Mice and Rat Control & Removal
I do not use poison. Poison poses a threat to your household, the
environment, and worst of all it leaves dead rats and mice in the
walls. We use integrated pest management, which means that we
trap existing animals, seal up areas where rats and mice enter, use
one-way doors if possible, modify habitat so that your home is less
appealing to them. We believe that this is the best approach. We
see pest control companies charging an arm and a leg to spread
some poison outside the home. That is absolutely ridiculous and
lazy, and doesn't solve anything.
Rat info: The most common nuisance rats are the Norway Rat, also
known as the Brown Rat, and the Roof Rat, also known as the Black
Rat, Ship Rat, or here in Florida, the Fruit Rat or Citrus Rat. Rats
are commonly associated with urban areas. They will go wherever
they can find food and shelter, and that often includes buildings.
Although they may look large, they need only a tiny hole (the size of
a quarter) or a 1/2 inch crack to fit through. Black and Norway rats
will consume many different types of plant and animal foods such
as insects, meat refuse, bird eggs, seed that has been spilled from
bird feeders, pet food that has been left outdoors, and almost any
food in your house. They also contaminate food with their urine and
feces. Rats contaminate huge percentages of agricultural produce
and food in the home or business. Rats are enormous carriers of
many different diseases, and it has been reported that rats bite
more than fifteen thousand people per year including the very
young, old or incapacitated. Rats are primarily nocturnal. Even
though they often live for less than a year, they can breed in large
quantities.
Mouse info: The house mouse weighs less than an ounce. It can fit
in a crack of only a quarter inch. They can and do get everywhere. If
your house has food and has any small openings, eventually mice
will find their way in. House mice eat many types of food but prefer
seeds and grain. They do not hesitate to sample new foods,
sampling many kinds of items in their environment. Foods high in
fat, protein, or sugar may be preferred even when grain and seed
also are present. A single mouse can't eat a whole lot, but because
of their habit of nibbling on many foods, discarding partially eaten
items, and defecating everywhere, mice destroy considerably more
food than they consume. Mice are primarily nocturnal, they can dig,
they chew like all rodents do, and they can produce a tremendous
number of offspring.
Nuisance concerns: They chew on wires and anything else they
can get their teeth on. They eat your food and contaminate it. They
leave droppings in the attic and everywhere. They spread filth and
pestilence. They once killed a third of Europe's people ...that's the
equivalent of at least a dozen Americans. Some examples of rat
diseases that can be spread by rodents are Salmonellas (acute food
poisoning), Rickettsia Pox, Hantavirus (via droppings), tapeworm,
infectious jaundice, and tularemia. I highly recommend attic
decontamination services if you've had rats living in your attic.
Wondering how to get rid of rats and mice? There is no magic
spray or device that you can use to make them go away. Some
people try to sell predator urine, such as coyote or fox urine to get
rid of mice, but that doesn't work. They also try to sell ultrasonic
sound emitters. These devices are worthless at eliminating rats.
Some old wive's tales recommend the use of mothballs or
ammonia-soaked rags to make them leave, but I've been to
countless homes where these techniques failed - biologists know
that these attempts won't work. The ONE AND ONLY WAY to take
care of your problem is with trapping and removal of the animals.
Call ANIMAL DC, LLC at (860)230-0310 or (860)334-3901