Mice, Rats, and Bats: Get Them Under Control

Think you have a pest problem? It is fairly easy to determine if mice, rats, or bats are inhabiting your home; their droppings and the noise will indicate if your home is infested. Take care of the issue swiftly and effectively with a pest control professional to prevent the property and health damage that an infestation can cause. 

Mice

If you spot a mouse in your home, you may already have an infestation. Mice carry diseases as well as fleas and ticks; their urine and droppings can cause respiratory illness with prolonged exposure. If you suspect you have a mouse (or more) in your house, don’t delay calling an exterminator- mice can reproduce very quickly!  

The best ways to prevent a mouse sighting from becoming an infestation are:

• Clean your home thoroughly. Get rid of any food, trash, or debris that could be attracting mice.
• Seal cracks around windows and doors. Use caulking or wads of steel wool to deter mice from gaining entry.
• Pick up and cover your pets’ food dishes at night. Prevent your pet food from becoming a food source for pests.

Talk to your exterminator about the most humane way to rid your home of mice quickly.

Rats

There are a few stages to successful rat removal: inspect, seal, trap, and listen. The key to getting rid of rats is to first seal any and all points of entry and trap later-on. There is no point in wasted efforts trapping rats when you leave holes and gaps for them to continue to enter the home.

Don’t believe the hype about holistic tactics like mothballs or ammonia getting rid of rats; seal your cracks, crevices, and call an exterminator.

Other Rodents

There are a lot more rodents to be concerned with than mice and rats; the rodent family includes other gnawing mammals that can easily gain access, infiltrate, and infest your home and yard this summer. Some rodents to watch for include:

• Squirrels
• Porcupines
• Voles
• Gophers
• Beavers

Even if these rodents don’t gain access inside your home, they can wreak havoc outside gnawing, chewing, and digging around your property. Call a professional exterminator for help.

Bats

Brown bats are quite common in homes across the nation. They are typically found in barns or attics, as they nest where it is dark and sheltered. Bats live in colonies of 20 to several hundred, so if you see one in your attic or crawlspace, you could have a lot more. Bats can carry rabies and may attack when under stress, so don’t try to remove bats without the assistance of a pest control professional.

Keeping bats out of the home is easier than getting rid of them:

• Seal up any cracks or gaps. Openings could provide entry to bats. Use caulking to seal up anything bigger than a half-inch.
• Screen in your pool and outdoor living area. Outdoor structures could also provide refuge for bats.
• Rid your attic of bats. If you notice bats taking up residence on your porches or decks, it could indicate that they are also inside the home. . If you remove the ones indoors, the ones outside will move on.
• Trap bats during the day. Bats are most active at night. During the daytime, they are often hanging around sleeping; this is key when trapping bats.

Remember that time is of the essence when it comes to pests. The faster you call an exterminator or wildlife removal expert and address the issue, the less likely there will be a full-blown infestation.

Seeing the signs of rodents or bats? Call the pest control specialists at Craig & Sons Termite & Pest Control, Inc to prevent pest problems fast. An infestation can occur quickly; call the pest professionals today.