Nobody wants unexpected rodents in their home. Whether they're mice or rats, rodents cause problems for homeowners and families. Once an infestation is identified, you'll need to find the best treatment option. That's Bay Pest. Our Bay Area pest control includes keeping mice and rats out of your home so you can breathe easy.
Identifying A Rodent Problem In Your Home
There are three types of rodents that are commonly found in Bay Area homes: roof rats, Norway rats, and house mice. Rats can be distinguished from mice because they are much bigger and have more elongated bodies; mice are small and round. Besides seeing a rodent, there are several signs you can look for to identify an infestation. These include:
- Gnaw or tooth marks around the home
- Rod-shaped rat or mouse droppings
- Oily marks from their fur rubbing against surfaces
- Damage to food products or packaging
- Footprints that have four toes on front feet and five on hind feet
- Scratching noises coming from the walls or attic
Rodents like to hide and are elusive, so you may not see them at first. That's why it's important to be on the lookout for these other signs. Rodents will make their presence known even when they stay out of sight.
The Damage And Dangers Rodents Can Create In Your Home
Unfortunately, rodents are known to carry many diseases. They often get into food, which can lead to contamination. They spread leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, salmonellosis, jaundice, and many other illnesses. Rats can bring extra pests with them, such as ticks and fleas, which you definitely don't want inside your home.
In addition to disease and parasites, rodents can cause damage to your house. They have strong teeth and will chew through whatever they can –cardboard or plastic food packaging, electrical cables, drywall, wood – you name it. They can also cause damage as they build nests, which may be inside the walls of your home. It's important to catch and treat rodent infestations as early as possible to limit the damage they cause to your home.
Why DIY Rodent Control Is A Waste Of Time And Money
Rodents are some of the most common household pests, but they're difficult to eliminate. They are excellent at climbing and hiding, which makes them hard to notice until they've established colonies. And that doesn't always take long – rodents breed very quickly, with each litter producing between five and fifteen babies. Rodent colonies get big fast, which is why they need to be taken care of even faster.
But do-it-yourself home remedies don't always catch the whole infestation. Whether you use snap or live traps, they need to be closely monitored and reset often. Unless you catch every rodent, they'll continue growing their colony. Plus, certain products can be dangerous if not handled properly, especially when used around the home. For the health and safety of your family, it's important that rodent control is handled by professionals.
You can, however, use do-it-yourself procedures to prevent rodent infestations in the first place. Rodent prevention and exclusion centers on making your home inaccessible and inhospitable for rodents. You can do this by:
- Sealing any cracks or holes larger than a quarter inch.
- Storing as much food as possible in solid, airtight containers rather than flimsy packaging.
- Disposing of garbage properly, which may include installing animal-proof lids.
- Using strongly scented products around the home.
Rodents – especially mice – are able to squeeze into tight spaces, so it's important that any potential entry points are sealed over or otherwise repaired. Food in solid, airtight containers isn't accessible to rodents, and they won't be attracted to it if they aren't able to smell it. Garbage cans are a huge attraction to rodents, so keeping garbage secure is a great way to keep them away in general. Rodents typically rely on their sense of smell, so one prevention tip is to overwhelm that sense. Spraying peppermint oil, vinegar, or other strong scents can repel mice and rats.
These tricks work best before rodents even try to invade your home. But if there's already an ongoing infestation, the best way to get rid of rodents is to call a professional pest control team.
Contact Bay Pest For The Best Rodent Prevention And Control
Bay Pest uses an Integrated Pest Management system designed not only to get rid of infestations but to keep them from reoccurring. On our first visit, we'll run a thorough inspection, looking for any signs of rodents. That, plus your own observations, will help us create a treatment plan that will work for your home. We work to keep your home and family safe, and that means keeping rodents out. Call Bay Pest today to learn more about our rodent control options.