Rats aren’t just filthy. They can damage your home and make you sick, too. In Baltimore, the most common rat is the Norway Rat, also called the Norwegian or Brown Rat.
As a homeowner in the Greater Baltimore area, you need to know the signs and threats of rodents living in your home. Then, you can move towards getting rid of them. There are also steps you can take to prevent them from coming back to save yourself future trouble.
Rat Facts You Should Know
First, rats are not picky about where they live. They can climb into your house through small cracks, run across your roof, or live under your deck. Rats are also very quick – a rat can climb a tree from the ground in a few seconds. You won’t even see it coming.
Rats are nearsighted and have poor eyesight in general. Since they are nocturnal, they don’t need great vision to get around. They can also survive large doses of radiation.
In addition, their teeth grow throughout their lives, so they chew constantly to wear their teeth down. Often, they are chewing to keep their teeth trimmed, not because they are hungry.
Troubles From Rats
Rats carry and spread several different diseases, including the following:
- Leptospirosis: Rat urine allows this disease to spread. It is dangerous to you and your pets.
- Salmonellosis: Rodents are also responsible for causing salmonellosis. You can contract salmonellosis through contact with rat saliva or feces. You will probably come into contact with these if you have a rat infestation in your house.
- Hantavirus: This comes from breathing in particles from dried rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. It can cause respiratory disease or respiratory infections.
Additionally, rats can cause a great deal of property damage. Their feces can cause irreparable damage to your clothes and furniture. They can also chew through structural components of your home and nest in stored goods or insulation. Rats chewing through your wires also creates a higher chance of electrical fire.
Also, they are a source of secondary pest problems like cockroaches, fleas, and ticks. These secondary pests all come with additional health and safety risks. Needless to say, it’s important to protect your home from rodents all year.
Rat Control and Prevention Tips
If you see a rat in your Baltimore house, you need to be proactive about getting rid of it. The longer you wait, especially if you have a sizeable infestation, the more problems you’ll have. It will also cost you more to get rid of them.
First, you’ll want to make your home less attractive to rats. Remove clutter and food sources such as fallen fruit in your yard or leftover pet food or birdseed.
Block off any obvious entry points you find, like holes you see in your deck or foundation. Then seal all cracks you see on the outside of your house. Also, keep your trash in tightly sealed bags or a cage and put your food in airtight containers.
Finally, seek help from a professional pest control service. Experts can help you identify the problem and develop a plan for rat control that you can implement in your home to keep you, your pets, and your family safe.
Conclusion
If you suspect a rat infestation in your Baltimore home, it’s important to take action as soon as possible. Call Phenom Pest Protection today so we can address your rat problem and keep them from coming back.
Our team of experts will assess the situation and create a custom treatment plan for your home to keep you and your family safe and pest-free. We promise the highest quality pest control possible. Contact us today for a free quote!
