The Norway Rat Struggle: Getting Rid Of These Pesky Rats In South Bend
Norway rats are one of the most destructive rodent species in the U.S., burrowing and gnawing through properties all over the country. The voracious omnivores utilize their excellent climbing skills to gain access to your home in search of food and breeding sites. The rats can spread disease-causing pathogens, sickness, and even housefires by chewing through your wiring.
Contact a South Bend pest control company immediately if you notice capsule-shaped droppings or gnaw marks around your home. Professional pest exterminators can carry out whole-home inspections to identify the colony hideouts and develop a rat eradication plan.
Where Do Norway Rats Like To Hide?
Managing the pesky pests begins by discovering the potential hiding spots within your Southbend home. Outdoors, the rats love to dig underground barrows below your house foundations, under stones, terraces, and woodpiles.
The rodents’ agile bodies allow them to gain entry into your home through tiny holes, similar in size to a quarter. They may hide inside your home in some key spots, including:
- Cramped basements
- Crawl spaces
- Attics
- Drains and Sewers
- Inside the walls
If you spot any signs of rats in your South Bend home, contact pest control in South Bend for quick, effective rat elimination.
Is It Possible To Have A Rat-Free Home Without Killing Them?
While most households would love to see the rat infestation gone, some may be uncomfortable with killing rats with traps and poison. It’s possible to get rid of rats through home remedies that don’t involve condemning the colony to death.
Peppermint oil for rats is one of the most effective home remedies. The rodents cannot stand the strong smells of the essential oils. You can also use citronella and castor oils as alternatives. Ammonia and sliced onions are also excellent repellants.
Five Ways To Deter Norway Rats
Deterring the rodents from your home is a more humane way to get rid of rats. Here are five rodent control tips to help keep the vermin out of your South Bend house.
1. Eliminate Food Supplies
Cleaning up your countertops immediately after spillage can reduce access to food sources for the rats. Empty your pet’s food and water bowls after nightfall. Additionally, you can store your food in air-tight, sealed containers to keep them out of the rats’ reach. Seal your garbage bins to make them pest-proof.
2. Remove Clutter
Disorganization in your storage spaces provides Norway rats with a safe habitat to feed and breed. Eliminate the unneeded cardboard boxes in your attic and basements. Keep your yard clutter-free to deter rats from your exteriors.
3. Block Entryways
You may need to closely inspect your façade and sidings for any holes that the Norway rats may exploit. Seal any cracks and crevices in your structure. You can also bolster your defenses with stronger screens for your chimneys and vents that the rats can’t chew through.
4. Use Natural Smells
You can use smells rats hate to deter them from invading your home. Bobcat or fox urine for rats are common deterrents. Peppermints, citronella, and castor oil can also work.
5. Adopt A Cat
You can also have a cat patrol an area infested with Norway rats. The predator’s scent can scare off the rodents, abandoning the rats' nest for a safer neighborhood.
Total Norway Rat Control For South Bend Residents
Trying to tackle the rat infestation alone can be overwhelming. The best way to get rid of rats in the house is by consulting a home pest control company in South Bend.
At Termishield Termite & Pest Protection, we can carry out a comprehensive home inspection to identify the scope of the infestation. We offer effective treatment remedies and preventive measures to keep your South Bend home rat-free.
Tags: rodent control | south bend pest control | signs of rats |
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