The Dangers Rats Bring To Humble Properties
December 05, 2021 - Rats
Every season has its seasonal pests, and rodent infestations are the most common for homeowners to experience during the winter. Even though the neighborhoods here in our Humble service area don't experience too many extreme weather changes, rodents like rats are still a year-round threat to homeowners, which means our mild winters won't save us from the problems these pests can bring into our homes. Rats can create a very dangerous environment in only a short amount of time, so how can you keep them out of your home?
Common Rats Around Humble Neighborhoods
Even though there are roughly 1,500 different species of rodents in the world, only a handful of species regularly infest homes and businesses in North America. As for rats, the most common home-infesting species in Humble are Norway rats and roof rats. They have a lot of similarities as far as appearance – pointed noses, rounded ears, long hairless tails, and strong incisors, but they do have their own unique characteristics as well. Norway rats tend to be slightly bigger in size, ranging between 16 to 20 inches from nose to tail, and their fur color varies between dark gray and brown. Roof rats are only around 14 to 18 inches long, and their fur color varies between dark brown and black.
Rats have depended on humans for survival for thousands of years, making them an eons-long problem for humanity. These particular species of rats don't have a very high survival rate on their own, but with the help of humanity's agricultural practices, they've managed to thrive. The worst part is, it's been almost entirely one-sided; not only do they steal our food and destroy our homes, but they also introduce all kinds of pathogens and parasites into our everyday lives:
- Hantavirus
- Rat-bite fever
- Gastroenteritis
- Salmonella
- Leptospirosis
- Plague
- Tularemia
- Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis
- Parasitic worms
- Fleas and ticks
How To Keep Rats From Infiltrating And Destroying Your Humble Home
Rodents possess two sets of incisors that have open-rooted dentition, which means they never stop growing. To maintain proper dental health, rats have to chew to keep them filed down constantly, which could spell trouble if they get into your Humble home. They can chew through wood, plastic, rubber, wires, sheetrock, and even low-gauge metal sheets. Preventing a rat infestation may seem impossible, but there are ways to make your home less enticing:
- Remove any clippings, leaf piles, and debris from around your lawn
- Trim branches and shrubs away from the exterior of your home
- Clean out the gutters regularly
- Fill in any ground holes on your property
- Add tight-fitting lids to all indoor and outdoor trash cans
- Repair any gaps or holes around the exterior of your home
- Keep all food, including pet food, stored in airtight containers
- Sweep, mop, and vacuum regularly
- Wipe down all counters, food prep areas, and eating tables daily
- Eliminate any excess clutter around your home
The Best Way To Get Rid Of A Rat Infestation In Your Humble Home
When it comes to rat infestations, you don't want to settle for mediocre pest control. These pests are dangerous, destructive, and can be aggressive if they feel threatened. With Bugtime Pest Control, you can rest assured knowing your pest problems are resolved quickly and efficiently. Our pest experts go through rigorous background checks before we hire them, we use the highest quality pest control products in all of our treatments, and we even offer retail pest control products if you want to take care of the problem yourself. So get in contact with us today to find out what you can do to protect your Humble home from rats, and ask us about our commercial pest control services to help keep your Humble business rodent-free.