How To Safely Get Rid Of Rats On Your Washington Metropolitan Area Property

There are few pests that are as dangerous as rats. These unwanted furry house guests regularly break into homes here in the Washington Metropolitan Area and threaten homeowners and their families. If you suspect rats are trying to get into your home or are already inside, here are some problems they cause and how to get and keep them out.

All types of rats are capable of biting through human skin. These bites can sometimes be laced with dangerous diseases like rabies. Fortunately, most types of rats in our area do not go out of their way to bite humans. You only risk getting bitten if your try to pick up one of these pests or accidentally trap them against a part of your body. Beyond this, your risk is fairly low.

The main problem rats cause inside area homes is that they spread disease. They do this by eating bacteria-ridden items like dead animals, decaying meats, and fecal droppings and then spreading their contaminated fecal matter and urine through living areas. They also transmit harmful bacteria off of their dirty bodies.

Another way rats get people sick is by carrying pests like fleas and ticks into homes. These smaller parasites hop off their hosts indoors and look for people and animals to draw blood from. Some common diseases you might contract from these smaller pests include murine typhus, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Rats are drawn into homes by three factors — food, water, and shelter. If entry points allow them to get inside and their necessities are met, these pests will want to come in. As for how fast rat infestations grow out of control, the number of rats inside your home a few months after the initial invasion all depends on how well-fed and hydrated these pests are. If food and moisture sources are minimal, rats will reproduce less frequently. If your living areas offer these pests many snacks and drinks, they will make tons of pink baby rats.

In order to stop rats from invading your home and breeding wild baby rats, you should put in place some preventative strategies. Here is how to prevent rats using DIY methods.

• Use a caulking gun to fill in holes, cracks, and other openings in your home’s exterior foundation.
• Fix damage to window and door screens, weatherstripping, and door sweeps.
• Clean up clutter and organic debris around your yard, including sticks, leaves, toys, fallen trees, and trash.
• Eliminate sources of water buildup around your yard.
• Make sure all of your trash cans have tight-fitting lids.
• Thoroughly clean your living areas around where messes happen and do your best to keep things tidy.
• Store opened pantry items, pet food, and leftovers inside air-tight containers.
• Make sure all of your pipes and fixtures are not leaking.

Getting rats out of a home is much more difficult and dangerous than preventing these pests. If you suspect these pests are already inside your living areas causing problems, do not hesitate to involve the professionals at Pestechs. We offer members of our community affordable and comprehensive options to identify and remove rodents from homes and keep them out. In addition to this, our team is friendly and highly trained.

Call our team now to schedule an inspection for your Washington Metropolitan Area property and find out why Pestechs is your best option for rodent control.