Have you seen rats around your property in Ajax or signs of infestation? If so, you are not alone. Approximately six months ago, a plaza with a significant rat population was demolished, leaving the rodents homeless and in search of a new place to settle. They chose the neighborhoods of Burden Crescent and Finley Avenue, prompting residents to seek out Ajax rat removal options.

However, the infestation in Ajax is not an isolated problem. Cities across North America and around the world are dealing with increases in rat populations. New York City is famous for having a thriving rodent community throughout its streets and tunnels. Contrary to popular belief, there are not more rats in New York than there are people, but the number of rats that live there is approximately one-quarter of the human population. Fortunately, there are effective and humane solutions to this global problem.

How and Why Rats Enter Homes

Rats enter buildings inhabited by humans for two main reasons: warmth and food. Human dwellings offer both in abundance. While you may notice signs of rat infestation at any time of the year, they are more likely to move in during the autumn and winter as the weather gets colder.

Cracks in the walls, gaps around windows and doors, holes in the roof, improperly closed garage doors, and (rarely) sewer pipes can all allow a rat access to your home. Rats can enter through smaller spaces than you may realize. It is known that a rat can easily squeeze into an opening as narrow as two inches. By some estimates, rats need only a ½-inch hole to enter a home. Furthermore, if an opening is not big enough to begin with, a rat may be able to enlarge it by gnawing.

What Rats Do To Your Home

You may not see the rats themselves after they enter your home, as they usually only come out at night when you are sleeping. However, you may see signs, such as food storage bags and boxes that have been chewed through. Rats tend to creep alongside walls because they have poor eyesight, so you may notice greasy smudges along the bottom of your wall where their fur has come in contact.

You may notice damage to electrical cords from rats gnawing at them. This has the potential to start a house fire, meaning a rat infestation is not only a nuisance but potentially dangerous as well. Rats also chew up soft material like clothing or insulation to build a nest.

Why It Is Important To Act Quickly

In addition to the extensive damage they can do to your home, rats can also spread diseases to humans. Direct or indirect contact with rats and their excrement can lead to bacterial infections, such as salmonella or rat-bite fever, or viral infections, such as hantavirus or tularemia. Rats may also be indirectly responsible for diseases spread by parasites like fleas and ticks.

Like most rodents, rats breed quickly and prolifically. A single female rat can have up to seven litters of 14 babies per year. That’s bad enough, but each of those babies matures and becomes ready for breeding within four weeks. Thanks to this kind of multiplication, it is reasonable to suspect at least 25 unseen rats for every one that you observe.

What To Do About Rat Infestation

Because the problem can quickly spiral out of control, it is best to seek professional rat removal services in Ajax as soon as you notice signs of infestation. Not only are the rodents removed and the contaminated areas thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, but the entry points are also sealed to prevent the rats from coming back. Find out more about rodent removal services from Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control.