Rat Snap traps
Preparation: Wear gloves to prevent transferring your scent to the trap, which could deter rats.
Baiting: Apply a small amount of bait such as peanut butter, bacon, dry pet food, or nuts to the trap’s trigger mechanism.
Placement: Place the trap against a wall at a 90-degree angle, with the trigger side closest to the wall. Rats tend to travel along walls, so this increases the chances of capture.
Safety: Ensure the trap is placed in an area where children and pets cannot access it. (They do hurt)
Glue traps
Setup: Remove the protective paper from the glue trap to expose the adhesive.
Placement: Position the traps along active rodent pathways, such as along walls, under large appliances, and in cupboards.
Disposal: Once a rodent is captured, wrap the trap and rodent in a bag and dispose of them in the trash.
Sealing Your Home: We always suggest an exclusion first before you implement rat removal techniques, this way you can stop more from entering your home while you decrease the population from the inside. Sealing them in also increases the chance that they go to your baited traps. We Seal holes and gaps in your home’s exterior, including where utility lines enter, gaps around doors and windows with materials like caulk, steel wool, or metal flashing.
Repair Damaged Structures: Fix broken ventilation screens, damaged roofing, and other structural weaknesses that could provide access to rats.
Control Water Sources: Fix leaky faucets, pipes, and drains to eliminate water sources that could attract rats. Ensure gutters and water drainage systems are functioning properly to prevent water accumulation.
Remove Shelter: Clear away debris, trim vegetation away from buildings, and maintain yards to reduce shelter for rats. Keep woodpiles off the ground and away from the house.
Here are a few reasons you need rat removal.
Rats constantly gnaw on various materials to maintain their teeth at a manageable length. Their incessant gnawing can significantly damage building structures, furniture, and electrical wiring. This destructive behavior not only compromises the integrity of these materials but also poses a risk of sparking electrical fires due to damaged wiring.
In their quest for shelter, rats choose dark and secluded areas within buildings for nest building, such as attics or wall cavities. They adeptly use shredded materials to construct their nests. This activity can greatly harm insulation and lead to various structural issues. The presence of nests within the walls or other hidden areas can go unnoticed for a long time, exacerbating the damage.
Norway rats, in particular, are known for their burrowing habits. They dig extensive networks of tunnels, which can severely undermine building foundations. This burrowing not only affects the stability of structures but can also cause significant damage to gardens and landscaping. The aesthetic and structural integrity of outdoor spaces can be compromised as rats disturb the soil and uproot plants during their digging activities.
Rats can carry more than 35 diseases, here are the common ones.
Rat-Bite Fever (RBF): This disease can be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches from infected rats, or by handling rats with the disease without proper handwashing afterward. Symptoms include fever, rash, and arthralgic joint pain. It can be caused by two different bacteria.
Streptobacillus moniliformis or Spirillum minus Leptospirosis: A bacterial disease that can be transmitted through direct contact with rat urine or through water, soil, or food contaminated with infected rat urine. Symptoms range from mild, flu-like symptoms to severe illness with kidney or liver failure and meningitis.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS): This viral disease is transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings, or saliva. Humans can become infected through inhalation of contaminated dust from rodent nests or droppings. Early symptoms mimic the flu, including fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, but it can rapidly progress to severe respiratory distress.
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM): This viral infectious disease is transmitted through the saliva and urine of infected rats. It can cause neurological diseases such as meningitis and encephalitis. Symptoms include fever, malaise, lack of appetite, muscle aches, headache, nausea, and vomiting.
Vanishing Varmints prides itself on assisting our customers to the fullest extent of our capabilities. Our team holds valid licenses and has undergone thorough training to address every situation effectively.