Rats are definitely disgusting animals, but are they really dangerous? Most pests are either destructive, or they spread diseases, but rats manage to be both. Let’s take a closer look at just how dangerous these rodents can be.
Threats Posed to the Building
Norway rats have teeth that never stop growing, so in order to avoid any issues, they have to file them down continuously. When they infest the home, they will file their teeth on various surfaces, including furniture, baseboards, and other materials. For the most part the damage is minimal, but while they are inside the walls, the rats may also start chewing on electrical wiring. Not only can this destroy the wiring, or kill the rat and leave a dead carcass somewhere in the wall, it can also lead to electrical fire hazards in the home, which is a very serious threat.
On top of that, rats will build their nests out of various textile materials and materials that resemble cloth. One of these materials is the insulation inside the walls. The rats will start stripping the insulation down, reducing the energy efficiency of the home and increasing your heating and cooling costs.
Threats Posed to People
Not only are rats destructive, they also pose a direct threat to humans. Rats are known to carry dozens of dangerous pathogens that they can transmit through their feces, urine, bite and direct contact. Rats also have parasites occasionally, parasites such as ticks and fleas, which carry several diseases of their own, and which can transmit diseases from rats to people. So you have a veritable cocktail of pestilence whenever a rat enters the home, and it can be very dangerous for the people inside.
Getting Rid of Norway Rats
Norway rat infestations can be stubborn. Rats are intelligent animals and the control process has to be approached in the right way if you want to get rid of them. This is why it’s best to work with a pro if you want to get rid of an infestation. A pro will have the tools and the expertise needed to ensure that the infestation is completely uprooted, and he may also provide extra service such as implementing prevention methods and a cleanup process after the job is done. For more information on Norway rats and threats that they pose, or if you have an infestation that has to be removed, contact us today.