Whether you want to remove 1 rat or 20 from your home, you likely want them removed as soon as possible. Rats are a concern in Baltimore any time of year, but activity can be worse during the winter. This is because they are looking for a warm place to stay, and they might choose your cozy home as their new source of warmth and shelter.
The good news is that there are several ways to eliminate those pesky rats in Baltimore. However, not all techniques will work as quickly as you may want.
While the fastest way to get rid of unwanted rats in and around your home is by way of professional removal, below are seven tips that can certainly help.
Analyze Your Rat Situation
When it comes to removing rats, it’s helpful to know what you are up against. A rat or two running around can typically be removed rather quickly.
However, an infestation is a whole different story. Rat infestations in Baltimore can be dozens to even hundreds of rats. And when we’re talking about a large number of the rodents, quick action must be taken to remove them.
There are several ways to determine if you are dealing with a rat infestation problem including the following:
- A strong odor. Rats give off a unique ammonia smell. When numerous rats are present, the smell can be stronger and more potent.
- Excessive droppings. Rats can excrete around 40-50 pellets of droppings per day. If you are finding piles of these pellets on a frequent basis, you might be facing an infestation.
- Damage to your home. While a single rat can cause damage on its own, it can be catastrophic when a bunch of them are chewing away at the walls, wiring and even the floors.
Whether you think you are dealing with a single rat or an infestation of them, the following list can help you eliminate rats quickly.
1. Carefully Inspect All Entry Points
While this technique won’t necessarily get rid of existing rats, it will prevent additional ones from getting inside your home. This is important because it can slow down the rate of an infestation, which becomes worse when the rats are breeding.
Some examples of entry points include cracks and crevices in the foundation, through plumbing such as your toilet, or even from your attic. Remember that rats can climb trees, telephone poles and even brick walls. This makes it even easier for them to gain access into your house.
2. Close the Lids on Garbage Containers
Rats are looking for food whenever the opportunity strikes. This means they can be using your garbage cans as a reliable source of food. Keep this in mind when it comes to both indoor and outdoor garbage containers.
It is important to make sure that garbage can lids are always tightly closed. This prevents rats from slipping inside the garbage can or prying the lid off in search of food. This will then drive the rest of them away because there is no food to eat.
3. Remove Any Sources of Water
Sometimes a source of water for rats can come from the most unexpected places. Even a leaking toilet or pipe can give rats enough water to survive.
Take an inventory of your plumbing and make sure there is no leaks present. Cutting off the water source will ultimately drive the rats away.
4. Clean & Declutter
Rats can certainly enter a clean home, but the advantage here is that they won’t have as many places to hide.
If you have a substantial amount of clutter around your home, now is the time to take action. This includes areas such as a garage and attic. Even clutter inside of a spare bedroom can give rats refuge.
The trouble is that rats are small, and they can squeeze into small spaces, having the ability to hide almost anywhere. They can crawl into boxes that you are using for storage. Rats can also get into closets and make nests.
Not only will a decluttered home help scare rats out of their hiding spots, but it will also help you feel better about the look and feel of your space.
5. Don’t Go Overboard With Bird Feeding
It’s wintertime and you might like to offer birds extra food. This might be in the form of seeds, bread or other food items you have lying around.
The problem with feeding the birds is that it can easily attract rats. Rats are not picky eaters, and they will gladly feast on the seeds that are meant for birds.
The best approach to feeding birds is to use a food feeder basket and keeping it off the ground.
6. Keep an Eye on Woodpiles
This also includes stacks of firewood. If you have a wood-burning stove or fireplace, you likely keep firewood on hand. Unfortunately, this pile of wood is yet another place that can attract rats.
Rats can see stacks of firewood as a place for shelter, keeping them away from the elements.
Occasionally inspect your firewood and make sure there are no rats or signs of them including their droppings. This is something you can easily see in the winter if there is snow on the ground.
7. Steer Clear of DIY Rat Traps & Poison
If you want to get rid of rats in your house, don’t rely on rat traps and poison. While this can quickly kill rats, it doesn’t get to the root of the problem. Rats can continue to come into your home even though you have traps set. They can also continue to breed and the infestation problem just gets worse.
Not to mention, rat poison is highly toxic and harmful to children and pets.
Call Professional Rat Removal Services
Truth is, getting rid of rats from your home isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. There are many factors to consider, such as the source of the rat infestation and where they are getting food and water.
When you have a rat problem, you’ll want to reach out to Brody Brothers Pest Control in Baltimore. We take all necessary steps to eliminate rats quickly. Professional pest control gets the job done right the first time, saving you a lot of headaches and potentially hundreds of dollars in property damage.
Our experience with rat removal dates back to 1984. We are the go-to pest control company in Baltimore with the best resources for fast rat removal.
Not only do we get rid of rats quickly, but they stay away for good! Contact us today to get the peace of mind you want once and for all.
