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Common Roof Rodents and How to Keep Them Out of Your Attic

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Rodent Cleanup, rodent control, Rodents in Attic.

Attic pests are a common nuisance for homeowners all over the country. Roof rats in particular make their way into homes, cause damage and pose health risks to you,  your family and your pets. Read for more information about roof rats, their habits, and most importantly,  what you should do if you suspect you have an infestation in your home.

What are common attic pests? 

Because attics are spaces that are generally not lived in that we use mainly to regulate home temperature and in some cases for storage (which we don’t recommend), it can often act as a perfect environment for unwanted pests to thrive. Some common pests that can plague your attic area are bats, squirrels, racoons, cluster flies, and our least favorite – rodents. Common rodents that will try to call your attic home are house mice, Norway rats, and roof rats. Roof rats are a particular nuisance that can infest homes and cause headaches for many homeowners. 

What does a roof rat look like?

Because they are so common in the United States, it is important to know what roof rats look like so you can easily identify them should you have an encounter of the rodent kind. These animals are about 40 centimeters long and weigh between 5-9 ounces, but can sometimes weigh as much as 12 ounces. Their bodies are long and thin, and feature large eyes, ears, and a pointed nose. Roof rats’ tails are scaly and actually longer than their bodies. Their coloring is brown with an intermix of black and they often have white, gray and black undersides. 

What are the habits of roof rats? 

Roof rats are exceptionally talented climbers and prefer nesting in the upper part of buildings, which is why they are common attic pests. Here’s a fun fact: their ability to climb to great heights is how they acquired the name “roof rat”. 

These animals are primarily nocturnal and typically live in colonies preferring habitats that are covered to protect them from predators. When they shelter outside, they prefer dense vegetation like fruit trees, shrubbery, and can commonly be found in wood piles or storage boxes that are left outside. When they shelter inside, roof rats are able to enter through access points that are larger than a nickel and can be found in the upper parts of the home. If they get into your home, they are able to build nests out of materials like insulation.

In a not so fun fact: these rodents only live up to about a year, but are able to produce as many as 40 new offspring during their lifetime. If you have a roof rat infestation in your home, this can cause a nightmare scenario. 

What are common signs of roof rats? 

If you have roof rats in your home, there will be indications of their presence disrupting the tranquility of your home. The biggest signs of roof rats manifest in the form of noise, damage to elements in your home, and rodent droppings around the infected area.

Because they are nocturnal, roof rats will search for food at night and you will hear scurrying, squeaking and other out of the ordinary sounds coming from areas of your home. The presence of rats may also disturb any pets you have in your home, so if they begin acting strange while you are noticing some of the other signs you may have a rodent problem on your hands. 

Another very common but unfortunate sign of roof rats is damage to your home in the form of bite marks on your pipes or wires and tears to your insulation. The presence of roof rats can also contribute to mold growth and overall poor conditions in your attic. This can cause wood decay and damage to the HVAC system which is an expensive blow to your bank account. 

Are roof rats harmful?

We discussed the damage that roof rats can cause your home, but they can also harm your family’s health. Rats have become infamous for their role in causing the bubonic plague back in the day, giving us a healthy, reasonable fear of them. As their reputations indicate, they do carry diseases that are harmful to human beings. 

Some of the diseases that can result from a roof rat infestation include: toxoplasmosis, histoplasmosis, encephalitis, meningitis, salmonella, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and murine typus and leptospirosis. Additionally, when inhaled, rodent droppings and urine can cause sinus inflammation and asthma due to the allergens they contain. 

If you have a direct altercation with a rat in the form of a bite or scratch it can cause what is known as rat bite fever. This sickness can specifically cause fever, vomiting, sore throat, muscle pain, joint pain, and a rash. 

Because of how dangerous roof rats can be to your health, you should never attempt attic clean up and decontamination on your own. Only trained professionals in protective gear should handle the situation to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

What do I do if I have a roof rat infestation?  

If you think you have an infestation, you will want to eliminate the roof rats as soon as possible so they cause no further damage to your home or impact the health of your family. You should call a professional like Attic Construction immediately so an inspection can be completed. When it comes to rodent infestations, because of the damage they can cause and the health risks they pose, you should take a better safe than sorry approach to the situation.

If you do indeed have roof rats, rodent proofing and attic decontamination services are a solution to all of your pest woes. It removes the contaminated elements of the infected area and introduces solutions to prevent further infestations by sealing up entry points and eliminating odor. 

