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Rodent Control (Rats & Mice Removal)
Many people fear mice and rats just from their appearance. This fear would be even greater if every person knew how dangerous rodents can be to live around. Between the potential of the deadly disease to the potential for massive and costly damage, rodents are a very serious nuisance animal. If you have reason to believe you have a rodent infestation, it is important to get them removed as soon as possible, before the speedy repopulation causes a whole host of headaches. Continue reading to learn more about rodents and how you can get rid of them.
What problems can rats and mice cause?
Rodents are among the worst offenders you can get when it comes to nuisance wildlife. They have the potential to cause health problems to you, your family, and your pets, all while causing serious damage to your home. Rats and mice are well-known for being one of the most disease-ridden species on the planet, and many of these diseases can seriously harm, or even kill, humans. The hantavirus is a very serious illness spread through coming into contact with rodents, as it has a very high mortality rate among humans. On top of hantavirus, rat-bite fever is another serious illness that can cause serious damage to the human respiratory system. An alarming fact about rodent disease is that it can be spread in many different ways. Being bitten or scratched by the rodent is the most straightforward, but coming into contact with the rodent’s urine, feces, or saliva can also infect humans.
Beyond the health risks, the destructive aspect of these pests is very alarming. Since rats and mice can bite through almost any building material, they can get access to all parts of your home and all of your possessions. These critters will chew through walls, drywall, and siding just to get to food or warmth. One of the most common areas of a home that rodents infest is the attic. Mice and rats love to build nests, and the insulation from your attic is a great building material. Beyond the havoc they can wreak on your insulation and building materials, rodents also love to strip wires, and this can end up causing a serious risk for a house fire.
How can I prevent mice and rats?
Rats and mice are very hard animals to prevent, as they can squeeze through almost any gap they can find, and can also gnaw right through many common building materials. However, the best way you can keep these rodents out is to focus on making your home impenetrable to them. To do this, you will want to examine every inch of your home, paying special attention to the exterior. You should be keeping your eye out for any small cracks, holes, gaps, or other entry points that could allow rats and mice an open door to your home. If you find any problem areas you can easily fix them in most cases by using an all-weather sealant, sheets of aluminum, or steel wool.
Beyond the examination of your home, you can try to limit any easy access to food these rodents can find. A couple of quick fixes are being sure that any pet food is secured, as well as any garbage you have lying about. Beyond this, cleaning up your yard can actually eliminate many of the critters rats and mice are fond of eating. Get rid of any woodpiles, rock piles, or other accumulations of debris, as these are havens for rodent food. Following a few of these steps can greatly diminish the odds that rodents will try to make their way into your home.
How can I remove rats and mice?
In some cases, removing rats might be a simple job that any homeowner can do on their own. When there are only a couple of rodents present, people can often get away with setting some snap traps, live repeater-style traps, or glue traps to remove the problem. If you can get rid of all of the rodents before they begin to reproduce and repopulate, you will be able to get rid of the problem completely. However, since rodents reproduce so quickly, many times the infestation will get worse, necessitating the need for professional help.
In most cases, it is highly recommended to contact a professional wildlife removal company to get rid of your rodents for you. There are a couple of reasons to do this. The first reason is that these companies have tons of experience in removing rodents before they can repopulate and cause a bigger problem. Another reason to hire professionals is that they will be able to pinpoint where rats and mice are gaining access to your home and will be able to help you fix the problem, solving any future rodent infestations. Finally, hiring a wildlife removal company will keep you and your family safe from any of the rodent diseases you could be exposed to if you attempted removal on your own.
Why hire Wildlife X Team Nashville?
At Wildlife X Team Nashville, we are very proud to be one of the best choices for rat and mice removal in Nashville and the surrounding areas. Our wildlife removal experts’ main priority is the timely and effective removal of rodents, as each team member has vast experience with taking care of rodent problems, no matter how big or how small. We take great pride in offering effective pest control services while focusing on the ethical treatment of nuisance wildlife at all times. If you want a full-service wildlife removal service to help you solve your pest control issues, Wildlife X Team Nashville is a great choice. We not only provide rat and mice removal services, but we also perform animal damage repair, work with you to prevent future infestations, offer decontamination and odor removal services, and also perform attic and crawlspace restorations. If you live in Nashville or the surrounding areas and are experiencing some rodent problems, give Wildlife X Team Nashville a call today, as we would love to help you out.
How to Get Rats and Mice Out of The Attic?
Wherever there are people, there are also, inevitably, rodents. This happens largely because rodents are some of the most resilient creatures in the animal kingdom, and they are inventive. They will find a way to get into the home, if yours presents any attraction to them.
What attracts rats and mice to human homes?
As is the case with most other animals, it’s usually about food. Rats and mice are generally not picky eaters, so as long as they’ve identified some form of easily available food on your property (such as improperly stored food, garden seeds, pet food, etc.), they’ll get in.
When they’re not looking for food, or can’t find any, rats and mice also look for water sources, such as birdbaths, leaky pipes, dog bowls, and so on. Last but not least, the reason a rodent has moved into your attic may just be it’s longing for some warmth and a nice, cozy shelter. This last one, unfortunately, you can’t do all that much about, but there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of a rodent invasion.
