If you have rats in your house, don’t panic! While they may be pesky little creatures, there are a few simple steps you can follow to catch them and get them out of your home for good.
The occasional rat is nothing new to residents of South Florida. Four cities in southern Florida have among the largest rat populations in the country, according to recent studies.
The presence of these pests can be unsettling or even frightening to the owners of homes and businesses. There are legitimate health problems associated with rodents, so this is understandable.
Rats have a long and well-deserved reputation for being filthy and disease-carrying pests. It doesn’t take long for a rat or mouse infestation to become out of hand if nobody notices it at first.
When given enough time, rats can multiply into enormous populations. In the worst cases, rat infestations can pose a danger to the safety of the home’s inhabitants as well as the building’s structure.
It is not always easy to solve a rat infestation. Different rat-trapping strategies have different benefits, but there are many to choose from.
Some of these metrics are as extensive as they get, while others are not. If the issue has progressed far enough, traps are unlikely to be effective. In these circumstances, it is necessary to hire a pest control service, such as On Demand Pest Control.
For those of you whose issues aren’t quite as dire, we’ve laid out some steps down below. Below, we’ve provided information that should help you successfully capture rats in your Pompano Beach house.
Methods for Rat Extermination
First, try to identify where the rats are coming from. If you can figure out how they’re getting into your house, you can block off that entry point and prevent any more rats from getting inside. Common entry points include cracks in the foundation, holes in walls, and gaps around doors and windows. Once you’ve found the rats’ point of entry, take steps to seal it off.
If you’re not sure where the rats are coming from, that’s okay too. There are other ways to catch them. One popular method is to set up traps. There are a variety of traps available, so be sure to choose one that is appropriate for the size of the rats you’re dealing with. Be sure to read the instructions carefully so you know how to set the trap correctly.
Another way to catch rats is to use baits. Place baits in strategic locations around your home, poisoning rats who eat the bait. This is an effective method, but it’s important to use caution when handling baits and to keep them out of reach of children and pets. If you have rats in your house, don’t despair! Hopefully, with a little patience and some perseverance, you’ll be rat-free in no time.
A comprehensive rodent exclusion and trapping program is essential if you want to be sure that rats and mice are not present in or near your South Florida property. Sealed soffit vents, AC chase, and any other openings greater than 1/4 inch with a skilled professional. Alternatively, you can give us a call now if you’d like to schedule a free consultation for rodent treatment options.
Identifying Rat Infestations
Early rat problem detection considerably reduces the difficulty of pest treatment. Since rat populations can grow quickly, taking preventative action as soon as possible is crucial for their eradication. The following are warning signs of a roof rat infestation.
- Chew Marks – Rats will chew on about anything that will fit their gnawing teeth. The pets may have chewed or frayed items like paper, plastic containers, electrical wires, and uneaten food. Their feces and urine have the potential to seriously damage a house if not treated.
- Noises and Smells – Mice and rats typically make a lot of noise and smell strongly of ammonia. Scratching, squeaking, and rustling are among sounds you could encounter. Walls and other enclosed spaces like cupboards and closets could be the source of this.
- Footprints – Find a room in your house that you haven’t dusted in a while and put some paper down. Traces of a rat’s feet and tail will be visible after it has passed through an area.
- Droppings – You should search for rat feces, which will look like little pellets. These can be found in open regions near their paths of travel, but they can also accumulate in more remote places. Look in the space behind the stove and the fridge, as well as any other hidden spots in the kitchen, for poop heaps.
- Grease Marks – Rats have limited eyesight, so they tend to move in predictable patterns along the walls, leaving behind telltale smears. Grease smudges on the walls from their movement could be an indication of their existence.
- Nests – Rats may build nests in areas when they are heavily outnumbered. It’s common practice to do this with insulation and other materials in the walls or the attic.
When any of these symptoms present themselves, it’s time to call in the pest control pros. Don’t put off dealing with the rodent problem or else it will only get worse and you’ll have to take more extreme measures to deal with it.
Tips for Trapping Rats
Every home can experience the annoyance of rats, therefore it’s typical for homeowners to try to get rid of them on their own by trapping them. Even while the idea seems straightforward, there are a few things to consider before placing rat or mouse traps.
Types of Rat Traps
There are a few common types of traps for rodents. Four of the most typical choices are:
- Glue Traps – These are sticky devices baited with food (such a roasted peanut) that the rodents will eat before getting stuck in the trap. This method will not solve the problem quickly, therefore it’s not recommended. According to the humane society, a mouse or rat can remain trapped in glue for 24 hours before collapsing from exhaustion.
- Snap Traps – Innumerable cartoons and movies depict these traps as the traditional mousetrap design. When you activate a bait station by pressing its button, the station will deploy a bar that will clamp shut on any rats that come within its range. These traps may be effective, however they could end up injuring rather than killing the rat. They might be messy sometimes as well.
