If you hear scurrying on the roof or squeaking in the walls, the culprit could be rats in your Fort Worth home, but do you need to be concerned about these rodents? Unfortunately, the answer is yes – and here’s what Fort Worth homeowners should know about identifying rats, how dangerous they are, how Fort Worth pest control can help you control them, and how to get rid of rats.
How To Tell If It's Rats On Your Property
How do you identify rats vs mice? Growing more than double the size of mice, the big rats in Texas can get quite large, but the exact size can vary based on the type of rat you’re dealing with. For local residents, you’re likely to encounter one of two types: roof rats and brown rats.
Roof rats, which have long tails and slender bodies, usually grow around six to eight inches long, not including their tails. Their agile bodies make it easier for them to climb bushes, trees, and even onto the rooftops of Fort Worth homes.
Brown rats, also called Norway rats, have bulkier frames and can grow up to ten inches in length, not including their tails.
Why Rats On Your Property Can Be Very Dangerous
There’s a good reason why so many people are afraid of big rats in Texas – these rodents can be incredibly dangerous, especially if they’re infesting your home and here’s why:
- They can spread disease and bacteria. Some of the diseases rats carry and spread include hantavirus, tularemia, rat-bite fever, and salmonella.
- They can damage your property. Rats have strong teeth that are capable of chewing through many materials, like wood, plastic, and even vinyl.
- They can be infected with other parasites. Rats may also bring in other parasites, like ticks, mites, or fleas when they infest your home.
As long as you’ve got rats outside or inside, these pests can be a health risk.
The Safe And Effective Way To Remove Rats On Your Property
There’s only one completely effective way to control rats in Fort Worth and that’s by contacting us at All-Safe Pest & Termite. With high ratings and a trustworthy reputation that speaks for itself, our high-quality treatments and experienced specialists can ensure that we can get rid of the rats in your Fort Worth home permanently.
If you suspect you’ve got different rats or another rodent infestation in your home, there’s only one thing to do – call us today at All-Safe Pest & Termite to learn more about how total rat control works.
Helpful Tips To Prevent Future Rat Infestations On Your Property
You’ll need the pros to get rid of existing rat infestations but you can work to prevent future problems on your own, and here’s how:
- Use airtight containers or packaging to hold leftovers and other food products in your home.
- Don’t leave dirty dishes or other food debris sitting in the sink for more than a couple of hours.
- Use lids on your trash cans and make sure your garbage bags don’t contain any holes or leaks.
- Don’t leave pipes or faucets running and leaking, and if you do have moisture issues around your home, you should address them as soon as possible.
- Use a rodent-proof material, like caulk or sealant, to block off cracks and crevices that rats may be able to squeeze through.
- Trim back tree branches and other vegetation that may allow rats to climb onto your roof.
Working with the pros at All-Safe Pest & Termite on a continuous basis can also help you ensure that you don’t end up with rats inside your Fort Worth home.