There are many different types of rodents that live here in San Marcos. We have large rodents, medium rodents, and small rodents. Thankfully, most of the larger rodents in our area do not have a habit of invading our homes. In truth, it is the medium and small rodents you should be most worried about. One medium rodent that regularly invades homes in our area is the rat. This invasive and problematic house pest will not just damage your property but will also threaten you, your family, and your pets with sickness. To make sure rats stay outside where they belong, here are some methods to prevent these pests and tips on how to get rid of them if they get indoors.
Why Rats Invade Homes
Rats prefer to live in areas that provide easy access to food, water, and shelter. They find these resources outdoors by feeding on things like fruits, seeds, and berries, drinking out of puddles, ponds, and pools, and hiding under trees, rocks, and other secluded areas. The kicker is that these necessities are usually difficult to find and hard to acquire because of the constant threat of attack from other larger predatory animals. When rats get indoors, staying alive and thriving becomes easier. To find food, they chew through boxes of pantry food and eat scraps out of trash cans, off counters, and on the floor. To find water, they sip moisture out of sinks, bathtubs, and leaky pipes and fixtures. Finally, to find shelter, rats hide inside wall and ceiling voids and secluded areas like attics, basements, and storage areas. In short, rats have a lot of reasons to want to be inside your home.
Does DIY Work To Eliminate Rats?
We are not against you using DIY to control rats inside your home. We are, however, against you using dangerous rodenticides and store-bought solutions that don’t work. If you are looking for a quick way to remove a new rat infestation from your home and don’t want to waste your money or put your family at risk, here is what we recommend you do.
- Purchase some quality snap traps designed for rats.
- Purchase a can of peanut butter.
- Use the peanut butter to bait the traps.
- Place the traps under your skins, in the back of your pantry, and in other areas that suspect rats are traveling, where you, your family, or your pets will not accidentally set them off.
- Check traps for two weeks, safely disposing of any dead rats you find.
- If your problem is not solved, consider hiring a pest control professional.
The Reason You Should Choose Professional Rodent Control
There is only so much you can do on your own to control rats. As these pests reproduce inside living areas, infestations quickly grow to the point where DIY methods won’t work. If you are worried that this has already happened inside your San Marcos home, turn to the pest control experts at Daniel Pest Control for rodent control services you can trust. Our team uses advanced solutions to help homeowners find freedom from invasive rodents and we offer long-term options to defend your home against a wide range of annoying, dangerous, and destructive pests like rats. All you have to do is reach out to us today. We will talk you through our comprehensive pest service options for your home, answer any questions you have, and schedule a time to have your San Marcos property inspected and potentially treated for rats.