We have been doing pest control for over eight years, and we can confidently say it is a widespread problem to have rats and mice in Washington and Oregon. If you have seen a rat or mouse creeping around your home we need to be thinking rodent control quickly. Today we will answer two of your big questions: How did they get in, and how to get rid of rats and mice? But first, let’s identify the problem.
Very often we meet with people who have seen a single mouse or rat and believed they only had one rodent in their home. They get a mouse trap set it up, catch a rodent and think they are done. Then they see that darn rodent again! We get a call and inspect the home (for free) and find that roof rats are hanging out in colonies in their insulation in the attic, crawlspace, or walls. A big problem that grows bigger every week.
Nothing beats a free inspection! Having a professional take a look at your house can only end up two ways: a problem is identified, or you receive peace of mind knowing a problem is less than you thought. Here at Insight Pest Solutions, we take an in-depth look into your home during an inspection. We do the dirty work for you, whether that is crawling under the house or squeeze in a boiling hot attic in the summer. But, if you want to do this yourself, here are some of the things we look for:
. Fecal pellets
.Urine stains
. Grease marks
. Rodent odors
. Live/dead rodents
. Gnawing damage
.Torn down installation
. After birth
. Burrows on the exterior
. Pets acting strange
. Activity spotted in the neighborhood
Well simply put it’s all about conducive conditions. Conducive conditions are circumstances that lead to unwanted pests in the home ranging from a number of pest problems including spiders, ants, termites, rodents, etc. Here is a list of things that usually create rodent related conducive conditions.
Bird feed – yes, this is one, and it is among the rodents favorite foods! Caution, if you have an active issue, you must stop using bird feeders.
Cleaning grease left behind outside after having a BBQ.
Cat food/water that has been brought back into the home after being outside.
Dog feces that have been left in the yard are a food source.
Composite bins that have been placed too close to the home.
Harborage areas including ivy, wood piles, trash, loose metal and clutter especially next to a home.
Grass and shrubbery that has grown wild or excessively long.
Tree branches next to home that have not been cut at least 10 feet away from the roof line.
Chicken coops, because they provide easy food, shelter, and warmth for rodents.
These are the first steps you should take to get the rat out of your house.
The first thing that has to be done is to clean out and sanitize the problem area. A cleanout must be done before other treatment to ensure rodents do not reinhabit the area. It also is necessary so that disease and sickness are not spread to people in the home.
To reduce rodent activity a team effort with the homeowner’s help is necessary. Conducive conditions must be minimized while treating for rodents. Insight Pest Solutions will then identify areas that exclusion must take place. This is the process of keeping rodents out of structures in our homes. Areas that need attention may include garage doors, vents, conduit’s, pipes, windows, and anywhere else with an opening to the home.
A combination of traps and bait is a critical step to combat rodents. Trapping allows you to see what has been caught and allows for easy disposal. Baiting is a great way to help reduce rodent activity on the exterior of the home as long as there’s no competitive food source.
Roof Rats (also known as black rats) This rat will go down in infamy as the carrier of the plague, even though it was technically the fleas on the rat. This rat ranges from colors of brownish gray to black in color. They spend most of their time climbing than on solid ground. They can be identified by their sharp ears and noses and easily identified by their tails which are at least as long as their bodies
The Norway Rat is more robust than the Roof Rat. The Norway rat is not much of a climber but stick to the ground. They will dig burrows under obstacles making it easier to identify if these burrows are found. Norway rats have ears and noses that are blunted down and small in comparison to the roof rat and its tail is shorter than its body.
The common house mouse is small in size, generally about 3 1/2 inches. Its colors range from grey to brownish. They have a slightly pointed nose, with its tail about the same size of its body.
We have the professional knowledge, tools, and experience to get your home rodent free. We can come out for a free inspection and identify the problem you are facing with rats or mice. We will work with you to build a plan of action that will rid your home of the pest.
Get your free quote now or give us a call today!