Have you ever heard the saying, ‘It’s raining cats and dogs?’ People have speculated for decades about where this fun verbiage originated. One entertaining belief is that this saying came from a time where rats would crawl through thatch roofs being chased by cats and dogs. All of this weight would cause a collapse, hence the term. Seeing that our roofs are much more sturdy nowadays, this saying is a whole lot less practical. The only problem is, our roofs’ stability hasn’t stopped pests like rats from sneaking indoors. If you need a fast way to control these pests inside your Tulsa home, here are a few things to consider.
How Rats Invade Homes
There are two ways that rats get into homes. The first is by finding large enough entry points and squeezing their way inside. The other is by chewing away at wood, soft building materials, and vinyl siding to create entry points. Some species of rats, like roof rats, will climb the exterior of homes and look for open windows, damaged siding, gaps in rooflines, and unprotected chimneys to get indoors. All of this is to say, rats don’t find it difficult to break into area homes. All they need to get inside is a reason to invade.
The Dangers Rats Pose
Rats are a lot more than just scary-looking pests. They are also incredibly dangerous. The main way rats endanger humans is with the many diseases they can carry. They spread disease-causing organisms through their fecal droppings, urine, and off their bodies. Some of the most common diseases you might contract from rats are hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, tularemia, and salmonellosis.
In addition to carrying disease-causing pathogens, rats also carry disease-causing pests like fleas and ticks. These small blood-feeding pests are responsible for spreading sicknesses including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, the plague, and ehrlichiosis.
The Destructive Nature Of Rats
Spreading diseases is not the only problem rats cause. These pests are also incredibly destructive. One way rats damage homes and properties are with their teeth. If you didn’t know, a rat’s incisors are strong enough to gnaw through wood, plastic, and even materials like soft concrete and aluminum siding. It is not uncommon for these pests to chew holes through walls, boxes of food storage containers, and siding, nibble on furniture, and tear apart insulation, books, and fabrics.
Strategies To Prevent Rats
If your end goal is to keep rats out of your home, we have some things you should hear. For starters, here are some practical DIY prevention tips to use around your Tulsa home.
- Use a caulking gun and some steel wool to fill in holes, gaps, and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation.
- Repair damage to window/door screens, weatherstripping, and door sweeps.
- Address moisture issues in and around your home.
- Thoroughly clean your living areas and do your best to keep up with food messes and drink spills as they occur.
- Make sure your trash cans have tight-fitting lids.
- Clean up after your pets and wash out their food and water bowls after every meal.
One Secret To Rat Control
Want to know our secret to getting and keeping rats out of area homes? Professional pest control services. When you partner with the experts at Montgomery Exterminating, you gain access to high-quality rodent control services. Our team uses state-of-the-art equipment and modern pest control strategies to trap and prevent troublesome rats.
Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive rodent control service options or to find a time to have your Tulsa home inspected for rats.