- Electric Traps – You can lure rats into electric traps with bait, where a powerful current shocks and kills them. In terms of actually killing the animal, these approaches have widespread support as being the most humane and effective.
- Live Trapping – The term “live trapping” refers to techniques where you capture the mouse and hold it in captivity without killing it. This makes it possible to release the rodent in a more remote location.
Although most mouse traps may be set in a matter of minutes, the end result is usually a pile of dead rodents. In addition, you need to make sure the traps won’t hurt anyone’s kids or pets.
If the problem has not reached a critical stage, live-trapping is usually the best course of action. If the pest situation continues to worsen, you’ll have to take more robust measures to control it.
Where to Place Rat Traps
The traps’ effectiveness is partly determined by their placement. The first step is to place traps along the baseboards with the bait towards the wall. You should set extra traps in regions where you have seen or suspect activity.
If the situation is still under control, setting too many traps at once is unnecessary. Additional traps may need to be set if the problem is particularly severe.
Try Safe Rat Traps
While they lack intelligence, rats do exercise extreme caution. Concern over a new structure in their way could lead them to either avoid it or try to figure it out. Get them to believe in the traps by feeding them bait with a trap that is unset.
Two days later, bait the trap and set it to maximize your chances of success.
Consider the Best Rat Trap Bait
Norway rats, brown rats, roof rats, and other rodents are very different from one another. It’s possible that different mice will need different bait. Mice have different preferences for different foods; some love cheese, while others like peanut butter or roasted almonds. Know what kind of rat you’re dealing with so you can find effective bait.
Inside is not the place for bait! You will kill some rats, but they will die in places that are hard to reach and stink for weeks. Ultimately, to prevent birds, dogs, cats, children, and other animals from getting to the bait, it is important to use professional rodent bait stations if you want to set the stations outside.
DIY Rat Prevention
Though rat traps might be useful, avoiding infestations altogether is preferable. Because rats are an invasive species, even when taking every precaution possible, you may still run into an issue. However, there are several natural methods that can be used to head off a rodent problem before it even starts.
Among them are:
- Close All Openings. Mice and rats can squeeze through small cracks and crevices. Look around the outside of your house, the roof, and wherever else you can. Rats and mice can get access to your home through any openings they find. Therefore, sealing them off will help prevent rodents from entering the building in the first place.
- Declutter. Rats are attracted to disarray and will forage for food in it. If you want to keep mice away, one of the best things you can do is keep your house clean.
No mice will be attracted to a spotless home. In the same way that humans do, mice require nourishment, hydration, and a dry place to sleep. It’s impossible for them to stay in the shelter if they can’t get food and water.
Homemade Rat Deterrent
Natural methods of preventing rodents from settling in your home are plenty. The best ways to achieve this include the use of:
- Peppermint Oil
- Black pepper
- Cayenne pepper
- Crushed red pepper
- Cloves
Apply them extensively to the property’s outside to dissuade rats from entering home to begin with. The powerful odors of these discourage mice and other rodents away from your home.
Follow the line between your home’s foundation and the earth and repeat the operation occasionally. To a lesser extent, similar techniques can also be used to expel rats from a house with a little infestation.
Dry Ice
Dry ice is a kind of carbon dioxide that has solidified. It’s released into the air as the ice melts. When used outdoors, this is generally considered to be safe and non-toxic.
However, in closed situations, it can cause fatally high blood carbon dioxide levels. As a result, dry ice effectively reduces rodent populations without posing any significant health risks to humans.
This strategy is extremely effective on located, sealed off rat burrows and nests. So doing increases the rate at which the rats take in the carbon dioxide.
Finally, handle dry ice with extreme care and caution at all times. Never store dry ice in an airtight container or combine it with any form of liquid. Never put dry ice in your mouth.
Professional Rodent Control in Pompano Beach, FL
Due to the same pleasant weather that draws people to the region, South Florida is also home to a large population of house rodents. Many Pompano Beach, FL, homeowners have dealt with rodent infestations.
When dealing with a rodent problem, trapping is effective in the beginning stages but often insufficient later on. On Demand Pest Control is the company to call when you have a serious infestation.
Our pest control team removes unwanted pests in a humane manner. We quickly and efficiently wipe out the population using methods that are safe for pets.
What to expect after calling us for rodent control:
- A free, comprehensive inspection of your home to identify any current infestations.
- Individualized care based on the results of our examination. The plan calls for trapping, monitoring, and safety precautions.
- After we are finished, we promise that you will not see any more rodents within your home or business.
Our staff is well-informed and eager to assist you in regaining a pest-free environment in your home. Eliminate rodents without risk thanks to our rodent control services.
Get Help from On Demand Pest Control
On Demand Pest Control is a locally owned and operated company in South Florida and provides pest control and prevention solutions for both residential and commercial properties in the area. Our Florida certified expert technicians provide safe and effective barrier spray treatments throughout Southeast and Southwest Florida. Click Here to learn more about how our pest treatments work.
