Owning a property brings with it a number of worries and concerns, usually dependent on location and maintenance.  At one time or another every homeowner worries about rodents near the property or worse a home rat infestation. There are a number of things to do in order to prevent any kind of rodent intrusion in your home. Read on to learn the things to avoid in your home and the things to do when a rodent enters uninvited.

Why Do Rats Start Appearing in Your House?

If you ever tried to keep rats away from your house, you are not alone. Homeowners and landlords all around the world constantly struggle with rodents entering their properties.

With an exceptional talent for hiding and their small posture, rats and mice can stay hidden from our view for weeks, months, or even years. No matter if it is winter or summer, these lurking creatures always seem to find a way to get indoors.

A home rat infestation is nothing to scoff at. Rodents of all kinds pose a threat not only to your home but also to your health. Rats can spread disease through their droppings and urine, create a fire threat by gnawing at electric cables, and steal your food.

In this article, you will find what attracts rats and how you can secure your home from these pesky animals. Let’s get started:

What Attracts Rats To Your House

If mice and rats frequently visit your home, before you call for rat control in Las Vegas or see an exterminator in your local area, find the source of your problem. By understanding why rodents come to your house, you will have an easier time choosing the right long-term solution. Here are a few things that can attract rats to your household:

Put away food to avoid a home rat infestation

Every rat, like any other organism on earth, needs food to survive. Although rodents are not too picky regarding their menu, they can be easily attracted to food like peanut butter or raisin bread. Check your kitchen, maybe you left a jar of peanut butter open? Exposed food can easily lead to a home rat infestation.

Shelter

It’s not only humans that hide when it rains or it’s cold. A rat or mouse is likely to want to escape snow or rain just as well. Unfortunately, in order to do this, they often invade our basements and roof spaces.

Warmth

Since all rodents are warm-blooded animals, they instinctively look for warm places to build their nest. When the temperature inside your home is much higher than outside, it is an invitation for all the local rats and mice to visit it.

Safety

When out in the wild, every mouse must stay vigilant, or it will die. Sometimes, one wrong move can bring predators into the nest and doom the whole colony. Inside the walls of your home, rats can find protection from their enemies and live in relative safety.

A search for comfort drives a home rat infestation

A rat that has found a safe spot indoors can live a comfortable life. It has easy access to food and water, does not have to worry about harsh weather conditions or predators, and does not need to go out of its way to find necessary resources to make its nest.

How To Protect Your House From Rats

Pest control is the ultimate solution to any home rat infestation. Nevertheless, it would help if you thought about prevention instead of solely relying on temporary treatments. Luckily, with only a few minor adjustments, you can protect your home from mice invasion. Here is how you can do it:

• Place some traps: Wooden base snap traps are widely used to deal with pests. They are a reliable and proven solution that will scare off the rodents.
• Check for holes: Rats can gnaw through wood, insulation, and even soft metals. Look for signs of damage on your walls. Additionally, do not forget to have a peek behind your furniture, especially before winter, as many rodents desperately look for food and shelter in fall.
• Inspect your plants: If you have large potted plants, make sure to carefully inspect them as rats like to use them as hiding spots.
• Keep your house locked: Doors, windows, and vents serve as excellent entry points for pests. If you constantly leave your windows and doors open, you will struggle to keep rats away from your home.
• Secure your food: Even when you have not located any signs of rats, consider storing your dry goods and pet food in sealed containers. This way, you can prevent a noisy mouse from being lured into your kitchen.
• Do some cleaning: Whenever your bin is full of trash, you create an open invitation to every mouse in your neighborhood. Instead of waiting around for it to clean itself, empty it immediately. You should also remove rubbish piles from your yard and keep every room in your home clean and tidy. If you do this correctly, you will immediately notice tooth marks, holes, and other warning signals before your pest situation spins out of control.

A final word on a home rat infestation

Now you know what factors cause rodents to invade your home and what you can do about it. As soon as you spot signs of rat activity in your home, contact pest control in your local area to quickly eliminate the issue. Additionally, never underestimate the power of preventive measures.

Remember to inspect your walls closely. Moreover, try to keep your house as clean as possible and place a few traps around it. By doing this, you will be less likely to encounter mice in your home.

Keep in mind that every rat ultimately looks for a safe and comfortable place to stay. If you cause it some problems, it will usually learn its lesson and move along. Good luck!

FURTHER READING ON PETS AND PET SITTING

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