The Complete Guide to Rat Infestations: Signs, Risks, and Solutions

If you think you have a rat problem on your Lake County property, it’s natural to not know where to begin. Rat infestations can be a serious issue that poses risks to your health and home. Here’s a complete guide on rat infestations, from its signs and risks to effective ways to get rid of nuisance rats.

Signs of Rat Infestations

Despite their small size and sneaky behavior, rats will leave telltale signs that they are living on your property. Some common signs of a rat infestation include:

• Gnaw marks on wood, drywall, and wiring
• Shredded and scattered nesting materials, such as paper, cardboard, or insulation
• Grease stains along crawl spaces or around holes or cracks in the foundation
• Visible droppings or the strong smell of ammonia or urine

Rat Infestation Risks

Rat infestations can seriously affect the well-being of you and your loved ones. In addition to property damage, rats are carriers of several dangerous diseases including hantavirus, rat bite fever, and salmonellosis. While extremely rare, rats even carry the chance of transmitting the bubonic plague. These diseases are most often spread through excrements such as rat urine, feces, or saliva. That means, you’re still at risk of getting sick even if you don’t have direct contact with a rat.

Your Rat Removal Solution

The best solution to rat infestations is professional rat removal. It may be tempting to try DIY methods such as rat baiting and trapping, but that can sometimes make the problem worse. At-home methods often involve dangerous chemicals and inhumane practices that can further put your health and safety at risk. When it comes to a growing rat infestation, leave the removal to the rat removal professionals at  Critter Control® of Lake County.

Professional Rat Removal Services Near You

At Critter Control® of Lake County, our licensed, trained and experienced technicians use eco-friendly methods that keep the health of you and the wildlife in mind. Our four-step CritterSafe® process includes inspection, removal, restoration, and prevention. We will first inspect your property to locate the pests before using safe and non-toxic methods to remove them completely. Then we will clean any mess the rats left behind and install preventative measures to ensure they can not return.

Whether you have a rat infestation or want to prevent one from starting, Critter Control® of Lake County can help. To schedule your inspection and receive a free rat removal estimate, call us today at 352-204-0074.