A rat infestation can quickly spiral out of control, posing health risks and causing significant damage to your property. These critters can also be incredibly destructive, gnawing through your belongings, boring holes through walls, chewing electrical wiring and burrowing through your home’s insulation.
While an infestation can be pretty alarming, homeowners can rely on the services of a seasoned rat removal company to eliminate this problem. At Quick Catch, we provide custom solutions for homeowners to remove rats quickly and efficiently.
Our certified exterminators use the latest techniques and tools to quickly eliminate an infestation and prevent rats from returning. In this guide, you’ll learn what to do when these pests invade your home and how our process can give you peace of mind.
Risks of an Infestation
A rat infestation poses several risks to homeowners. You can take proactive measures to protect yourself and your loved ones from health risks, property damage and the social stigma of this problem.
- Health Risks: Rats can transmit certain diseases, such as lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), leptospirosis and hantavirus, that can infect humans.
- Property Damage: Rats can cause severe damage to your home, leading to serious safety hazards and electrical fires requiring costly repairs.
- Financial Impact: Some homeowners may try to DIY rat removal, which can be a costly process yielding minimal results. An extensive infestation may require significant home repairs, which add to the overall cost.
- Social Stigma: Some people view homes with rat infestation as unsanitary places, causing social stigma to the homeowners.
For these reasons, it is best to work with a trusted rat removal company that can get results fast. Early detection can prevent an infestation, saving you from extermination and repair costs.
Signs of a Rat Infestation
Before purchasing traps, poisons, baits and other rat removal equipment, it is crucial to understand the habits and behaviors of these critters. The first step to their removal from your home is to look for the signs of their presence.
Watch out for the following if you suspect you have rats or mice in your home:
- Droppings: These pests often leave dark oblong-shaped droppings. You can find them in areas where they nest, scurry and crawl through.
- Holes and Gnaw Marks: They love to gnaw on food packets and make holes in walls, clothing, boxes, ceilings and other enclosures.
- Burrows and Nests: A clear indicator of a rat infestation is the presence of a burrow or nest in crawl spaces, basements and attics. Rats use fabric, paper, cardboard and other shredded material to make their nests.
- Damage: Rats can cause a lot of damage, such as gnawed electrical wires, torn paper and boxes and holes in walls and insulation.
- Rub Marks and Paw Prints: These pests can leave marks where they frequent. They have oily fur, which can leave behind paw prints, rub marks and other stains in their wake.
- Scurrying and Scratching Sounds: Sometimes homeowners can hear the rats scurrying, screeching and scurrying about. They’re usually heard behind walls, above the ceilings and beneath the floor.
- Strong Odors: Rats leave a distinct musty odor in the places where they frequent. These strong foul smells can be a good indicator that you have plenty of rats infesting your home.
If you notice any of these signs, don’t hesitate to call our experts at Quick Catch. Our team can assess the situation in your home to determine if you have a rat infestation.
Common Hiding Places
Rats can adapt very well to any environment, which means they can find many hiding places in your home. They can enter through small openings, gaps and cracks. These critters also love cluttered environments, especially in rooms where you store items you don’t need or use frequently.
Here are some of the places you should look for rats:
- Garages
- Wall voids
- Crawl spaces
- Basements
- Attics
It is important to remember that rats are nocturnal creatures. This means it is best to try and locate them in the evening.
How to Get Rid of Rats Infesting Your Home
After identifying where rats have nested in your home, you should prevent more of them from getting inside. After that, use effective techniques to remove the ones infesting your living spaces.
Here are the steps to get rid of rats that have made their way inside your home:
- Inspect your home’s exterior for cracks, damaged drains, holes and other potential entryways.
- Repair these damaged parts and seal off potential entry points where rats can enter.
- Perform a general cleaning of your home. Get rid of trash and empty bins, clean up any clutter, clean up pipes and drains and get rid of spills.
- Set traps to capture rats in your home. You can use poison and poison-free methods. Remember to place traps in places that rats frequent.
- You can purchase natural and synthetic deterrents such as peppermint oil, crushed pepper and deterrent products from suppliers.
Work with Rat Infestation Experts from Quick Catch
A full-blown rat infestation can be difficult to stop even after using the methods described earlier. If these critters have made it inside your home, it is best to work with seasoned professionals.
At Quick Catch, we get rid of the rats that are inside and outside your home. We use proven methods to detect their nests and prevent rats from entering your home. Call Quick Catch today at 904-859-6585.
