It is easy to be enchanted by wild creatures. For instance, have you ever looked at a raccoon and thought, “I would love to have one of those as a pet.”? Many people have this thought. The same is also true about rats. The only difference is that rats are sold in pet stores and raccoons are not. And when rats are caged, it prevents them from resorting to their destructive, dangerous, and annoying habits. When left to their own devices, rats are problematic pests that cause a list of problems for property owners. To help you keep rats off your Annapolis property, here are a few things to consider.
The Problems Caused By Wild Rats
Before we discuss methods to get rats out of your Annapolis home or business, let’s talk a bit about some of the problems these pests cause. We like to break down the issues these pests bring into homes and businesses into three categories, annoyance, danger, and destruction.
Annoyance: Rats are nocturnal creatures. At night these pests crawl through ceiling voids, knock things over, and break into places where they do not belong, sometimes making a mess. These things combined with the other problems rats cause make them incredibly annoying.
Danger: Rats are filthy creatures and regularly carry and transmit diseases such as salmonellosis, hantavirus, and leptospirosis. They spread these illnesses from their fur and through their fecal matter and urine. When cleaning up after these pests, use protective equipment to reduce your chances of getting sick.
Destruction: Rats have front incisor teeth that never stop growing. To keep these teeth at a reasonable length, they chew on anything and everything. Sometimes they gnaw for practical reasons like to get through a wall or into a box of food. Other times they do so “just because” like with the legs of furniture. Rats will also tear up insulation, paper, and fabrics to construct their nests.
The Difficulties Of Rat Elimination
Rats are among the most difficult pests to eliminate. This is for a few reasons.
First, rats reproduce rapidly, a single female has between five and twelve pups per litter and seven litters a year. On top of this, it only takes a newborn rat three months to reach sexual maturity.
Second, rats adapt to their environments and are quick to learn when certain areas or things pose a danger to them. This is seen in the way they outsmart snap traps, triggering them without getting caught just to consume the bait.
Finally, rats are nocturnal. During the day, you are unlikely to see these pests but you will hear them at night. This makes identifying the size of your property’s rat infestation difficult, and it makes it impossible to know if your elimination attempts are working as intended.
Three Prevention Tips To Stop Rats Before They Invade
- Use a caulking gun and some steel wool to seal off gaps, cracks, and holes in your home’s or business’s exterior foundation.
- Address moisture issues by fixing leaks, cleaning out gutters, and eliminating sources of water buildup.
- Keep your property as clean as possible and clutter-free.
The Best Solution To Rats In Annapolis, MD
The quickest way to get rats off your Annapolis property is to hire a professional. To make sure the job is done right, look no further than Pest Czar. Our team of dedicated technicians understands rodents and has the industrial-grade traps and treatments needed to handle even the worst rat infestations around area properties.
Call us now to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services and find a solution that works for you.