A rat infestation can go unnoticed for quite some time, if you do not know what to keep an eye out for. And before you know it, you have dozens or even hundreds of rats on your property. To avoid this, you can check for signs of an infestation in the home.
Tracks
As rats scurry around the home, they may leave tracks, especially in dustier areas. They also have a layer of oil on their fur, and this oil can be spread on the surfaces that rats touch. This means that you will often see these grease tracks on the walls and floors that are frequented by the rats.
Droppings
One of the most common ways to identify a rat infestation is by the droppings. Rat droppings resemble black rice, and they will be concentrated in areas where rats are most active. You will likely find them behind furniture, or inside drawers. Once you do, you have to be careful because the droppings are a health hazard, and they should be removed using protective equipment. Make sure that you thoroughly wash the area afterwards.
Gnaw marks
Rats have teeth that grow constantly, for as long as they are alive. This means that the only way to make sure that the teeth don’t get too large is to file them down by gnawing on various surfaces. The gnaw marks will become visible on furniture, and other wooden surfaces.
What to Do if You Have a Rat Infestation
If you’ve noticed the signs of a rat infestation around the home, it’s time to move on to control. Rat infestations are controlled either by traps or poisons, and it’s best to hire a pro for the job. Traps are generally used against smaller rat infestations, because there is less cleanup involved when using this method.
However, as infestations get larger, traps cannot kill enough rats to completely remove the infestation. In these situations, poisons are the best recourse. They are very effective against large infestations, but they do require a more extensive cleanup process, because poisoned rats can die anywhere on the property. Some pros will offer the cleanup service as part of the control process, while others will not. Make sure to discuss these details with the pro beforehand.
For more information on rat infestation or if you have an infestation that has to be handled by a pro, contact us today.