RODENTS… Your “RENT FREE “Tenants!
RATS & MICE… Please don’t be surprised to know that they may be living in your House from much before you Bought or Leased it.
They are Tenants who live in ‘Your’ home without ‘Your’ consent, sometimes without ‘Your’ knowledge and ‘Never Pay Rent’. They take shelter in ‘Your’ home, Breed large families in ‘Your’ home, Eat ‘Your’ food in ‘Your’ home and move around as they please, making you feel like second citizens in ’Your’ home !
WELCOME to the Rodent Infested World…
The Australian List of Rodents is a diverse list of mammals which have intriguing names like Rabbit Rats, Rock Rats, Water Rats, Stick Nest Rats, Mosaic-Tailed Rats, Prehensile-Tailed Rats, and Hopping Mice.
All these species have stemmed from a Hydromyini group, with each species establishing a unique niche in Australia’s unique habitat and homes. These scurrying rodents have always been on a “Shoot at Sight” mode with us Humans from time immemorial. In fact the name RAT is considered as a word of “Insult” amongst humans. They live quite close and around us than we can fathom… Nooks, Corners, Under Spaces, Holes, Pipes and where not.
They are not only ugly, scary and irritating but they are a Health hazard to the human inhabitants and carry with them many diseases, dangerous specially when there are Children and Pets in the house. Sometimes Rodents live and flourish all around you, without you realizing it, specially when all residents are out of the house in the day.
But if you do look around systematically and properly, you will surely come across Signs which Tell the Story of their presence in your precious home.
NO WONDER WE WANT TO ELIMINATE THEM ON SIGHT…
Residential Rodents
Before we know about the “Tell tale Signs “, let us know
HOW and WHY they enter and infest your Home!!
Food, Water and most importantly Shelter…
These are the 3 primary reasons why Rats and Mice enter your home and ultimately make it their own. Rats and Mice differ as far as Shelter is concerned. For Rats it is basically a place of rest and safety, where they come and go, mostly staying out. For Mice it is another Home or a Resort where they merrily live, procreate and prosper.
Once they’re settled, Food and Water become their next target or rather their daily life requirement. Open Food spots like Garbage Cans, Kitchen Sink etc. become their favourite hunting ground, so BCCPC recommends you to keep them clean and clear.
Entries and Exits…
A detailed survey of your House Structure will reveal many such Holes, gaps and Cracks from which these rodents enter. Basements, Garages, Roof Under Carriage ( Attic ) etc. are places to be checked thoroughly. All such holes, cracks and gaps should be sealed either by Cementing, Metal Barricades, Strong Wire Mesh, Steel Wool etc. Once those are sealed and done, you are sure that No New Tenants will arrive.
Then the next step is to search for their presence…
SOME TELL TALE SIGNS…
- Unfriendly Smells and Sounds
Rats in particular have a very powerful Ammonia Stink ( He smells like a Rat… a line frequently used by Humans for someone with foul smell ).
Rats are loud… their squeaks, scurrying and scratching is very noisy
If you experience any of the above, then your home is surely Rat Infested. - Excrement and Smudges
What goes in Comes Out… Since they’ve been eating well in your home, they’re bound to Defecate, so watch out for their excreta, poop, droppings etc.
Search for dark, smelly pellet shaped droppings…
Rats have weak eyes, so they leave smudges or tracks on the route when they travel along the walls. These greasy smears tell you about their presence. - Foot & Tail Marks
Rats and Rodents leave behind proper footprints when they walk around in your home, plus they also leave behind the swishing of tail marks.
Observe areas less used and where dust is present.
P.S : If you have a dust free home, then sprinkle flour powder or baking soda etc on the floor or kitchen platform, at night. You will get proof next morning… - Home Damage
Rodents are great Damagers of your precious Home and Belongings… They gnaw and chew whatever comes between their teeth since they’re Omnivores and eat everything they smell. So check around for Cut Electrical Cables, Chewed Books, Gnawed Furniture, Food Containers, Sofas, Pillows etc.
