Rat Pest Control Archives - J&J Exterminating

Posts Tagged ‘Rat Pest Control’

Keeping Rodents Out This Fall With J&J Exterminating

As the leaves begin to change and temperatures start to drop, you might find that you’re not the only one seeking a cozy space to spend the fall. Rodents such as mice and rats are also on the lookout for warm places to nestle in, and your home could be their prime target. Fortunately, J&J Exterminating is here to help you keep these unwelcome guests out this fall.

Why Rodent Control Matters

Rodents are more than just a nuisance. They can:

Damage Property: Rodents chew on wires, insulation, and even structural parts of your home, leading to costly repairs.
Spread Diseases: Diseases like Hantavirus, Salmonella, and Leptospirosis can be transmitted through rodent droppings and urine.
Contaminate Food: Rodents can infiltrate your pantry and contaminate food supplies, leading to waste and potential health risks.

Key Tips for Rodent-Proofing Your Home

1. Seal Entry Points

Rodents can squeeze through remarkably small openings. Inspect your home for gaps, cracks, and holes, and seal them with materials like steel wool, caulk, or metal sheeting. Pay extra attention to:

Doors and windows
Roof vents and eaves
Utility pipes and wiring entry points

2. Keep Food Secure

Store food in airtight containers and clean up spills immediately. Don’t forget to secure pet food and birdseed, which can also attract rodents.

3. Maintain Yard Cleanliness

Keep your yard clean and tidy to reduce hiding spots for rodents. Trim back tree branches and shrubs that are close to your home, and dispose of garden waste promptly.

4. Eliminate Water Sources

Rodents need water to survive. Fix leaky faucets, and ensure that your gutters and drainage systems are working properly to avoid standing water.

5. Use Traps and Baits

Strategically place traps and baits around areas where you suspect rodent activity. Be sure to follow safety guidelines and keep them out of reach of children and pets.

Why Choose J&J Exterminating?

J&J Exterminating has been a trusted name in pest control for years, offering:

Expertise and Experience: Our team of certified professionals uses the latest techniques and products to effectively control rodent populations.
Customized Solutions: We tailor our rodent control strategies to fit the unique needs of your home and environment.
Preventative Measures: Beyond eliminating current infestations, we focus on preventive measures to ensure long-term protection.

Don’t wait until you see the telltale signs of a rodent infestation. Take proactive steps this fall to protect your home and family from these unwanted intruders. Contact J&J Exterminating today to schedule an inspection and take the first step towards a rodent-free home.

Ready to secure your home? Contact J&J Exterminating today and keep rodents out for good!

Signs You Have a Norway Rat Infestation

As a homeowner, protecting your family and property from potential harm is always a top priority. One of the most common pests that invade homes is the Norway Rat. These rodents are notorious for causing damage to homes, contaminating food sources, and spreading diseases. It is essential to recognize the signs of a Norway rat infestation so you can take necessary steps to eliminate them from your property. In this blog post, we will explore the signs you have a Norway rat infestation and how you can eradicate them.

Seeing the Rats

The most obvious sign you have a Norway rat infestation is actually seeing the rats in and around your home. Norway rats are typically larger than other rat species, and they have coarse brown fur. They are known for their burrowing habits and will often create nests in attics, basements, and crawl spaces. If you see rats running across your yard or within your home, it’s time to call pest control.

Droppings

If you don’t see the rats themselves, another common sign of a Norway rat infestation is their droppings. Their feces are typically pointed at one end and blunt at the other. You may find them around your food storage areas, near walls or in eaves, and in the corners of your home. Be careful when cleaning up droppings, as they can carry diseases harmful to humans.

Gnaw Marks

Norway rats have to constantly gnaw to keep their incisors sharp. Therefore, evidence of gnaw marks can also be a sign of a rat infestation. Check for bite marks on wooden surfaces, wires, and plastic containers. If you have experienced damage to the wiring of your home, it is also possible that the rats are the cause of it.

Strange Noises

Rats are nocturnal creatures, meaning they are most active at night. Hearing strange noises, such as scratching, scurrying, or rustling, in your walls or attic during the night can be another sign of a Norway rat infestation. Rats can also create a lot of noise while burrowing, which can be heard during the day as well.

