Finding a mouse or rat in your house or Commercial building can be alarming, and you don’t have to have an unkempt home to end up with a mouse or rat in the house. Still, many people are embarrassed if they find a rat in the basement or a rat in the wall or ceiling and are hesitant to look for help.Because you need a professional pest exterminator to determine how the critters are getting in. This FAQs guide will give you answers to some of the most common questions about mouse and rat problems and extermination.
Mice and rats can live in almost any part of a building. You may find a mouse or rat in a ceiling, a wall, a crawlspace, a basement, an attic or even a closet. The most common sign of rodent infestation is mouse or rat feces. If you find small, pellet like waste in your home, there is a good chance you have a mouse or rat.
Do rodents cause structural damage?
Yes, even a single mouse or rat in a building can cause structural damage. Rodents have a compulsion to chew and will gnaw on whatever they can find. In addition to chewing wood framing and insulation, rats and mice may also gnaw holes into belongings that you have in storage.
Can rodents make me or my pets sick?
Unfortunately, a mouse or a rat could make you, your family members or your pet very sick. Rat diseases in particular are very serious. Many species of rats can carry potentially fatal illnesses like the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Fleas that make their homes on rats can also carry illnesses like meningitis. Adults, children, dogs and cats can all be made very ill by a rat or mouse in a home.
Can I trap a rat or mouse myself or do I need to hire a Pest Control pro?
You can buy traps to attempt to capture mice and rats, but handling even a dead mouse or rat can be dangerous due to the risk of germs. Public health experts typically advise against do-it-yourself rodent removal and instead advise those who suspect they have mouse or rat problems to seek out the help of a professional who has the right equipment to safely remove a rat or mouse. Exterminators can also determine if there is just one rodent in your home or if you may be dealing with a family of mice or rats.
Rodent infestations truly are a common problem and nothing to be ashamed of. Still, it’s important that you take steps to protect your family and pets by hiring a mouse or rat exterminator to take care of the problem. A pest control professional can assist with living and dead rat removal, finding the rat entry point and making rat repairs to damaged areas.
If you’re in the Seattle, Renton, Kent or Redmond areas, Seattle Exterminators is the rat pest control company to choose. With our years of experience, we know how best to handle all types of rodent infestations and will help with rat prevention and the repair of rat damage for you. For more information or to set up a mouse or rat inspection, call us today.