scratching noises: Listen for scratching or scampering sounds, especially at night. Rats are nocturnal creatures, and you are likelier to hear them move about after nightfall.
- Nesting material and burrows: Rats use anything from shredded paper to insulation to build nests. Discovering them in hidden corners often indicates an infestation. Outdoors, look for rat burrows near the foundation or in your garden.
Many other clues could indicate a rat problem. For instance, if your pets suddenly become agitated or show interest in specific areas, they might have sensed the presence of these unwanted guests.
Swift action is essential to prevent further infestation and damage if you have rats on your Rockville property. It is especially crucial to prevent the transmission of rat-borne diseases.
Rat-Borne Diseases: Common Illnesses Transmitted By Rats
Rats can transmit harmful diseases through direct contact or contaminated surfaces. Some are relatively rare in the U.S., like the plague. Others are more common. One rat-borne disease is leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that spreads through rat urine. It can lead to anything from flu symptoms to organ failure.
Another one is the hantavirus. You might get this potentially fatal respiratory illness through inhaling airborne particles contaminated with rat feces or urine. And you might be familiar with salmonella, a bacteria that causes food poisoning symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting.
Finally, you could get rat-bite fever from their bites or scratches or rat-borne typhus from the fleas they carry. Preventing rat infestations and practicing good hygiene are crucial in reducing the risk of these diseases.
Rat Prevention: Simple Measures To Keep Rats Out
Rat prevention is crucial to a well-rounded rodent control strategy. Here are some measures you can take to keep rats away:
- Look for entry points: Close gaps using long-lasting materials to keep rats out where they belong.
- Pay attention to proper food storage: Store your dry and fresh ingredients in airtight containers indoors—secure pet food to avoid attracting rats.
- Clean regularly: Promptly clean up to eliminate food sources for rats. They can survive on forgotten crumbs on the floor, leftovers on your counter, and dirty dishes in the sink.
- Keep garbage out of their reach: Use lidded trash cans and dispose of the bags regularly to reduce attractants.
- Schedule regular maintenance: Inspect your property for signs of rat activity, like droppings or gnaw marks. Address these issues immediately to prevent infestations.
When these measures are insufficient, the experts can help with effective long-term strategies.
Call The Rat Control Experts: Ensuring Safe And Effective Elimination
The best way to get rid of rats is with help from the experts. Womack Pest Control offers thorough property inspection to identify signs of rodent presence, from droppings and chewed holes to nests and urine streaks. Our treatment methods, grounded in Integrated Pest Management, include baiting, trapping, and exclusion services that are safe for children and pets.
We also provide recurring rodent control services in Rockville to keep these unwanted intruders out of your property year-round. Call us today for additional rodent prevention tips and to schedule your initial pest management inspection.
With help from Womack Pest Control, your rodent infestation will soon be nothing but a bad memory. Contact our experts today to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Rockville and to see how investing in rodent control can be the ultimate step to keep these scavengers far from your home and loved ones.