Author: Kurt Treftz, Cascade Pest Control
Obviously rats spread filth and disease. They are disgusting and can be aggressive. And, importantly, it is estimated that rats in the Seattle region do between $500,000 and $1 Million in damage to homes each year. We need to stop rats when they infest our homes. Even better we all need to prevent rats from ever infesting our homes in the first place.
So we need to protect our homes from rats and other rodents. Why not do it ourselves? Do it yourself rat or mouse control can be done. However, you need to know what you’re getting into when so much is at stake. Rat extermination and rodent control can be challenging.
10 Reasons to Use a Professional Pest Control Company to Control Rats (or Mice):
- A good deal of time and attention, patience and persistence. It takes time to learn what to do and how to do it both effectively and safely in executing rodent pest control. A trained professional is dedicated to this work and has already spent time for training, field experience and even licensing.
- Rat control demands a thorough understanding of rats, their biology and behavior. It’s important to know where to look for signs of rats and other rodents, and understand what to look for and how to interpret them. Rodent biology and behavior are fundamental to the training of a rodent pest control technician.
- Species identification—distinguishing between rats, mice and other rodents. An extension to #2 above is the ability to “track rodents” from signs such as droppings, foot marks in dust, and teeth marks where gnawing has occurred. It’s important to tell the difference between mice, squirrels, roof rats and Norway rats to better aim the control methods. Again, this is fundamental knowledge for professional rodent control.
- Rat control is a dirty job. You need to be willing and able to venture into areas contaminated by rats or mice, some of them being tight crawl spaces, when checking for rodent signs and locating nests. And you need to have the training and protective gear to avoid health risks that rats and also mice present. Professionals understand what they are getting into. Coveralls, gloves, and respirators are essential along with sanitation practices.
- A healthy knowledge of home construction is also important in understanding where and how rats and/or mice can enter and what damage they could be causing. It can often require inspecting parts of the roof where openings allow rats entry into the attic or ceiling voids. The best pest control technicians have the knowledge and experience, to envision the framing inside the walls and how rats and mice traverse and nest in hidden areas.
- Safety issues. There are several safety issues that cannot be ignored:
- Working in and around rodent filth is hazardous. Rats and mice can carry diseases so it’s important to be knowledgeable how to avoid infections and it’s important to have proper personal protective equipment.
- Safety setting rat/rodent traps to avoid harm to children, pets, or other non-target animals.
- Safety using rat or mouse bait. Poisoned rat or mouse bait is a rodenticide which, if improperly used, could present a health risk to children, pets and other small birds and animals. Rodent pest control professionals are trained and licensed in the safe and effective use of rodenticides.
- Proper use and placement of rodent traps and baits. As mentioned, safety is critical in the use of rat traps and rat bait. What’s more, crafty placement of rodent traps and/or rat bait makes all the difference in whether the effort is successful. And improper handling of either can result in complete avoidance of a rat trap.
- Long-term protection & prevention from future rat/mouse infestations. Eliminating a rat or mouse infestation relieves the immediate problem. But significant numbers of rats and mice are consistently present outdoors near homes—whether in urban, suburban or rural environments. Pest Control professionals know how to set up ongoing protection to prevent rat or mouse re-infestation.
- Licensed and insured. Importantly, professionalism in the pest control industry indicates licensing and insurance. This reflects the training and preparedness that pest control professionals achieve well before they arrive at your door to perform rat and rodent extermination.
- Rat Exclusion or rodent proofing. Understanding and experience around how to properly block or screen off rodent access points is essential to effective rat control and prevention. For example, rat bait should be avoided prior to sealing off rodent access (rodent exclusion), or rats could die within a wall or other inaccessible space and cause a horrible odor. Again, professionals have the know-how to do this in a variety of places throughout a home or other structure.
So when you’re encountering a rat infestation there’ a lot to be considered. And unless you want to make rat and/or mouse extermination and rodent pest management a “hobby,” it’s probably best to call a professional.
Cascade pest control specializes in rat, mouse and rodent control. We’ve treated many thousands of home and businesses for rat infestations for about forty years in Washington State. Cascade places great emphasis on training our technicians in all aspects of rat control and rodent prevention. Cascade Pest Control provides rat control, mouse control, rodent exclusion, rodent damage assessment, and ongoing rodent protection service to prevent rat and mouse infestations from happening.
Cascade Pest Control provides rodent inspections and the control of rats and mice in Tacoma, Greater Seattle, Bellevue and the Eastside, Everett, Skagit & Island counties, and Bellingham.
Western Washington 888-989-8979
