As a homeowner, you will never want your home to be rat-infested. However, this can happen if you don’t take steps to keep these rodents from entering your home. A rat infestation is every homeowner’s nightmare. Thus, you need to understand what might draw rats into your house and prevent an infestation. Also, you must know when to contact a company like Stride Pest Control.
What Draws Rats into Your House
You can only successfully keep rats at bay if you know what they are looking for when finding a new house to invade. As with other living creatures, rats need water, food, and shelter to survive. Also, they need nesting materials to build their nests where they can reproduce.
Also, rats look for access to fruit trees, house plants, and waste. Aside from those basic necessities, rats are attracted to certain qualities in a house. As they are omnivorous eaters, they can expand their meal options beyond what they can access on your counter and the floor. Finding clutter is worth celebrating for these pests. The more piles of magazines, overflowing garbage cans, and carpet crumbs they can access, the better.
Expectant mother rats need warmth, particularly during frigid winters. These rodents look for warm shelter to build their nests, making your heaters and fireplaces the perfect hiding place.
Dealing with a Rat Infestation
While you cannot get rid of everything in your house that attracts rats, you can take some steps to keep them at bay. These include the following:
- Sealing entry points. Did you know that rats can squeeze into very small spaces given their flexible bodies? Thus, you must seal up entry points to your house where they could sneak in. Always, check for gaps, cracks, and holes regularly.
- Storing food in airtight containers. It’s not enough to just put food away in your pantry. To prevent rats from feasting on your food items, store these items in thick air-tight containers. Rats can easily access anything that comes in cardboard boxes or bags. They will chew through the food packaging.
- Repairing leaky pipes and faucets. Any leaky sources of water such as pipes and faucets can attract rats. So, tighten them up and examine your house for other water access. These could include your pest’s water bowl and birdbaths.
Nobody will want to live with rats in their homes. Aside from being a nuisance, rats can carry diseases and parasites that they can spread in your household. If you have eliminated all attractants, but rats choose to stay, it’s time to get rid of them with the help of a pest control expert.
