Rats

A rat is larger than a mouse and can weigh up to 0.5 kilograms (1 pound). The Norway rat and the roof rat look similar, but their habits are different. The Norway rat builds elaborate systems of tunnels and burrows at ground level. It prefers damp areas like crawl spaces or building perimeters. The roof rat is an agile climber and prefers to live in trees, vines, and other dense vegetation. It will infest attics, rafters, or roofs, and upper stories of buildings.

Mice and rats are carriers of disease, and can damage property.

Scampering and scratching sounds in the walls of your home at night, signs of gnawing or chewing, or damaged food packages can mean you have an infestation of mice or rats. Other signs include droppings and urine, burrows or holes in and around foundation walls, or tracks on dusty surfaces.

Mice and rats are prolific breeders. Tackle the problem of occasional invaders right away to avoid a severe infestation

Prevention is key in controlling rats and mice problems in your home.

Rodent-proof your home

The first line of defense is to get rid of easy entry points. Mice can squeeze through cracks as small as a dime, while rats can enter through a quarter-sized hole. Even the small gaps created by worn thresholds under doors will allow mice access to your home.

• Use metal weather stripping under doors, and weatherstrip windows.
• Patch cracks in foundations.
• Stuff steel wool around pipes before caulking or plastering.
• Cover dryer vents, attic vents, and soffits with fine mesh metal screening.

Make your home less appealing to rodents

• Remove cozy nesting sites in unused clutter around your house and garage.
• Cut tall grass and weeds back from your house.
• Secure garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Raise woodpiles about 30 centimeters (1 foot) off the ground. Place them away from your house.
• Never place fatty or oily food waste, eggs, or milk products in the composter.
• Use a layer of heavy metal mesh between the soil and the bottom of the composter.
• Eliminate water sources (like leaky taps, sweating pipes, and open drains).
• Keep your kitchen clean. Store dry food and dry pet food in metal or glass containers.

Use caution when near urine and droppings.

Don’t take any chances call a rat exterminator right away. For pest control in Winnipeg choose GL pest control.