Rats are sneaky creatures that love to meddle in apartment buildings. However, tenants usually aren't fans of them. You may feel paranoid for several nights as you listen to skittering above your head. Yet after a while, you know something is there. Here are a few indicators that you've got a rat problem in your apartment.
Tenants may suspect a problem when their apartment begins to smell funky, the San Francisco Chronicle stated. Though initially a roommate may be blamed for forgetting to take out the trash, you eventually realize the smell isn't going away. The smell may be musky, as a result of the combination of rodent droppings, fur and possibly decomposition.
Though you may assume you have a really loud neighbor, this sound also isn't going away. Through the ceiling, tenants might hear sounds of skittering or rustling randomly or for one long period of time. Rodents are usually the most active in the early morning or at night.
One of rats' daily activities is gnawing. Rats need to gnaw on hard objects such as wood to prevent their teeth from growing. Rats will chew through drywall, plastic, pipes, wood and so on. However, this behavior puts your ceilings at risk, since they may chew their way right through it, Attic-Rat noted. If rats are sneaky enough, they may invade your apartment through the wall and begin to steal food. Check your apartment for small holes in walls, ceilings and food boxes such as cereal.
Another indicator of the presence of rats are nests. Regardless of whether the rat is wild or a pet, all rats like to build nests. Rats will use various sources to create a nest. If the rats are in the ceiling, they may use insulation, paper, sawdust, leaves and twigs and other objects to do the job. If the rats have made their way from the ceiling to the apartment, there are a few places they'll make their new home. Look in cabinets, behind furniture, in empty dressers and underneath sinks - all of these are common spots.
One of the most blatant signs that you have a rat problem are droppings. Tenants can look for small piles of droppings around their apartment, which usually are the size of raisins. Rats aren't polite - they'll go to the bathroom anywhere. You may also come upon food left by rats. If rats have stolen some of your food, you may find small remnants of shells and crumbs.
If you suspect you have a rodent problem, contact your landlord about a rat exterminator. He or she can call pest control services who can properly take care of the problem.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
Not every creature that visits your property is a dangerous nuisance. Many animals actually offer a number of benefits that keep your yard healthy. Predatory animals, in particular, actually offer natural pest control. Here are five common suburban creatures that can help keep more difficult or annoying animals at bay:
The customer is always right, and this is especially true if he or she is complaining about seeing a mouse or cockroach. Pests have no place in your organization, as bugs and rodents will turn away potential business or even lead to a possible lawsuit. Keeping your company protected requires a proactive approach. Work with a pest removal specialist to identify the best ways to stop creatures from infesting your business. Here are just a few ideas for successfully mitigating and preventing any issues:
You might see an influx of rodents at this time of year, because as the weather cools mice and rats seek warmth anywhere they can find it. Unfortunately, that often means inside residential homes. Many homes may experience rodent infestations at this time of year more than any other. Whether they're getting into your garage, basement or kitchen, it's important to put a stop to them before the problem becomes too serious and requires the intervention of a professional pest control agency.
Summer is almost here and before you head out on a family trip or even if you travel for work, consider doing a little research so you become familiar with bed bugs. This will help you identify them quickly and it could keep you from bringing them home unknowingly!
With the promise of summer also comes the promise of bugs. Homeowners have to stay vigilant, lest they find ants - or worse - rifling through their food.
You might've heard that cockroaches can survive a nuclear blast. If the worst should happen and the world succumbs to nuclear war, the cockroaches would reign supreme as the one and only organism left on earth. This hardly seems fair - consider how much time humans have spent trying to control cockroach populations. You might've chased one of them out of the bathroom this morning! So, if they really can withstand a nuclear blast, what chance do we have of managing cockroach infestations at home?
