The last thing you want to find in your home is a rat. Unfortunately, these cunning rodents can easily squeeze inside your home through small gaps and openings in their search of food and shelter. Fortunately, there are several tips and tricks that you can follow to prevent rats from entering your residence.
Tips and Tricks to Prevent Rats
The main reason rats are attracted to residential homes is because they provide rats with a safe space and access to many resources. To prevent nuisance rats from infesting your home, you should:
- Remove Food and Water Sources
Rats are scavengers and will eat anything in their path. If you have pets, keep their food bowls inside. You can also deter hungry rats by tightly securing your garbage bins, or add an extra layer of security by storing your trash cans inside your garage. Rats have large front teeth that can nearly chew through everything. Make sure the food inside your home is protected from rats by keeping non-perishables sealed in tight plastic containers. Also, fix any leaky hoses and empty water sources outside that can attract thirsty rats.
- Locate and Seal Common Rat Entry Points
The easiest way to prevent rats is by finding their entry points. Check your home’s exterior for any vulnerable spots. Rats commonly get in through rooflines, chimneys, cracks, or vents. Once you’ve identified how they can get in, it’s important to rodent-proof your home. For outside entry points, trim any foliage around your yard and clean up any debris. Use caulk and wire mesh to fill in any identified cracks and gaps. Vent covers can be installed in chimneys to help prevent rats from getting through.
- Look Out for Signs of Rats
Preventing rats from entering your home requires you to be alert to unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells. The following signs of rats will let you know if they’ve made it through your lines of defense:
- Scattered brown droppings, especially near entry points
- Greasy smudges on walls
- Bite marks on furniture, drywall, molding, and boxes
- Shredded attic insulation
Prevent Rats with Critter Control® of Lake County
While at-home rat-proofing may help prevent rats from invading your home, they won’t help remove the rats that are already there. If rats have infested your Lake County, FL property, rely on the rat removal professional at Critter Control® of Lake County.
Our experienced rat removal technicians will quickly and safely evict nuisance rats from your property and keep them from returning. Schedule your consultation and receive a free estimate for our rat removal services by calling Critter Control® of Lake County at 352-204-0074 today.