Something we do recommend to homeowners is to be proactive and look into rodent proofing services before an infestation erupts to avoid the headache and damage one can cause. 

What does the rodent decontamination process look like? 

Every case is different and professionals are able to tailor their services to meet the individual needs of each situation. However, there are common elements in rodent decontamination we use at Attic Construction that return your space to its pristine pre-infestation state. 

First, we remove any insulation that is contaminated with urine, droppings, or nest materials and safely dispose of it. Next, we remove any remaining rodent droppings with powerful commercial vacuuming equipment then disinfect the area to remove allergens, bacteria and parasites. These actions remove the hazards to your health that a rodent infestation poses.

Once everything has been decontaminated and disinfected, Rodent proofing is essential. After the decontamination has been completed, we go in and re-insulate the area by adding elements that will rodent proof the attic to prevent future rodent infestations. This three step process allows your home to return to the safe, peaceful, and relaxing environment that you deserve. 

 

How to Spot Rodent Entry Points

Written by Kevin on . Posted in rodent control. No Comments on How to Spot Rodent Entry Points

When it comes to dealing with rodents, we understand why you might feel uneasy. Rats and mice can be repulsive to think about, let alone remove from your home. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rodents are capable of spreading over 35 diseases to humans through their saliva, urine, and feces, as well as through transmission to any fleas, ticks, and mites they can bring into your household.1 

To prevent a rodent infestation or take the necessary steps toward insulation removal to eradicate one that has already taken hold, it’s important to identify rodent entry points. By finding out where these pests can get in, you can seal these entry points and get back to feeling secure.

In this guide, we discuss some common rodent entry points and offer tips on how to find them.

Where Do Rodents Typically Enter a Home?

An adult mouse needs less than an inch of space to wiggle its way into your life, so you’ll need to be both patient and diligent as you do your best to rodent-proof your house.2 Once rodents make their way inside a home, they’ll typically go wherever is safe and in close proximity to a food source. To get inside, however, they will search the perimeter of the building for:

  • Holes between walls and pipes
  • Cracks in the foundation
  • Gaps around windows or doors

By identifying these possible entry points, you greatly reduce the chance of welcoming an unwanted guest into your living space.

Exterior Entry Points

Armed with a flashlight, caulk, and some weather stripping, take a walk around your property in search of gaps, cracks, and holes. Doing a general sweep of your home’s exterior can help you spot potential rodent entry points. Be sure to check:

  • The garage – If you have a garage, you’ll want to take a good look. It’s common for people to neglect the seal on their garage door, leaving it a perfect point of entry for pesky rodents to use.
  • Soft spots on the home’s exterior – Check the wood or vinyl of your doors, windows, and siding for signs of unusual wear and tear. When they can’t find ready access, rodents are notorious for chewing their way through some truly tough materials to get where they want to go.

Interior Entry Points

Rodents are tenacious, and can sneak into your home through surprising places. That’s why it’s vital to do a thorough inspection of your home’s interior as well as exterior.

Check on the following places:

  • Pipes and utility lines – Pay special attention to pipes and utility lines. These critters can even get in through your toilets, vents, and other less obvious points of entry from the outside world. 
  • Attics and crawl spaces – Last but not least, make sure to take a look around your attic. These warm and secluded spaces are particularly attractive for rodents looking to sleep and even breed in peace.

It might seem overwhelming, but it’s important to think like a rodent. Be resourceful. These animals have a relentless drive for survival, and you’ll need to be equally dedicated to making sure they stay out of your home.

How to Spot Rodent Entry Points

As you’re checking your home for entry points, keep an eye out for evidence of rodent activity. 

Some key signs a rodent has been nearby include:

  • Droppings
  • Urine stains
  • Teeth marks
  • Unusual pet behavior
  • Signs of digging or burrowing outside

If you’re having trouble determining where a rodent has been coming in, you can try scattering some talcum powder around possible entry points. If you return to find little pawprints in the dust, you’ll have a better idea of where to lay traps and do any necessary repairs.

As you make your way around the interior and exterior of your home, check for these telltale signs. They could make your investigation a lot simpler and save you invaluable time. If you already have an infestation, it’s crucial to identify these points of entry so that any extermination measures you take will be effective. Rodents are incredibly habitual and, should they survive, will more likely than not find their way back to the place that provided them shelter.