Damage to Food Sources

Norway rats will eat anything from grains to meat. If you notice that boxes of food or bags have been gnawed or torn, it could be a sign of a rat infestation that is targeting your food sources. Norway rats like to store food near their nests, so it also worth checking in and around storage areas for signs of food hoarding.

If you notice any of the above signs, it is important to contact a professional pest control specialist immediately. Norway rats can cause an immense amount of damage to your home and can spread harmful diseases to your family. Taking steps to prevent a rat infestation is crucial to keeping your home and family safe. Remember, prevention is key when it comes to Norway rats, so make sure to keep your home clean, store food properly, and seal any potential entry points to avoid them from ever coming back.

How To Deal With Dead Rats

If you have a rat infestation and you lay down traps or poisons, you will probably have to deal with dead rats at some point in the future. Removing these rats safely is essential, since not only can they carry diseases even when they’re dead, they can also be a health hazard to other animals if they have died from poison. In this article, we’re going to tell you how to safely remove dead rats from your home.

Tools and equipment you will need

Needless to say, you cannot just pick up the dead rat with your bare hands and then throw it away. You want to make sure that you are as safe as possible and that you will not be affected by diseases that can be spread either through contact, or through the air. For this, you will need a pair of latex or rubber gloves, some respiratory protection such as a dust mask or a respirator, some plastic bags, and a trash bin.

Getting rid of rats safely

If the dead rat is caught in one of your traps, you can reuse the trap after you remove the rat, but you have to be careful not to touch it with your bare hands. Not only does the trap have bacteria on it, you will also leave your scent, which will tip most rats off and make them keep their distance.

The body should be placed in a plastic bag, along with any nesting materials and droppings that you may find, after which you will need to seal the back tightly. Throw the bag inside of a sealed trash bin and take it outside of your home. Make sure that you also throw the gloves away after you are done. Finally, thoroughly wash your hands.

Rats trapped in hard to reach areas

When using poisons, you have very little control over where a rat dies, and it may end up in the wall, or the body may be hard to find. This is why it’s usually best to talk to a pest control specialist who will not only poison the rats, but retrieve the dead bodies after the control process is complete. If you would like to know more about what this service entails, or if you have a rat infestation and you need some help getting rid of it, contact us today.

The Adaptable Norway Rat

The Norway rat is famous around the world, and in the US, we also know it as the brown rat, common rat, sewer rat and city rat, among others. Its scientific name is Rattus norvegicus, and it is considered a pest that often lives in human settlements. Norway rats are known for invading properties, causing damage, spreading disease and attacking food supplies.

Not actually Norwegian

Despite the name, the Norway rat is not actually a species that originated in Norway. It is a species that is native to Asia, but it reached England from Norway in the 18th century, and so the English started calling it the Norway rat. The rodent actually reached Europe via Russia from Asia centuries before that, with remains being found in archeological sites that date back as far as the 14th century.

The life of the Norway rat

These rodents are extremely adaptable. They are found on nearly every land environment on the planet with the exception of the tundra, the desert, and polar ice. This adaptability comes from their physical resilience and omnivorous diet. However, one thing that you apparently do not need to be a survivor is good eyesight. The Norway rat has very poor vision and is colorblind, but it uses its other senses to compensate for this, along with an agility that allows these rats to run, climb, jump and swim very quickly.

When not in a human settlement, these rodents will live in fields and farmlands. They will also nest in the soil near riverbanks, garbage heaps and railway embankments. However, when the food supply starts to dwindle in fall, the Norway rat will start looking for human settlements that it can infest.

The Norway rat, and rodents in general, are seen as filthy animals because of their propensity to live in sewers and dig through garbage. In these environments, they pick up pathogens, which they then spread to humans either by contaminating food, or by coming into contact with everyday objects. However, these rats prioritize grooming themselves, and according to their own standards, they are very clean animals.

When an infestation does occur in the home, the owner has several options including DIY and professional help. If you are familiar with DIY projects, you can attempt to get the infestation under control using rodenticides and traps. However, if the infestation is too large or if you are not very adept at dealing with rats, it’s best to call over a specialist. Contact us today if you have rat problems in your home.