If you notice any of the above… Then our good advice is to call up a reputed and thoroughly experienced Pest Control Agency like Brisbane Commercial Cleaning and Pest Control.
DIY GUIDE – How To Eliminate Rats In The House Fast
It goes without saying that none of us would want to live with Rats and Mice scurrying around the house. Though BCCPC does not recommend it (since Rats need expert Eliminators) Yet… We have listed a few DIY Tips for ‘Rat Hunting’!
Chemical Free Methods
- Search and Seal
Search all holes, cracks and gaps all over your house and Seal them.
Check the Roof specially, don’t assume that they wont go so high…
Rats are great climbers and prefer such entries.
Rats and Mice are so flexible that they can squeeze thru the tiniest spaces.
So Seal them all.
Advice: If you’re not successful in assessing whether your home is Rodent Infested, then Call BCCPC for ‘Expert Assessment’. We are prepared to serve you in and around Brisbane at any point of time. - Rat Repellants
Every Home has these Natural Ingredients which can keep Rats and Mice at bay, at least for quite some time if not permanently.
Try Using Black Pepper, Cloves, Cayenne Pepper, Peppermint Oil, Red Chilly Powder etc. Sprinkle the powder and Spread the liquid generously on the home exteriors, identified entry points and on the line between your foundation and ground. - Clean Up Food and Water Access Points
Food and Water are the main attraction of all Rodents, once they have settled inside your domain. They eat relentlessly and eat everything since they are Omnivores.
So keep them away from accessing Food and Water:- Store all food in thick plastic, metal, or glass containers with airtight lids.
- Clear up spilled food immediately.
- Keep a Clean Sink, do not leave dishes in the sink – wash all utensils immediately after use.
- They love Pet Food too, so Store pet food securely and avoid leaving pet food and water bowls out overnight.
- Garbage is another favourite hunting ground. Keep it secured inside metal containers with tightly fit lids or thick plastic bags.
- Wash garbage cans frequently with hot water and soap.
- Trash, Compost etc. should be disposed regularly.
- Place Traps
Once you have sealed all entry and exit points and cleared all food and water sources, it is time to Set Multiple Traps to eliminate those Rodents who are residing in your domain.
Traps are the Non-Poison manner of Rat Elimination and though tedious they are successful to an extent.
Snap Traps are the preferred Traps to kill Rats fast and humanely, as Chemicals (Rodenticides and Harsh Poisons) are supposed to be cruel.
Glue traps are an alternative choice, though less humane but effective.
Place glue traps effectively on Rodent Travel Paths and check often and if need be, replace them often.
Use Peanut Butter, Seeds (salt free ), Bananas or Apples as Bait in your Traps…
In case you notice rats eating something specific, then you can place that as bait too. Like we mentioned they’re omnivores and eat everything.
Tip: Try to contact a professional pest elimination agency, in case you’re not comfortable with setting traps on your own. - Eliminate Hiding Spaces
The primary reason Rodents enter your home is for Shelter or Hiding Spaces.
Eliminating such spaces is a very effective way to eliminate them.
Let’s know How:- Zero Clutter in and around your home. Move Furniture objects away from Walls.
- Clothes Piles, Open Boxes, Heaps of Newspapers & Magazines etc. should be removed asap. These are Nesting Materials for them.
- Keep Boxes on a height, off the floor.
- Plastic is a deterrent for Rats, So use durable plastic containers instead of cardboard boxes.
Chemical Methods
Poisoned Bait
Warning:
We do not advise the usage of Rodenticides or Pesticides inside homes, specially with children and pets. It is high risk to do so since it requires careful handling even by adults, wearing gloves, covering your face etc. You should Hire a Professional Rodent Eliminating Agency like BCCPC to execute it. Rodenticide laden Bait is an effective way to eliminate rats and rodents but as we mentioned, great caution and care is required.
Rat Baits are divided into two segments… Anticoagulants and Non Anticoagulants. Anticoagulants kill rats by stopping the blood clotting process… Non-anticoagulants are single-dose poisons that kill rodents by stopping the energy producing mechanisms within the body cells. Baits come in various forms like Pellet Baits, Blocks, Food Baits, Liquid Baits etc. which can be mixed in fresh food.
