Species Of Rats That Live In Phoenix
Two species of rats are native to Phoenix, roof rats, and Norway rats. Of these two furry pests, Norway rats are the most common, and roof rats are the most dexterous. Norway rats are also slightly bigger and have light brown to brown fur, where roof rats are smaller, more mouse-like, and brown to black. Beyond these few differences, almost everything else about these pests is the same, including their sharp teeth, agility, and high intelligence. They use these distinct advantages to find clever ways into area homes, including chewing through walls, squeezing through cracks, gaps, and openings, and looking for open windows or doors to crawl through.
The Problems That Come With Rats
There are three main categories of problems that pests pose: annoyance, destruction, and danger. Rats somehow manage to do all three.
These pests chew through walls, gnaw on furniture, rip up insulation, tear through books, and damage more important things such as electrical wires and utility pipes using their sharp teeth. The damage they cause can lead to serious problems such as leaks that cause water damage, electrical shorts, and even spark fires.
With the filth they carry on and inside of them, rats spread dangerous diseases, including salmonellosis, rat-bite fever, hantavirus, leptospirosis, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis. In addition, rats regularly carry fleas and ticks into homes. These smaller parasitic pests also carry diseases that they can spread to humans and animals.
Finally, rats are annoying. Not only are these pests nocturnal and make noise late at night, but they also love invading pantries and chewing holes in boxes of food. If you have ever had to throw away half of your stored food because of a rodent infestation, you already have a good idea of how frustrating this is. Instead of throwing away food, discover more about home and commercial pest control.
Some Effective Ways To Prevent Rats
When looking to keep rats out of your home, your goal should be to limit their access to entry points, food, and water. To do this, here are some helpful prevention steps we recommend.
- Use some steel wool and caulk to fill in holes, gaps, and cracks in your home's exterior foundation.
- Reduce the clutter in and around your house.
- Eliminate debris from your yard and property.
- Make sure your window and door screens are in good working order.
- Install door sweeps under all exterior doors.
- Inspect your gutters to make sure they are clean and damage-free.
- Pick up food messes and drink spills as they occur around your home.
- Store leftovers and packaged foods in rodent-proof containers.
- Invest in tight-fitting lids for your trash cans.
Because of the many threats rats pose, it is unwise to try and eliminate them on your own. To get these furry invaders off your Phoenix property without putting you or your family at risk, contact the experts at Arizona's Exterminator Company, LLC to learn more about our thorough rodent control options. We will take the necessary steps needed to remove these pests from your home and put some defensive measures in place to make sure rats stay out in the future.
Learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control services.