An infestation of insects like silverfish or earwigs is one thing, but if you have an infestation of another sort — say, a mammal like the Norway rat — you have to employ a whole different set of tools to get them out and keep them out. If you’ve noticed something out of the ordinary in your household, you may be in the position of hiring an exterminator soon.
At Home Pros helps to speed the time to restore a pest-free environment and your peace of mind. If you have roof rats or brown rats, also known as Norway rats, you’ll need some hefty backup to combat these wily critters. Rats are notoriously clever at breaking and entering. Plus, they have a penchant for gnawing, reproducing, and creating excrement.
Here are some basics about these superpests, so you can recognize the warning signs and employ some clever tactics of your own before your pest control expert arrives to help out.
What Are Rats?
The most common type of rat found across North America is the Norway rat — which has a misleading name as it’s thought to have arrived from Asia in the 1700s, not from Europe. Other names commonly employed to these rats include sewer rats and brown rats. Another common rat that infests homes across the U.S. is the roof rat.
One thing that’s important to know about rats is that they have terrible eyesight and are colorblind. Because of these weaknesses, however, rats’ other senses are heightened. They have exceptional hearing, smell and taste to navigate their world.
These crafty critters can jump, swim and fit through surprisingly narrow apertures. Here are some differences between roof rats and Norway rats, so you can make a correct estimation of which type you may encounter on your property. Remember, both rats measure about a foot long, snout to tail, but the Norway rat is bulkier.
- Norway rats: These rats, also known as sewer rats, have reddish-brown fur, and their tails and bodies are about equal in length. These pests weigh about one pound fully grown. They are mostly ground-dwellers, as this gives them easy access to garbage and other tasty treats (well … tasty to them, anyway). They burrow as well, wreaking havoc on garden beds and landscaping, and even undermining the foundation of your home.
- Roof rats: Unlike the blunt snout and smallish ears of the Norway rat, roof rats are much smaller, less bulky, and their snouts, ears, and tail are longer. Fur colors can vary, but most are dark gray or tan and have a white underbelly. With their slimmer physiques (only a half pound fully grown), roof rats are expert climbers and prefer to nest off the ground. You can often spot them traveling along power lines, and they like attics and eaves in which to hide.
Both Norway rats and roof rats need to continually gnaw as their teeth never stop growing. So, gnaw marks can be a telltale sign that rats are infesting your property.
Here are some other clues that you may have some uninvited rodents as guests.
- Gnaw marks: Check your electrical lines, foundation and your furniture, especially the legs of beds, chairs and the like.
- Rubbings: When rats run along your baseboards, their oily pelts leave smears along the bottom of your walls.
- Outdoor nests: When you circle the outside of your home, do you see any small opening stuffed with leaves? They might be the sites of rats’ nests, or at least the tunnel to one. Mark the spot to show your pest control specialist later.
- Rat excrement: Tubular and dark brown, rat feces can measure just under an inch and is usually dense and dry.
Of course, the obvious clue that you have a rodent infestation is the sight of a live rat. They usually are only active at night, and prefer low-light, low-traffic areas like attics, eaves or storage areas. If you see some in broad daylight, you may be dealing with a severe infestation and an overrun nest. If the rub marks along your baseboards are especially dark, this may also indicate a dense population of rats.
Why Are They Detrimental?
Rats inflict a lot of damage to one’s property; from shingles to foundations, rats can cause havoc. However, it’s not only property damage, as these rodents can carry diseases and illness as well. Out of many, there are three significant illnesses that rats carry and transmit to humans:hantavirus, the plague, and leptospirosis.
Hantavirus: Fever, aches, and other flu symptoms all may indicate a patient has come into contact with rat droppings, which is a common way to contract this disease. Rat excrement and urine molecules get stirred up with human traffic, and when humans breathe it in, they can develop hantavirus.
Also, if a person handles rat urine or feces, then touches their eyes or mouth, they are at risk of contracting this lung illness.
Plague: It’s a surprise to many, but the Black Plague is still a threat even in these modern times. Although scientists may now believe otherwise, it is commonly thought that the Black Plague, or the Bubonic Plague, moves from creature to creature by the fleas that habitually plague rodents, especially rats.
Leptospirosis:` Causing permanent or semi-permanent liver damage, this bacterial disease is transmitted through contact with rat urine.
Another major threat that rats pose is house fires; when they chew through electrical wires, they compromise your electrical infrastructure, and sparks can fly. Rats cause 20% of annual house fires in the U.S., so it’s not uncommon for folks to have genuine phobias of rats. Their fears are well-founded.
What Can the Homeowner Do?
Like any other living creature, rats need food and water to survive. Over the centuries that rats and humans have lived with one another, rats have developed a taste for human food and, especially, our garbage.
In addition to calling in a pest control specialist, homeowners like you can employ a few simple tactics to keep your home free of the elements that attract rats — food, water sources and warm, dark places.
Sites attractive to harboring rodents and any food or water source must be eliminated. Consider closing down any water features, like pools or fountains, at least temporarily or until you rid yourself of the infestation. Much like when you’re camping in bear country, you need to take precautions if your garbage is kept outside until garbage pickup day. Sealed containers are your best bet, but double bagging (with a contractor’s bag) is a viable Plan B.
If your garage opens directly into your home and isn’t a separate structure, keep your garage door closed at all times, even if you’re gone for only a moment. Rats love to sneak in through an open garage door. Another access point is your roof. Make sure that any trees that have low-hanging boughs or electrical wires drooping over your roof and property are noted and eliminated, if possible.
Even with these precautions, if you see lots of rat excrement, noticeable rub marks along the base of your walls, or have actually seen a live rat, you need to call in a professional, as it’s nearly impossible to rid yourself of a rat infestation on your own. Most homeowners simply lack the tools the pros use to eliminate a rat colony.
What Does a Professional Do?
Usually, pest control professionals use a multi-pronged approach, as consistent pressure and assaults on many different fronts can sometimes be the only ways to evict these crafty creatures from your home.
Professionals will assess your property, diagnosing what kind of rat you have and what scope of treatment the situation might call for. Once the professionals have made an initial inspection, they will calculate an estimate and, if the contract is accepted, start treatment.
Pros will pay special attention to entrance and exit points that the rodents might use. There are two parts to any extermination: elimination of the rats you have and prevention of any more rats getting into your home. Many pest control services use patented foams to seal gaps and holes. Liquid treatment is often sprayed on the foundation of your home, and the teams may even suggest altering your landscaping in order to deter rat infestation.
Initially, pest control services will use lethal or non-lethal traps to take out rats already on your property. It is your choice which option fits your expectations and, if it’s important to you, be sure to discuss it with your pest control professional.
Some pest control companies offer a yearly plan that includes treatment for rat infestations, and some ask you to pay for a rat-specific plan. One of the most important aspects of a pest control service plan is retreatment, if necessary, and customer service sensitivity. Many pest control companies have solid re-visit policies in place, so if you see any sign of rats in-between sessions, a technician will come for free.
If you’ve heard unusual activity in your walls, like squeaking or scratching, or have seen any of the signs listed above, it’s a good idea to count on At Home Pros. Our digital platform makes the journey from first indication of an infestation to pest-free home swift and painless. Once you’ve submitted your location and the type of pest you think you have, our professionals will provide a list of local service providers you can trust.
Learn how much you should be paying for pest control near you.