Rats can be an Ogden pest control nightmare. These rodents spread disease, destroy property, introduce secondary infestations of other pests, and generally make your life miserable. It's vital to understand the signs of a rat infestation and promptly take action to get rid of rats as soon as you realize you have them.
Read on to learn how dangerous these pests are and how Mountain West Pest Control can help remedy a rat infestation on your property.
The Types Of Rats That Invade Ogden Properties
We have several types of rats in Ogden that give homeowners grief. Rats common in Utah include Norway rats, black rats, kangaroo rats, and desert rats. Norway rats are the most prevalent type of rat in our area. These medium-sized, brownish-gray rodents have become somewhat dependent on humans, especially in areas that have hostile climates. Regardless of the species, all rats pose dangers to your property and health, making it crucial to keep them away.
The Dangers And Damage Rats Can Create On Your Property
Mice or rats pose tremendous dangers to your health, your pets’ health, and your property. Rats have a reputation for being vectors of disease; they contaminate pretty much everything they touch. They smear germs with their filthy feet and shed dirty hairs on surfaces, and they’re not shy about leaving droppings in your food stores. These nasty behaviors expose you and your family to illnesses. Salmonella, leptospirosis, and hantavirus are all diseases spread by rats, and each infection causes a bundle of harsh symptoms, such as fever, diarrhea, fatigue, and abdominal pain.
Rats can also indirectly spread other diseases by infecting your home with secondary infestations. As wild animals, rats carry all kinds of parasites, including fleas and ticks. A rat infestation can introduce a breeding population of fleas and ticks onto your property, which can expose you to diseases like plague, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Rats can also infect your pets with fleas if you don’t treat them with flea preventatives.
Besides disease, rats also cause property damage, and rodent damage is one of the main signs of rats. Like all rodents, rats have to grind down their constantly-growing teeth. That means they’ll chew on anything, even plumbing pipes, electrical wiring, and anything that stands in between them and food. Moreover, rats often rip up insulation and furniture stuffing and use them as nesting material, ruining the appearance of your home's interior.
Why Rats Are So Hard To Get Rid Of On Your Own
If you have mice or rats, they can be a torment to eliminate. Snap traps only kill one at a time and are not enough when dealing with a sizeable infestation. Poisons, too, are inefficient because they work slow and give vermin time to breed reinforcements. Besides how poorly they work, over-the-counter control products will force you to pick up and dispose of the rats that manage to die. This means you'll not only be exposed to germs from live rats but also the germs on rotting rats when removing them yourself. All these factors make professional help necessary to eradicate a rat problem.
The Safe And Effective Way To Get Rid Of Rats On Your Property
If you see signs of rats, it’s vital to contact Ogden pest control professionals right away to avoid prolonging property damage and exposure to the diseases spread by rats. Here at Mountain West Pest Control, our home pest control treatments are reliable and will help you get a handle on your rat infestation. Call us or visit our contact page to schedule your inspection today!