Do Not Try Unproven Gadgets, Machines and Techniques Humorous yet Serious to Note:
- We all have seen and enjoyed the “ Tom & Jerry “ Cartoons since decades…
- We all find “Jerry” very very cute BUT Do Not take this seriously as Mice and Rats inside your home are far from Cute.
- One lesson we all must learn from the Cartoon is that a Mouse always Wins over the Cat !
- They are very intelligent and smart creatures and fast learners too.
- You Pet Cat might be able to kill a rat or two, that’s it…
- So No matter what, Do Not Try to use your Pets to eliminate Rats.
Period !
CLEANING UP THE MESS…
Time to Clean up the Mess…
Once your home is Rodent Free, it is imperative to clean up all the mess which they have left behind. This is a very tedious yet crucial factor of the entire process.
Some Tips for the same:
- Use Protective Gear
Rodent Droppings contain harmful bacteria and virus. It is important to handle it with thick rubber gloves and face mask. - Open Up the Contaminated Area
Sunlight and Fresh Air are very important to remove the stench and dry out the contaminated area after you clean up. Open all Windows for around 1 Hour and allow fresh air to circulate. - Soak and Spray
It is mandatory to Soak and Spray all the infested materials, urine patches, droppings with any commercial disinfectant or homemade solution. - Wipe it all
Use a disposable cloth or strong paper tissue to Wipe Up all the soaked up areas properly. Dispose the wiping medium in a plastic bag and throw it in any outdoor Garbage can. Do the same with the Protective Gear you used for this process
Advice: A Vacuum is a complete No No… Never use a vacuum cleaner for rat droppings, nesting material or urine. It can mix with the air and affect your health adversely. - Washing it All Use good detergent and hot water to wash your hands and the clothing worn by you during the cleaning process thoroughly.
- Health Observation It is important to keep a check on your Health, post the cleaning operation for any signs of fever or muscles aches, chill etc. Contact your Family Physician immediately in case you notice any of these signs.
How Does a Professional Pest Control Agency Eliminate Rats??
This is where a Professional Pest Control Agency like Brisbane Commercial Cleaning and Pest Control comes into the picture…
A Top of the Line Pest Control Agency has a completely Professional Approach to the entire operation. Our team of “Rat Busters” works with total knowledge about the behaviour of Rodents, their nature, habits, pattern, timing, eating habits, nests etc.
@ BCCPC
- We Inspect
Our first step is to inspect the Venue of Rat Infestation thoroughly. - We Evaluate
A detailed inspection helps us to evaluate the situation and plan the elimination process accordingly. - We Eliminate
Once we evaluate the situation, we go into action mode with our experienced team, acquired skills, techniques and required materials, to eliminate the existing rat population in your home. This includes Trapping, Baiting and Cleaning… - We Refuse
Once the rat population inside your home is eliminated, we take measures to ensure that “ We Refuse Entry “ to all Rats who live outside your home but want to come in. We thoroughly Double Seal all possible entry points which the rats had used in the past and also search for any probable ones and seal them too. - We Exit
Once all the above steps are done, We show you the results of the process done, give you the basic tips which you should follow in the future and “We Exit”.
SOME RAT FACTS U SHOULD KNOW:
- Call in a Professional Pest Control Agency like BCCPC in case the Rat Population multiplies beyond your control. They will ensure complete elimination and also identify the main reason of infestation, to prevent further nuisance.
- Rat Reproduction is a process which happens at an alarming rate. A Female Rat mates for around 500 times in an hour. The female of Brown Rat Species produces around 2000 Babies in a year. So you can imagine how fast they reproduce and Why you need a Professional Agency like BCCPC to wipe them out.
- Disease Couriers… Rats are known to be avid Couriers of a variety of Rodent Borne Diseases. Increasing rat population in your home could be very harmful to all inhabitants residing in your home. Rats are known to carry and spread Hepatitis E and Typhus which are harmful to humans.
