What is something you could not live without? Your car? Your phone? Your significant other? Most people are codependent on at least one thing in their life. Rats are the same way. They depend on the warmth of our homes and the food in our pantries to live comfortably. If you are not ok with sharing your Yakima home with rats, use this simple guide.
Common Rats
There are only two species of rats known for invading homes here in Yakima, roof rats, and Norway rats. Here is what you need to know about each.
Roof rats are amazing climbers and extremely agile. These furry pests will frequently climb trees near buildings and jump upwards of four feet from branches to get onto roofs. Identify a roof rat by its black to brown fur, slender body, large ears, and eyes, pointed nose, and lengthy scaley dark tail. Adults can reach upwards of 40 cm in total length from nose to tail.
Norway rats are the most common home-invading rat here in the United States. Although larger and less nimble than roof rats, these pests find no difficulty chewing and squeezing their way into homes here in Yakima. Identify a Norway rat by its brown to grey shaggy fur and by its scaly ears and tail. Adults can reach upwards of 61 cm in total length from nose to tail.
Problems Rats Cause
Despite their differences in appearance and size, both Norway rats and roof rats share a few things in common, specifically the problems they cause. Around homes, rats will use their sharp teeth to chew through walls, sever electrical wires, gnaw on furniture, and just generally cause damage.
Rats also spread several dangerous diseases causing organisms. Keep in mind these pests have no qualms about living in trash heaps or around sewers. Inside homes, rats will spread bacteria and parasites from their bodies and through their fecal matter and urine. When cleaning up after a rat infestation, make sure to use caution and wear the proper safety gear.
To top everything off, rats are also known for carrying fleas and ticks into homes. These smaller parasitic pests carry their list of dangerous diseases and are a threat to both humans and their pets.
How To Prevent Rats
Rats don’t like to work for anything. The easier it is to find food and water, the better, and what better place is there to find food and water than from your kitchen and eating areas? The best thing to do to prevent rats is to limit their access to food and water and block off entry points they might use to get inside. Here are some practical tips to do this.
- Use a caulking gun and some steel wool to seal gaps, cracks, and holes in your home’s exterior.
- Install metal screens over exterior vents and out spouts for gutters.
- Trim back tree branches at least five feet from your home’s exterior.
- Repair or replace damaged window/door screens.
- Keep your home and yard as clean as possible.
- Reduce clutter around your property and inside your home.
- Avoid feeding your pets outdoors and clean out their bowls thoroughly after every meal.
If you are looking for a simpler way to prevent rodents or looking to have a current infestation removed from your home, look to the professionals at Prosite. We will implement advanced baiting and trapping methods around your property to quickly give rats the boot.
Call or reach out to us through our website today to learn more about how we treat rodents, or to schedule an appointment for your Yakima home and property.