Ridding Your Home and Outside Buildings of Rats

Being scared of a house mouse is nothing compared to being in a dark barn with a hissing rat. Brevard County, Florida, surrounding areas, and several other states have dealt with rat infestations on every level possible, from a few to a few hundred. Seeing a single rat could mean that there are others, or that the food source dried up and that single rat is searching for a new place to rehome itself and possibly many of its family members. A single rat can be easily caught and done away with, but a family of rats can be a little more challenging and require professional assistance.

Inspecting for Rats

You can complete a home inspection to find out if you have a rat or two, or you can call in a professional. The difference between doing it yourself and hiring someone to do it for you is that the person you hire is well trained in what to look for. They could even discover another type of infestation that you had previously overlooked. A few signs that there might be rats present in your home, shed, or lawn is their droppings, gnaw marks, burrowing holes, urine stains, odors, tracks, and the obvious, actually seeing a dead rat or a live one scamper.

Methods of Extermination

Depending on who lives in your home, you may opt out of using a method that could potentially harm someone or a pet who comes in contact with it. Some extermination methods may work wonderfully for your next door neighbor, but would not be a good choice for you.

Rat Traps: Traps are normally the first go-to item for a do-it-yourself person. However, sometimes they are not always successful in catching multiple rats. Placing out more than one trap can help, but in the event of an infestation contacting a professional is recommended.

Glue Traps: These traps are placed where the rats are feeding. The “glue” on the board or trap works well in creating a trap that the average rat cannot get out of. They become stuck to the board or trap and eventually perish. Therefore, these traps must be checked frequently.

Rodenticide Bait: This bait can be very dangerous if around small children or pets. This bait should never be inside the home, or near the base of the home. It works well in barns, away from animals and other living things that you wish to stay alive. Be cautious when using this or allowing this method to be used by an exterminator.

If you are still unsure as to which method you would prefer to use, contact a professional and discuss the different options of each method you found acceptable. They will be able to point you in the right direction, or help you by doing it for you at an affordable price.