Rats and Mice in the Summer
Summer is the prime season for pest activity, and rats and mice are no exception to this rule. While mice and rats can be a problem any time of year, warm weather means abundant food for these animals and they are able to move freely outdoors, making a rat or mouse infestation all the more likely.
Many people aren’t sure how to tell when they’ve got a mouse or rat infestation at home. There are a few signs that suggest this is the case, such as seeing rats or mice around the building, hearing chewing or crawling sounds inside walls or ceiling spaces, finding droppings or finding chewing damage to stored food, furniture or building features. If a rat or mouse infestation is suspected, the best thing to do is call a professional pest control company, whose trained experts can confirm an infestation, tell the difference between rats and mice, and safely deal with the problem.
Professional pest control is the best way to deal with a mouse or rat infestation for a number of reasons. Firstly, these pests can be notoriously difficult to deal with, being small and adaptable to a variety of conditions. Only a professional pest control company can provide a guarantee that they will keep tackling the problem until it is properly dealt with, not just set out a few traps and hope for the best.
Secondly, rats and mice can be a health and safety hazard, both for people and for pets. Rodents may carry parasites that can infect dogs and cats in the household, and their droppings are unhygienic and can harbour bacteria and other pathogens that can infect people and cause serious diseases. If left untreated, or if dealt with improperly, rodent infestations can lead to serious health consequences.
Finally, methods for dealing with a mouse or rat infestation require professional knowledge to be effective and to be done safely. Traps need to be laid correctly in order to work and not to be a hazards for curious children or pets, and poison bait needs to be properly handled to avoid accidental contamination or poisoning of people, pets or wildlife. Dead pests need to be properly disposed of to avoid further health risks as well as unpleasant odours, and only professionals can provide advice on how to correct any underlying problems that might have contributed to the rat or mouse infestation in the first place.
When it comes to pest control, don’t take chances: pick up the phone and call us, your local pest control experts, right away.