When you find rats in your crawl space, it can be upsetting. These animals are not only bad for your health, but they can also damage your home and make it a bad place to live. If there are rats in your crawl area, you need to take action right away to get rid of them in a safe and effective way. Here’s a step-by-step plan to help you deal with this tough situation:
Step 1: Assessing and getting ready:
Before you start getting rid of rats, you’ll need to figure out how bad the problem is and get the tools and supplies you’ll need. Put on protected gear like gloves, a mask, and goggles to avoid getting rat droppings and other harmful substances on your skin.
Step 2: Find points of entry:
Check your crawl space to find the holes that rats are using to get in. These could be holes, cracks, or gaps in the base, pipes, or vents. By finding these places of entry and sealing them up, you can stop future infestations.
Step 3: Lay down traps:
Rats can be caught and taken out of your crawl space with the help of traps. Set up snap traps or live traps in places where you have seen rats. Lures like peanut butter or dried fruits can be used to bait the traps. Check the traps every day and get rid of any rats you catch by following the rules in your area.
Step 4: You can use rodenticides if you want to.
If the problem is bad enough that traps aren’t enough, you might want to use rodenticides. These are poisonous traps that rats eat, which kills them in the end. But rodenticides should be used carefully because they can hurt pets and other animals. Follow the directions from the maker and keep them away from children and pets.
Step 5: Take away nesting materials and trash:
Rats often use things they find in your crawl space to make nests. Take away any trash, boxes, insulation, or other things rats could use to build a nest. This will make rats less likely to come back to the area.
Step 6: Wash and clean:
After the rats are gone, the crawl area needs to be cleaned and sanitized. Rat poop, urine, and breeding materials can spread disease and be dangerous to your health. When you clean, wear gloves and a mask and use a cleaner to clean the area well.
Step 7: Fix and close:
Now that your crawl space is clean, you should fix any damage that rats did. Seal all holes and cracks to keep pests from coming back. Use steel wool, wire mesh, and caulk to seal off places where rats could get in.
Step 8: Watch and stop:
Check your crawl area for signs of rats on a regular basis. Keep the place clean, dry, and well-ventilated so that rodents won’t want to live there. To keep rats from coming back, you might want to place vent screens and use materials that rats don’t like.
Step 9: Get help from a pro:
If there are a lot of rats or they keep coming back despite your efforts, you should call a professional pest control service. Experts in pest control have the skills, tools, and understanding to deal with rat infestations and find long-term solutions to keep them away.
Step 10: Maintaining it regularly:
Regular upkeep is needed to keep rats from coming back. Check your crawl space regularly, seal any new places of entry, and keep it clean. By being proactive, you can lower the chance that rats will come back to your crawl area.
In conclusion, to get rid of rats from your crawl space, you need a plan that includes a thorough inspection, trapping, cleaning, fixing, and avoiding future infestations. You can handle smaller infestations on your own, but if the problem keeps coming back, you may need help from an expert. By following this step-by-step guide and taking preventive steps, you can make sure that your home’s crawl space is free of rats and has a healthier atmosphere.
Rat Control Oshawa, our technicians have the knowledge as well as years of experience in handling rat problems. Whether it is an infestation or an intrusion, our licensed and fully insured teams of technicians handle the problem swiftly and discreetly.