Rats are disgusting rodents that commonly invade homes and businesses in Westchester County. These filthy creatures will chew through every wall in your home and destroy almost any object it comes into contact with.
At Parkway Pest Services, we understand the unique challenges of residential rat control in Westchester County. These sneaky little creatures will come into your home and hide behind your walls and other hard-to-see areas. Some people think that eliminating rats is a difficult task. But our experienced technicians know the quick and easy way to make your home rat-free.
Understanding Rat Behavior: Insights For Effective Rat Control
In Westchester County, you will likely encounter either a roof or a Norway rat. The Norway rat, also known as the sewer rat, is one of the most common types of home-invading rats in West Chester County. They can fit through small gaps and cracks around your home that are only about a half-inch wide. They have sharp teeth that can easily gnaw through siding, wood, and drywall to enter your home. The roof rat can also chew through wood and other hard materials. However, instead of looking for potential entry points in crawl spaces and other areas close to the ground, roof rats will typically find small gaps on the roof to squeeze through.
Once the rats get inside your home, they will look for a dark place to hide. Usually, this is inside your attic or behind the walls of your home. They are generally nocturnal and run around your house for food and water. During the day, they stay inside their hiding spot, sleeping and reproducing. On average, rats can give birth to over 80 babies a year. Once a rat invades your home, you could have a severe rat infestation in a matter of weeks; this is why comprehensive rat control is so important.
Health Risks Posed By Rats: Understanding The Hazards To Humans
Rat extermination is essential because it can cause a lot of property damage to your home. They will not only destroy the furniture, walls, clothing, and other objects in your home but also chew on the electrical wires behind your walls and your electronic devices, which can ruin the devices and potentially cause a fire.
Rats can also ruin the food in your kitchen. They will use their sharp teeth and claws to tear through cereal boxes, bags of chips, and other food packages. They can contaminate your food and home with diseases, including leptospirosis, salmonellosis, rat-bite fever, tularemia, and trichinosis. Rats also carry fleas and ticks on their body, which could create a secondary infestation in your house.
Rat Prevention Tips: Eliminating Attractants And Sealing Entry Points
Rats will try to enter your home during the fall when their food and water supply outside becomes scarce, but they can invade your home anytime. Some of the rat control and prevention steps that you can take to keep these destructive rodents out of your home include:
- Use steel wool or a metal screen to block any potential entry points.
- Keep a lockable lid on your outdoor trash cans.
- Store all your dry food in a metal or glass container with a sealable lid.
You should also fix any leaky pipes or other moisture issues as soon as possible. Don't place stacks of firewood near your home.
Call The Rat Control Experts: Ensuring Safe And Effective Elimination
At Parkway Pest Services, our Westchester County rat control specialists can eliminate the rats from your home for good. Give us a call today for professional rat removal.