Most people cringe at the thought of a rat infestation. Generally rats don’t have a reputation for being cute and cuddly, so thoughts of rats in the attic or crawl space are unsettling. But the concerns aren’t the only reason you should be worried about rats in
your house.
The Dangers Associated With a Rat Infestation
The main reasons rats are unwelcome in your home is that they can carry pathogens that can transmit disease to humans. These pathogens can be transmitted through the rat’s urine and droppings, which become airborne as they break down and contaminate other dust particles. That means that you will be exposed to pathogens even if you don’t actually see a rat. This is also why you should not disturb a rodent nest if you find it. Instead, call Wheeler’s Pest Control rodent control professionals.
Rats also carry fleas and mites that can come off these rodents and infest your home. Villa Park Elementary School recently suffered a major infestation of mites because of a rat infestation that wasn’t taken care of.
Rats will cause damage to your home. They will damage metal or plastic pipes, wooden beams and joists and soft concrete. They’re also will chew through the plastic coatings on electrical wiring, which will lead to short circuits or even house fires. Rats are notorious for getting into your food stores, as well as damaging insulation in walls, attics and crawl spaces.
Rats are prolific breeders. This means that if you don’t quickly take steps to control a rat infestation, you’ll have a population that will grow quickly. Rats normally produce 12-15 pups per litter and can have 6 to 8 liters per year.
Where are Rats Found in your home?
Rats will live almost anywhere in your house, which is why you’ve heard of people who had rats in attics, crawl spaces, walls or even in furniture.
Roof rats, which are the biggest problem rodent in Southern California are good climbers, generally nest in attics, while Norway Rats are most often nesting in the ground area or inside your crawl space. How do rats get inside your home in the first place? They can squeeze through very small holes, about the size of a quarter, to gain access to your home. Additionally, they have strong teeth, so when they find an opening that’s too small for them to get through, they will gnaw on it until they can fit through.
If you need help with any rodent problem, Call Wheeler’s Pest Control.
