What can ruin your day faster than coming across a big, nasty rat in your home? Very little. These uninvited pests are especially revolting to every homeowner.
The rats that bother you as pests aren’t like the cute ones in the pet store. They may be the same species, but a wild rat and a pet rat aren’t the same animal. One is an accepted pet; the other is a rodent pest control problem and a health hazard. If you actually see one, you should call your Brevard County Pest Control service right away. Rats are nocturnal and prefer to stay hidden. If you see one, it may mean that his usual hiding places are already full.
One of the most disturbing things about rats and mice is how quickly they can reproduce. Rats become sexually mature at a mere 2 to 5 months of age and they have no social compunctions about inter-family breeding. They breed year-round, too. A female rat can produce around 40 young in a single year. A nesting site can fill up quickly with numbers like that!
Wild rats aren’t as clean as their pet-quality cousins. They produce oils to coat their fur, and rats will leave greasy marks on the walls and baseboards they touch as they travel. Fleas are fond of rats and are often introduced as a secondary pest where rodents have become a problem. And, we can’t forget that rats can carry diseases that can be passed to humans.
As much as humans have developed a dislike of rats, rats have learned to love humans. We have nice, cozy, climate-controlled places for them to nest. Our stuff makes greats nests: newspapers, old clothes, attic insulation, to name just a few. We leave lots of food uneaten and easy to reach in garbage cans and pet bowls. We even make it easy for rats and other rodents to get in and out by leaving lovely holes in our foundations where ducts and plumbing run. We have accessible roofs with helpful venting to make getting in the attic quick and easy, too.
The trick to getting rid of rats is to shut down the hospitality. Plug the holes, close off the vents, remove trash, put all food and garbage into tightly sealed containers and schedule regular inspections and treatments with your pest control company. Ruin those rats’ day right back!