Worried About Rats in Corvallis?
If so, you’re not alone. Just a few years ago was one of the worst years in recent memory for pesky rodents in Corvallis, Oregon. In 2018, wildlife specialist Dana Sanchez said, “Eugene and parts of Portland are experiencing a notable increase. It could mean there are more rats or it could be evidence that people are providing more habitat.” The stigma associated with a rodent infestation may be part of the problem, according to Sanchez: “There are definite social norms that say if you have rodents living near you it’s associated with dirtiness, garbage, and waste products. There’s a reticence to admitting to seeing rats or talking about them because there’s a fear of public shaming. That works to the rats’ advantage because people aren’t finding cooperative solutions to a collective problem.” Rats are pests, and while there certainly is a social stigma, pests require pest control.
More Information About Oregon Rats
The two most common types of rats found in the area are non-native species: Rattus rattus (black rat) and Rattus norvegicus (brown rat). Black rats grow up to five to six inches long while adult brown rats can reach sixteen inches long. Rats are drawn to food sources, and they’re not picky! The rodents will eat pet food, chicken food, birdseed, and kitchen scraps in outdoor compost piles. Even if your compost pile doesn’t have kitchen scraps, it still may provide a home for insects that the rats will eat. If rats make their way into your home, they’ll eat any food they can find and look for a nest. While some people are fearful of rats due to their historical association with the bubonic plague, it’s unlikely that rats could cause another bacterial outbreak of that magnitude. However, rats still may transmit bacteria and other diseases. That’s why it’s important to make a concerted effort to prevent a rodent infestation.
Tips For Preventing Rodent Infestations
As your local pest control experts, we’ve put together this handy guide on how to avoid a rat problem at your home or business.
1. Remove Existent Rats or Mice
The first step to controlling a rat infestation is getting rid of any rodents who have taken residence on your property. The most effective way to do this is to call your local pest control company so that they can evaluate the situation and provide the best response to your uninvited guests.
2. Seal Everything
After ridding your home of any critters, make sure to rid them of any access to your home by sealing up any possible entryway, including:
- the roof, including the rafters, gables, and eaves
- around windows and vents
- around and under doors
- around the foundation
- around holes for utility lines
- around the pipes under sinks, washing machines, hot water heaters, and furnaces
- inside the attic
- in the basement and laundry room
- where the floor meets the wall inside your home
If you find any holes, fill them with steel wool. Then, put caulk around the steel wool. You can use metal sheeting or hardware cloth to cover large holes, but you may want to consult a contractor if the damage is too extensive for you to easily fix on your own.
3. Clean Up Your Yard
To prevent rodents from finding their way into your home, you need to do some work outside. First, make sure that any overhanging tree branches are trimmed. Rats are clever creatures, and they’ll crawl up trees and use them to hop onto your roof and get into your home. Make sure all bushes and shrubs are at least three feet from the side of your home. Clean up any clutter, garbage, or other debris from the yard. These things provide shelter and hiding places for rodents. Remove all possible outdoor food sources for rodents outside. Fruit trees attract rodents, so make sure you regularly remove any dropped fruit from the ground. As an added measure, you can install sheet metal around your trees’ trunks. Additionally, planting mint in your garden can help deter rats and mice.
4. Eliminate All Rat Food Sources
Rats won’t stick around if they don’t have anything to eat or a place to nest. Make sure to eliminate all possible food sources for rodents in and around your home:
- Keep all food in tightly sealed containers made from thick plastic or metal.
- Keep all outside cooking areas clean and tidy (including grills, etc.).
- Keep compost bins as far away from the house as possible.
- Keep bird feeders away from the house.
- Keep animal and pet food put away in containers with tightly-fitting lids.
- Clean up all spilled food immediately and wash all dishes and utensils shortly after you use them.
How Can The Killers Pest Control Help You?
If you’re having a problem with rodents at your home or business in Corvallis, call The Killers Pest Control today! Consider signing up for our Platinum Premium Home Service, which includes pest control for ants, mice, rats, boxelder bugs, spiders, fleas, roaches, silverfish, and more! The service includes the following:
- Complete pest inspection.
- Injecting the exterior wall voids where ants nest (as needed).
- Treating exterior foundation around the building.
- Treating for potential ant colonies in crawlspaces (as needed).
- Treating the baseboards in the home.
- Applying baits for any live ant activity.
- Treating eaves, gutters, and downspouts for spiders and wasps.
- Installing locking childproof rodent bait stations for rodents (as needed).
- Installing snap or sticky traps for rodents where necessary.
- Boracare borate treatment on the sill plates and pier posts in the building’s crawlspace.
The Platinum Premium Home Service comes with a one-year warranty and follow-up service every three months. During the warranty period, we allow our customers to call in for extra service for no extra charge. Call today to get started and find out why over 400 customers have given us positive reviews!
