Rat Infestations: Prevention And Control Strategies For Your Rochester Home

The folks living in Rochester, New York, have endless activities to entertain people year-round. Scenic surroundings, historical establishments, sporting venues, and world-famous museums provide family-friendly hotspots throughout the town. Unfortunately, one local pest that enjoys visiting homes throughout town is rats. Without pest control in Rochester, these destructive pests can make a mess of dwellings.

Physical Characteristics Of Rats: How To Identify A Rat

The thought of rodents lurking within homes can unsettle people, but something about rats takes things to a different level. Rats in Rochester that commonly invade homes, roof rats and Norway rats. Both kinds of rats are typically larger, heavier, and have thicker tails than mice, which helps identify them. Roof rats have thin, streamlined bodies with brown hair that is smooth and soft and has some black patches. They can average six to eight inches long, with their scaly tails measuring about the same length as their body. They often have a white, gray, or black underbelly and large ears and eyes. Roof rats typically appear in upper levels of homes. 

Norway rats tend to be stockier, and the brown hairs on their body have a bristly texture with some black hairs intermingled. They average seven to ten inches long, with shorter tails than their body. They typically have yellowish-white or light gray underbellies and small eyes and ears. Norway rats usually stick to lower areas of homes, such as crawlspaces and basements. Rats that slip into homes can cause homeowners all sorts of problems. At the first sign of rats, call in the professionals at RodentX, LLC; we can quickly locate and identify the infestation and recommend expert removal solutions.

Hidden Hazards: Health And Property Risks Posed By Rat Infestations

A rat infestation's hidden hazards to homes come in a two-fold package. First, they affect your health. Rats contaminate and bite. When they bite, walk over surfaces, defecate on items, and chew through boxes to ingest foods, they can spread pathogens that introduce diseases rats carry, such as rat-bite fever, leptospirosis, trichinosis, salmonellosis, cowpox virus, and jaundice. Rats also affect air quality in homes. The dust from dried fecal matter and urine particles often aggravates asthma and allergy conditions. 

Secondly, rats can cause property damage. Rats are natural-born gnawers who chew on things to keep their teeth worn down. Wood, drywall, plastic, and electrical wires can get damaged from their constant chewing. They love to nest in stored items or behind walls, where they often soil or shred items. Given the trouble rats bring to homes, seeking a rodent professional like RodentX, LLC, is essential for quick and efficient removal services.

Rat Prevention Tips: Eliminating Attractants And Sealing Entry Points

Trying to keep rats out of your home can seem arduous, but proactive homeowners have some options. When homeowners use easy rat prevention strategies, they can do much to deter rat invasions.

Four practical ways to keep rats away include:

1. Take note of outside cracks, gaps, and crevices that need sealing and replacing loose mortar.
2. Eliminate excess moisture sources both indoors and out.
3. Practice good sanitation, use airtight containers to store food, quickly wipe up crumbs and spills, and frequently remove garbage.
4. Trim shrubs and overhanging branches.

Implementing some easy prevention tips can help eliminate attractions that naturally draw rats to homes, but all it takes is one break in your defenses for rats to get inside. When and if rats get indoors, call in the experts at RodentX, LLC; we are nearby and ready to help solve your rat problem.

Call The Rat Control Experts: Ensuring Safe And Effective Elimination

Calling in a professional rat control company like RodentX, LLC is always best to ensure safe and effective rat elimination from homes. Our locally owned business has over ten years of experience removing unwanted wildlife from area homes. Not only do we provide customers with premier services, but we also offer control, prevention, and repair assistance. If you're worried that rats are infesting your home, call in the professionals at RodentX, LLC today for a free inspection.