Pest control in Los Angeles wouldn't be complete if it didn't include rat control. Rats breed so fast that they can take over your property in just a matter of months, even if you only start out with a few rats. What makes this even worse is that it's very difficult to do anything about a rat infestation once you have one. That's why it's important to prevent a rat problem rather than deal with it after the fact.
What Kind Of Rodents Typically Invade Los Angeles Homes?
Rats are one of many rodent species that can invade your home here in Los Angeles. You may also have to deal with squirrels, mice, prairie dogs, gophers, and more. However, rats are the worst of the worst.
Most of the rodents you'll encounter in California live outside and will really only do damage to your yard. Mice are the exception, as these rodents do tend to infest homes. However, mice are not as large or strong as rats, so they're not capable of doing quite the massive amounts of damage that rats can cause. This puts rat infestations in a league of their own when it comes to destruction.
The Damage And Dangers Rats Can Create Around Your Home
Lots of rats on your property can bring lots of headaches along with them. The dangers rats pose are threefold: damage, disease, and secondary infestations. Property damage from rats can be pretty severe. Rats love to do everything from ripping up insulation for their nests to gnawing on components of your home to grind down their incessantly growing teeth. In fact, rats chewing on live electrical wiring have been known to burn down houses.
Another serious health and safety risk associated with rats is the diseases they carry. Rats are known to spread dozens of different pathogens, including hantavirus, rat-bite fever, leptospirosis, and even the plague, which they can spread through multiple different avenues. They might smear germs all over your surfaces as they walk across them with their filthy feet. They may also leave droppings or contaminated hairs in your pantry, cupboards, and other areas of your home.
Lastly, rats can bring fleas and ticks with them when they infest your property. These external parasites can come with a host of their own diseases, like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Why It's So Hard To Get Rid Of Rats On Your Own
Rodent control can be extremely difficult because rats breed so fast that store-bought products like snap traps and rat poisons just can't kill enough of them to keep up with all the new ones. Any adult rat you kill has probably already replaced itself multiple times over. This is why you should focus on ways to keep rats away, such as:
- Covering trash cans
- Storing food in airtight containers
- Getting rid of water sources
- Blocking access points with rodent mesh
These preventative measures can be much more effective at keeping rats at bay than over-the-counter rat control products.
Call The Pros For Total Rodent Control For Your Home
If you see signs of rats, it's best not to try to handle the infestation yourself. This could lead to an even larger infestation and even more damage to your home. Instead, give us a call at A Step Above Pest Control & Termite. Our Los Angeles pest control experts stay on top of every new innovation in rodent control technology and techniques to ensure we return your home to a rodent-free space and help you keep it that way. If you think you’re dealing with rats, give us a call or visit our contact page to get started with rat control services today!