Protect Your Home Against Rodents with Attic Construction

Rodents are nothing if not persistent. They will do anything they can to survive, which means you need to take the necessary measures to keep your home free of any invaders. 

If you think you might be in the midst of an active infestation, however, you’ll want to get connected with a professional exterminator or pest control company of your choosing. These experts will provide both peace of mind and the quality service you need to get rid of your rodent problem fast.

Identifying entry points and even sealing them up can seem like a simple enough task to do on your own. However, as previously mentioned, it can be pretty easy to miss those tight spaces where rodents find a way into your home. At Attic Construction, we offer a range of rodent proofing services from thorough inspections to sealing up entry points in your attic without compromising your home’s ventilation.

Additionally, we offer attic decontamination and rodent cleanup services to remove rodent waste and sanitize your living space in the aftermath of an infestation. With our expertise, we can rid your home of rodent-related health hazards that have been linked to a number of bacterial, respiratory, and viral diseases. 

Infestations of any kind are unpleasant. Along with rodent prevention, it is also important to understand how to prevent mold in a crawlspace. Whether you’ve spotted a rodent or want to make sure you don’t have any types of mold in your home, our team of experienced technicians will address any conditions that might contribute to infestations through services that include:

Before you attempt to tackle a rodent problem on your own, be sure to contact a professional who can provide a consultation and any services you might need.

Sources: 

  1. CDC. Rodents. https://www.cdc.gov/rodents/index.html 
  2. CDC. Seal Up! https://www.cdc.gov/rodents/prevent_infestations/seal_up.html 

How Do You Know When It’s Time to Do Some Rodent Prevention? 4 Signs to Watch Out For

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Attic Rats, rodent control. No Comments on How Do You Know When It’s Time to Do Some Rodent Prevention? 4 Signs to Watch Out For

If you are suspicious of a rodent problem in your home, there are many tell-tale signs that can alert you to the issue and let you know it’s time to consult a professional rodent exterminator. Catching a rodent problem early is the best defense to preventing an infestation. Take note of the following signs of mice and rats in your home and call a professional to help with rodent control, extermination, and home protection services:

 

1. Odors and Droppings

Mice and rats have differently sized droppings, but both look like foreign, dark pellets. Fresh droppings are shiny, while old droppings will be dry and crumble. If you’re seeing clusters of small, dark droppings in certain areas, that is an indication of a rodent runway. These pathways are the spaces where the rodents are frequently moving around your home. Mice and rats typically use ledges, cabinets, space near shoe molding, along walls, or piping to move about the room to try to avoid detection. Placing traps near these spaces makes it easier to catch and control the rodents in your home.

In addition, you may smell the musky odor of rodent urine. When a few mice have turned into an infestation, the scent is easily detected in a home and can be difficult to eradicate until the rodents have been eliminated. Be sure to thoroughly clean your home for both urine and droppings when your rodent problem is under control.

 

2. Pet Behavior

If you have pets in your home, they may exhibit skittish behavior or may be prone to barking with no provocation. They also spend time investigating, sniffing, or pawing at spaces under furniture, appliances, and around shoe molding. Your pets are clued into the unwelcome house guests, and a change in their behavior is an indication that something is amiss in your home.

 

3. Noises

Rodents are often heard before they are seen. While many people associate squeaking noises with mice, you’ll hear scampering first, especially in a home with hardwood floors and exposed vents. Since mice and rats are nocturnal, and you’re more likely to hear these noises at night. If a rodent is attempting to gain entry or gnawing on structures to keep teeth short, you may hear a sound that resembles scratching.

 

4. Chew Marks

When you pull a packaged food out of a cabinet and see a hole in the side of the bag, there’s a very good chance you have a mouse in your home. Any food item that is not sealed in impenetrable plastic can fall victim to rodents. But less conspicuous chew marks on wood in your home, like on baseboards, corners, and furniture can also be the first sign of rodents. Look for unusual wear and tear on wood in your home, and check food for signs of tampering.  

 

Rodent Prevention Techniques

If you think you might have a problem with mice or rats, hiring a rodent removal company is an important step to protecting your family from unwanted guests and the issues that accompany rodent infestations. But don’t forget to prevent your home from future infestations. The best way to avoid a rodent problem is to seal entry points before rodents can enter your home and to get a regularly scheduled attic cleaning to avoid attracting them.

Attic Construction in San Diego, Orange County and Phoenix is an insulation installation company that can help protect the most vulnerable place in your home – the attic. Mice and rodents are great climbers and find entry points where there are holes or not enough insulation. Get a quote today for rodent proofing services.

