How To Get Rid Of Rats: Tips For Effective Rodent Control For The Sacramento Region

Rats pose many threats to your home and your well-being. These sly creatures can cause structural damage to your home, destroy your personal property, and contaminate your house with harmful pathogens. 

At HomeShield Pest Control, we can help keep you and your home safe from these bothersome pests. Our rat exterminators know the best course of action to take to ensure that these bothersome creatures stay away from your property for good.

Understanding Rat Behavior: Insights For Effective Rat Control

Rats are curious rodents that will chew and claw their way through various surfaces to see what is on the other side. They have strong, sharp teeth, allowing them to chew through walls and other hard surfaces easily. They are also extremely athletic and agile. They can use their strong legs, claws, and tails to help them climb up vertical surfaces and balance on narrow objects. 

They are also nocturnal creatures. And while you may see a rat scurrying through your home during the day on rare occasions, you are more likely to see them at night; this is usually the time when they are in search of their next meal. These cunning rodents are omnivores and will eat just about any type of food in front of them. They are prolific scavengers who like to eat meat, fruit, grains, or any other food they find in the garbage can or left out in the open. 

If you see rats in your home or small bite marks in your food or food packages, contact a rat removal team as soon as possible. 

Rat-Borne Diseases: Common Illnesses Transmitted By Rats

Rat control is important because these creatures are known carriers of dangerous diseases. If you see rat droppings, which are dark and cylindrical-shaped pieces of feces, you must take extreme caution when cleaning them up. Wear gloves and a mask to ensure you don’t breathe in any harmful pathogens. Some of the different viruses, diseases, and illnesses you can catch from rats include:

• Salmonella

• Leptospirosis

• Rat-bite fever

• Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

• Toxoplasmosis

• Typhus

While rat bites are rare, these animals are capable of biting and scratching if they feel threatened. You should never try to handle a rat you see in your home. Instead, call a rat exterminator and let them safely get the rats out of your home. 

Rat Prevention Tips: Eliminating Attractants And Sealing Entry Points

Rats have a flexible bone structure that allows them to easily squeeze through tight spaces. They can fit their bodies through openings only about half an inch wide. If you want to keep rats out of your home, you should inspect your home and make sure that there are no gaps or cracks around the exterior. 

You should also remove any food sources; this means placing all dry food in gnaw-proof containers and emptying your inside trash can regularly. You should also make sure that you have a tight lid on your outdoor trash can. 

If you aren’t sure if your home has any other rat attractants, you should schedule an inspection with a rat extermination company. 

Call The Rat Control Experts: Ensuring Safe And Effective Elimination

Don’t let rats destroy your home and put your health at risk. Give our experts a call at HomeShield Pest Control if you suspect that you have a rat problem. We know how to provide customized and effective rat control in the Sacramento region and can keep your home rat-free permanently.