Rat infestations aren’t just annoying.
They can be dangerous. And if they happen in your commercial building, they can cause you to lose business (which, in turn, means you’re losing money, too).
If you think you have a rat problem in your building, you should do everything you can to remove them as fast as possible. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to teach you how to get rid of rats.
So let’s get started!
Rats aren’t only bigger than mice, but they’re also more dangerous.
Mice tend to be scared of humans. If they see a human, they’ll often run away and hide. Rats, on the other hand, can be aggressive. While most rats will also run and hide when they see you, rats will attack if they feel threatened.
Rats also carry a number of diseases, including salmonellosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (or LCM), rat-bite fever, and more.
You should never attempt to catch a rat with your bare hands. They won’t hesitate to bite you. And if you are bitten by a rat, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Signs You’re Dealing with Rats (Not Mice)
The signs of rat and mice infestations are very similar. Because of this, it can be easy to mistake one for the other.
Here are some signs you’re dealing with rats as opposed to mice.
Droppings
This is an unmistakable sign you have rodents in your building.
Rat droppings are bigger than mouse droppings, about 1/2 of an inch to 3/4 of an inch long. They are also darker and shinier than mouse droppings.
Chew Marks
Since rats are much bigger than mice, their chew marks will be deeper and more defined. You’ll be able to identify teeth marks in most cases.
Mice, on the other hand, make much shallower scratches.
Oily Trails
Both mice and rats stick close to the wall as they move through your building. This can leave a dark, oily track along the wall.
Bad Smell
Rats don’t smell good. If you have several rats living in your building, they’ll create a musty smell you can’t get rid of by opening the window.
Weird Sounds
Do you hear any scratching or squeaking sounds you can’t place?There are a number of possibilities including rats, mice, lizards, squirrels, raccoons, and possums.
How to Get Rid of Rats
Getting rid of rodents can take some time. You have to put in a bit of work and be patient in order to see results.
Here’s what you need to do.
Put out Bait/Traps
When it comes to killing rats, there are two different ways you can do it: bait or traps.
Bait is poisonous and will kill rats after they eat it. But rats tend to be wary of new foods in their environment. They tend to only eat a tiny piece of the new food and wait to see if it hurts them.
Because of this, your bait must be slow acting. If one rat tries the bait and dies, the other rats won’t eat it.
If you don’t want to wait for the bait to take effect, you can set out traps instead.
Look for places full of rat droppings or near a food source where you know the rats frequent and set up a few traps. You might have to wait a few days for the traps to catch anything. Once a rat steps into a trap, you’ll have to dispose of it right away.
Call an Exterminator
The most effective method of getting rid of rats is calling a professional exterminator.
They’ve handled rat infestations before, and they have the right tools to deal with them quickly. A professional exterminator will also be able to ensure they remove every single rat, and they can take precautions to prevent them from coming back.
In general, an exterminator will be faster and more efficient than any DIY method. This is a big asset to commercial buildings. Doing business in the middle of a rat infestation won’t attract a lot of new customers.
How to Prevent Rats from Getting Back In
Once the rats are gone, you should take a few precautions to ensure they never come back again.
Here are a few simple ways to discourage rodents from making your building their new home.
Don’t Leave Any Food Out
Store all your food in sealed, plastic containers. Don’t let your employees leave food at their desks after work hours.
Go through the kitchen and clean up any crumbs or dirty dishes. And make keeping the kitchen clean a priority. Dirty counters covered in food is like an invitation to hungry rats.
Fill in Any Openings
Another way to keep rats out of your building is to make sure they can’t get in. Go around your building and look for any holes or openings.
Don’t overlook the tiny cracks.
If the opening is the size of a quarter or bigger, most rats will be able to squeeze through. Plug up any openings you find.
How to Get the Rats Back out of Your Building
Rats are looking for food, water, and shelter. Rodents that can’t find that in your building, they won’t hang around. If you want to know how to get rid of rats, you should rat-proof your home and call an exterminator.
Have you spotted warning signs of rats in your building? Save your sanity and click here to take a look at our services!
Are you dealing with mice instead of rats? Check out this recent blog post:
https://synergy2ms.com/what-kills-rats-instantly-how-to-get-rid-of-rats-in-your-house-fast/
External links you may be interested in:
https://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/rodents.htm
http://saferodentcontrol.org/site/rodent-control/
https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/rodents/
https://www.thespruce.com/prep-steps-for-rodent-control-service-2656473
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