Generally nocturnal and suspicious rodents, rats prefer to nest and breed in quiet, safe, and undisturbed spaces that are close to steady sources of food and water. Unfortunately, the attic and walls of your Lake County home or business fit that description perfectly. An infestation of rats can quickly get out of hand. In fact, if just a few rats manage to access your property, they can breed rapidly and cause severe interior harm. Here are a few of the most common types of property damage caused by rats.
1. Chewed Wiring
Because of their constantly growing teeth, rats must abide by the ABCs of the rodent world, which evidently stands for “Always Be Chewing.” To wear down their teeth, rats will chew on anything including molding, wooden beams, and electrical wiring. Their destructive gnawing can create fire hazards and lead to costly repairs.
2. Contaminated Food
Rats are not picky eaters and can stealthily navigate your home in search of food. They’ll access your pantry, tear bags, and easily chew through cardboard boxes to get to your cereal, crackers, chips, cookies, and other items. They’ll also go for any non-refrigerated fruit left on counters, like apples, oranges, bananas, tomatoes, and avocados. Any contaminated food should be disposed of immediately as rat feces can transmit leptospirosis, salmonellosis, or rat-bite fever if ingested. If you notice rat droppings anywhere inside your property, store your dry goods in solid glass or plastic containers so they cannot be penetrated by hungry rats.
3. Soiled Walls and Floors
Wherever rats go, they will undoubtedly leave a trail of foul-smelling and unsanitary droppings. Their toxic feces and urine not only creates a disgusting mess, but it can also be a source of infectious disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), direct contact with rat urine or droppings can transmit diseases including:
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
- Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome
- Lassa Fever
- Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus
- Tularemia
Rats also have greasy fur to help them squeeze through small passageways. Their oily coats can leave dark smear marks along walls, floors, and near entry and exit points that are hard to scrub off.
4. Ruined Insulation
Attic and wall insulation makes ideal nesting material for rats as it provides a desirable amount of warmth and cushion to sleep and breed. Of course, rats will chew, shred, and soil your insulation during the nesting process. Without insulation to help regulate the interior temperature of your property, you can expect your electric bills to rise significantly.
If you notice gnaw marks, droppings, or any presence of rats inside your property, don’t wait for your infestation to grow out of control. Contact the professional rat removal specialists at Critter Control® of Lake County.
Critter Control of Lake County Provides Professional Rat Removal Services
At Critter Control® of Lake County, our trained and licensed technicians will permanently put an end to your rat infestation. Furthermore, once all rats are humanely removed from your property, we will repair any damage left behind and seal off entry points to ensure the rats cannot return.
