Keeping the various pests that call the Houston area home out of our houses can be daunting. Pests come in different shapes and sizes and have varying habitat and food needs. While maintaining a pest-free home can be frustrating, doing so is important to the health and safety of your family and the structural integrity of your property.
The rat is one of the more troublesome pests to find their way to our Houston properties. They are agile, intelligent creatures that have learned wherever there are people, there will likely be food, shelter, and water sources available.
In this comprehensive guide, we will provide helpful information about keeping rats in Houston away from your property and family. Through professional rat control in Houston, All-Safe Pest & Termite is here to help you reclaim your property from rats.
Signs Of Rats In The House: Identifying Rat Activity
Rats in Houston are nocturnal and, therefore, most active at night while we are sleeping. During the day, rats are great at finding dark, quiet hiding spots that keep them out of sight. Because rats are great at staying out of sight, knowing common signs of their presence can help you identify a rat infestation before these rodents take over your home.
- Rat droppings: Rat droppings are shiny, dark, and oblong in shape. Droppings that have pointed ends are likely mouse droppings.
- Rub marks: rats follow along walls and furniture to safely move from their nest to find food sources. As they travel, they leave behind grease and dirt markings.
- Gnaw marks: To keep their sharp front worn down, rats constantly gnaw on objects they can wrap their teeth around. In our homes, they use their teeth to damage things like cabinets, furniture, trim, mattresses, food containers, and more.
- Unpleasant odors: The build-up of the excrement and urine in your home produces unpleasant, musty odors.
- Noises: As rats move behind your home’s wall and above its ceilings, you will likely hear scratching and squeaking noises.
If you are ever concerned that rats may have found their way into your home, take immediate action. While you may be tempted to use DIY rat control methods, the fastest, safest, and most effective way to remove these pests is with the help of an experienced professional.
Rat-Borne Diseases: Common Illnesses Transmitted By Rats
One of the biggest reasons we don’t want rats near our houses is because they are a significant health risk. Inside our homes, they contaminate food and surfaces with bacteria, human pathogens, and parasites.
Diseases that rats spread include:
- Leptospirosis
- Rat-bite fever
- Tularemia
- Salmonellosis
Additionally, a rat problem can cause the build-up of feces which can trigger allergy symptoms and transmit airborne illnesses.
Rat Prevention: Simple Measures To Keep Rats Out
Take advantage of the following helpful prevention measures to keep rats out of your home:
- Store pet food inside and outside your home in hard-sided containers with locking lids.
- If you own chickens, make sure their coops are secure.
- Store outdoor trash cans off the ground and away from your home’s exterior.
- Cut back overgrown bushes and shrubbery from your house.
- Keep well-fitting mesh covers over vents and chimneys.
- Repair gaps, holes, and other defects around your home’s roofline, doors, windows, and foundation.
To further help keep rats away from your Houston property, it is also vital to remove potential water sources by repairing leaky pipes, hoses, and air conditioners.
Call The Rat Control Experts: Ensuring Safe And Effective Elimination
The best way to ensure the complete elimination of rats from your Houston property is to partner with a professional pest control expert. At All-Safe Pest & Termite, our professionals will thoroughly inspect your property to get to the root of your rat infestation. Then, we will install bait stations and rodent traps to remove the active infestation. Finally, our follow-up services will ensure that we have successfully removed all the rats from your home.
All-Safe Pest & Termite is committed to offering our customers long-lasting pest control solutions. Call today to learn more about Houston rat control and the benefits of maintaining a pest-free home with the help of a local pest control expert.