Why Should People Hire A Rodent Removal Company For Their Home?

Written by Kevin on . Posted in rodent control. No Comments on Why Should People Hire A Rodent Removal Company For Their Home?

If you are taking the rat issue in your home very lightly, then that is indisputably a very gigantic blunder on your part. It is quite illusory for you or anybody else to be unfazed by these exasperating beasts. The mere vision of it can cause goosebumps to anyone so it is actually strange if you can tolerate having them around. Permitting them to flourish under your own roof can only mean sheer lethargy, foolishness or even worse, unfamiliarity. Whatever is your reason, it is truthfully unpardonable and honestly speaking, there is no justification for it.

Rats are one of the murkiest and nasty creatures to ever rove our planet. It is strange how they do it, but not only do they endure in the dirtiest unconceivable places but they essentially thrive in it. Getting rid of rats necessitates lots of hard work and persistence. It also needs the best and latest equipment to do the job well. A rodent removal company San Diego like Attic Constructions has invested much of their time and money being the specialists that you expect them. They have that knowledge and abilities borne out of years of experience in pest handling and removal. You cannot expect to get their skills in just a rapid span of time. Instead, you should hire them for availing their expert services.

Why Is It Wise To Opt For A Rodent Control Company?

Written by Kevin on . Posted in rodent control. No Comments on Why Is It Wise To Opt For A Rodent Control Company?

Rodents such as mice and rats can be a serious annoyance to any homeowner. However, by using effective rodent control techniques, there are ways to avert an infestation from befalling in the first place or to get rid of unwanted rodents on your property for life.

A professional rodent control company can support you by providing trustworthy solutions for rodent control. One of the first things that would have to be done is to scrutinize your property so as to check for any places that rodents might be coming from. In metropolitan milieus, pests such as rats and mice will normally enter buildings to search for food, a place to construct their nests and to find shelter from cold temperatures outside. A pest control firm can then vouch for ways for you to avert these animals from getting inside. If you have already seen rodents inside your home, it is of extreme significance to act speedily so as to exterminate the infestation at once and to avert it from reoccurring again in the future. As rats and mice are able to breed rapidly, contacting a rodent control specialist instantaneously is a wise decision.

The cost of rodent infestation cleanup services in San Diego varies due to factors like the size of your attic or crawlspace, the extent of damage caused, and the amount of rodent-proofing that you will need to have installed to prevent more rats or mice from entering. Talking to our professionals can help you get a better idea of how we can help. We’ll even come to your house to provide a free inspection!

Rodent control experts can develop an effective action plan for you, contingent on the size of your property and on the sternness of the infestation. They have access to specialized equipment and products so as to get rid of mice and rats rapidly and resourcefully. These specialists have many years of experience in rodent control and will favorably help you in getting rid of an infestation gradually.

Why To Opt For Professional Rodent Control And Cleanup Services?

Written by Kevin on . Posted in rodent control. No Comments on Why To Opt For Professional Rodent Control And Cleanup Services?

Generally, a crawl space can become infected by pests or develop mold owing to surplus moisture that might arise from a multiplicity of sources. Leaking or damaged pipes, condensation, drainage from an outside irrigation cradle and standing water all can contribute to key problems beneath the house. Crawl space cleaning or rodent control San Diego is not an easy task for a landowner, particularly if mold has developed, or if you have black water. Pollutants can develop and if you do not have the correct types of tools or know the right techniques, using bleach to clean mold beneath the house in your crawlspace can be tremendously precarious. It is virtually necessary to contract with a proficient company like Attic Construction that specializes in insulation, rodent proofing, crawl space cleaning service & renovating properties that have been impaired by water.

Certified specialists can get rid of mold utterly, as well as resolve problems of moisture or standing water in your crawl space. Cleaning that encompasses mold remediation and any succeeding mutilation that has been done to your property might also encompass testing for mold and remediating services in other portions of your home, contingent on the extent of the impairment. Air duct cleaning, carpet cleaning and other amenities are often provided by the same company and can be accomplished all at once to make sure that the quality of your air improves and that no further problems arise.

In need of rodent proofing services in San Diego? or searching for “insulation installation near me” Orange County? Perhaps in the Phoenix area? Attic Construction provides a wide range of insulation services from installation, removal, attic cleaning, decontamination and more. Contact us today!

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