Such as…?
- Call a professional wildlife removal company.
By far the best (and easiest) way to get rid of unwanted rodents is to hire a professional rat and mouse removal company. The great thing about this is that these are usually people who have had a lot of experience in the field of animal removal, and know what works, and what doesn’t. And with wildlife removal, speed is often recommended, because the longer an animal is on your property, the more it exposes you to unpleasant bacteria, and destroys furniture, and so on.
So if you’re struggling with a rodent infestation at the moment, and don’t quite know what to do, do yourself a favor, and hire a professional wildlife removal company to take care of the problem quickly and efficiently for you.
- Make your home as unattractive to rodents as you can.
Since rodents are attracted to the food and water inside human homes, the first thing you’ll want to do is check if you’ve got any of those inside your home. Of course, you do! Now, the question is, can a mouse or rat get to them easily? Are there exposed food bowls left unattended for long periods of time? Do you wash the dishes quickly, or leave them sitting for hours? Are there fruits and seeds in your garden, or backyard?
Because all of these factors may be what’s attracting rodents to your home, simply removing them can go quite a long way in removing a rodent problem.
- Fix entry points.
Usually, the number one spot for rodent invasions is the attic, largely because most people use this room for storage, though not so much for actual living. This means an animal can live here for extended periods of time, unencumbered and without the risk of being discovered (and subsequently harmed).
So what you want to do is check the attic walls, roof, window structures, etc., regularly for holes or cracks large enough to permit a rodent to squeeze through. Remember that rats and mice are some of the most flexible home invaders you’re likely to encounter, which means they may squeeze in through remarkably small spaces. So best not to take any chances, and fill any cracks or gaps with caulk or wire mesh.
- Take care of your yard.
It might not seem obvious, but the more unkempt your yard is, the likelier it is to attract rodents. For instance, an overgrown lawn will allow rodents to go through your yard unbothered. Overgrown shrubs will allow them to hide while out scavenging for food, while overgrown trees near the home will allow them to climb up to their attic home without much hassle. So taking good care of your backyard may go a long way to deter undesirable house guests.
- Try live trapping.
Live trapping is a humane and highly efficient way of capturing unwanted rodents and setting them free in the wild. These are usually baited traps (often using peanut butter), that block the rodent inside, without harming it. The trick is to check on your trap regularly, to ensure the rat or mouse doesn’t suffer any longer than necessary. Make sure you seal entry points and clean the attic thoroughly after removing the mouse or rat.
How to Remove Rodents from the Chimney?
There is no other type of nuisance animal in the world that is more destructive, harmful, and common than the rat and the mouse. These rodent species make up a majority of pest control situations and they are very good at causing all kinds of problems for the homeowners they terrorize. If you get rodents in your chimney, you will want to remove them as soon as possible. Continue reading to learn how to remove rodents from the chimney.
Why are rodents in my chimney?
It might seem surprising that rodents are in your chimney, but it is really easy to understand once you realize what chimneys can offer nuisance animals. Chimneys are a structure that provide shelter on all four sides for rodents, which keeps them safe from larger animals, the wind, and the elements. In addition, rodents know that when they are in a chimney, they are very close to a home, which means that they will spend time trying to make their way into your home as well. This can present some serious problems if they do happen to get into your home.
Can rodents in my chimney cause problems?
The chimney is an out of the way place of your home that does not seem worrisome for a rodent to get into. This is not a correct assessment of the problem, as rodents are able to cause many different types of damages to your home and your chimney. To begin with, when a rodent is living in your chimney, it will be exploring your home and looking for a way in. If it cannot find one, it may begin to chew its own entry hole, which can allow other nuisance animals to get in as well. Once inside, rats and mice use their chewing habit to destroy your home. They will chew on wires, drywall, lumber, and all kinds of materials, potentially gaining access to more parts of your home.
Beyond the risk of property damage, rodents are also masters of spreading disease. These critters carry many nasty illnesses, such as hantavirus, rat bite fever, and many more. These are spread through droppings, urine, saliva, and a variety of other mediums. The diseases can be a direct threat to you, your family, and your pets. As long as a rodent is living on your property, there will always be disease danger.
How can I prevent rodents?
Preventing rodents from getting into your chimney can be a simple task, though it requires a small upfront investment. This great investment is a chimney cap, and they are typically seen in areas like Nashville and Clarksville, TN. These caps prevent all nuisance animals from getting into your chimney, while allowing your fireplace to operate like normal.
How can rodents be removed?
Removing rats and mice from your chimney is a very difficult task. Removing any critter from your chimney is nearly impossible without specialized equipment. In addition, rodents have a habit of building nests, which can potentially cause a chimney fire and set your home on fire. This is why it is recommended to hire a professional wildlife removal company to get rid of your rodent problem instead. These professionals are able to not only remove the rats and mice from your attic, but can also get the nest and other materials out of your chimney.
Hiring a professional wildlife removal company is a great choice, as they will take care of the removal and provide so many more services. Many companies have exclusion services that will prevent any future infestations from occurring, as well as sanitation services that will eliminate the harmful disease risk for you and your family.
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