Rats are the last things homeowners want to see in or around their Markham property. Unfortunately, rat infestations are more common than people think. According to wildlife control in Markham, early intervention is paramount with rat infestations.

One of the first signs of rats or rodents in your home or around your property is poop or droppings. If you see rat droppings, it is time to call a professional.

3 Things Every Homeowner Should Know About Rat Droppings

Rat droppings are small and can go unnoticed in some areas of your home. For example, if you have a cluttered basement, attic, or garage, you may not notice the feces behind bins, boxes, or other items. Keeping an area clean and performing routine checks to ensure wildlife is not nesting in your home is important. 

1. Identifying Droppings

People may confuse mouse droppings for rat droppings, but there are significant size and shape differences. Mouse droppings are small and elongated with sharper ends. Rat droppings are about the size and shape of an olive.

You will often find rat droppings in piles. Also, it is common to find feces near insulation materials. Unfortunately, the longer an infestation exists, the more scattered bathroom habits will get.

2. Staying Safe Around Droppings

It is best to stay away from rat droppings. Rat feces and urine are the leading causes of disease transmission between rodents and other animals, including people.

If you must enter an area with rat droppings, it is best to wear personal protective equipment. You should have gloves, coveralls, and a respirator or quality mask.

3. Cleaning Droppings

If you insist on cleaning the droppings yourself, take precautions. Besides wearing protective clothing and gear, you want to ventilate the room at least a half hour before you start. Also, do not sweep or vacuum up the dropping because that risks releasing pathogens into the air.

You should spray the droppings with a 10% bleach solution before picking them up with a paper towel. Once you remove all droppings, use the same solution to disinfect the affected area.

3 Reasons To Hire a Professional for Rat Removal and Cleaning

DIY is not the wisest or safest option for cleaning up after rats. Besides risking your health, DIY methods do not guarantee a rat-free house. Even if you use traps or other available tools for removal, which are inhumane, you have no way of knowing if you removed the entire colony. If you have a rat problem, there is only one way to resolve it correctly: hire a wildlife control service like Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control or some other service for rat removal near me. There are at least three reasons a professional is the best option for rat removal.

1. Exclusion Methods

Professional and humane wildlife control services remove colonies from properties using exclusion methods. Exclusion methods include using one-way exits. These devices will allow a rat to leave the property, but it cannot re-enter the same way.

A company will usually use these methods after identifying all entry points. The service strategically seals off entry points and installs one-way exits over any remaining spots. Finally, the service allows several days for the rats to exit the house.

2. Homeowner Safety

A professional service will not endanger the homeowners. Depending on the severity of an infestation, the company may even request a family move out until it can ensure the removal of the colony. Even if a family cannot leave the property, services will do everything in their power to ensure the safety and well-being of the homeowner.

3. Assurance and Service Guarantees

Finally, a professional service usually offers assurances to homeowners, including service guarantees. As pros, wildlife techs want to ensure homeowners feel safe and prepared in their homes.

Do you have rat droppings in your home? If so, contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control and schedule a property assessment.