Although many people may simply not want rats in their home for comfort reasons, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explained that rats can be carriers of more than 35 diseases. Unlike birds or other animals, rats can spread diseases directly as well as through feces, urine and bites. Rats can also carry in fleas, ticks, all of which can bring additional diseases, the CDC warned.
So whether you're looking to prevent rats from coming in your home for sanitary reasons or just to avoid general uneasiness, here are some tips that can help keep rodents at bay. If it's too late and you're already experiencing rat issues, consider contacting a pest control service.
As King County, Wash., advised its residents, it's important to be proactive when it comes to rats. If you keep a clean perimeter around the house, you may be able to avoid having them come in in the first place.
Rats like to eat the same food we do, so if you don't have tightly secured trash cans or don't clean up your garbage properly, you risk becoming a food source. This also means that any composting and bird feeders should be made resistant to rodents. You should also store firewood off the ground and away from the house.
HowStuffWorks also recommended that people keep their grills clean, as even the remnants of last week's hamburger can attract these pests.
This is a good idea for keeping out bugs and cold air as well, but as MSN Real Estate explained rats can get through very small openings. Even a regular-sized rat can fit through a space the size of a quarter. Metal mesh, steel wool and caulk are all good tools that can block up openings and keep rats out.
Channel 4 told homeowners that a broken sewer component may be the issue when a rat problem just won't go away. The news source recommended that people make sewer repair a priority to ensure rats stop coming indoors.
Channel 4 also explained that rat prevention is important and easy for homeowners to do, but that once traces of rats are found indoors, it's time to contact professional pest management. Even after rats are gone, their waste can still be dangerous and precautions should be taken while it's cleaned.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
