Why You Shouldn't Try To Get Rid Of Chicago Rats On Your Own

Rats are common rodents in Chicago. Far too common, if you ask us. In our area, the rats we deal with are Norway rats and roof rats. Norway rats are brown, ground-dwelling rodents that can take to living inside structures. Roof rats are black, tree-climbing rodents that prefer to live in structures. If Norway rats or roof rats establish themselves in your Chicago residence, it is important that you contact a licensed pest professional in Chicago; here's why.

Rats Aren't Easy To Control

There are many ways rat control can fail. Licensed rodent control technicians are not only trained in industry-leading control methods and products, but they also have experience with rodent control and have learned, sometimes the hard way, how to prevent rats from outsmarting them. If you're considering doing your own rat control, there are a few things you should know.

How Traps Might Fail

• Rats don't like new things. If you place something in their environment, they're likely to avoid it.

• Rats have a strong sense of smell. If you place traps down with your hands, rats can smell the oils from your skin on the traps. This will cause them to avoid your traps.

• Rats don't have good eyesight and will use their whiskers to navigate. For this reason, they usually stay close to walls or near objects and recesses in cluttered spaces as they explore. If you put traps in the middle of a closet or storage room, rats may not go anywhere near your traps.

• Rats are fast. If you lay spring traps down, a rat may move fast enough to avoid the death blow.

Traps are only one way to stop rats. There are many products that promise rat control. Here are a few things you should know:

• If you buy a cat to address your rat problems, you're likely to be disappointed. Some cats won't go after rats. In fact, a rat can intimidate a cat. But, even if you find a cat that has the determination to take down a rat, it won't be able to get into your walls where rats hide.

• If you decide to use a poisoned bait, you could have dead rats decaying inside your walls. That can produce an unpleasant smell.

• If you decide to use an ultrasonic device, you should know that these items need to be placed close enough to the infested area to have any impact, and that the amount of ultrasonic sound required to drive all the rats out of your home would be enough to drive you out as well.

• If you spray or lay down scents that deter rodents, be aware that rats will often find a way around these, or just push through the bad smells to get to what they want.

Rats Can Present A Threat

When your rat control fails, you're left exposed to all of the many threats rats can present to you, your family, your belongings, and your home. Here are just a few:

• Rats leave urine and feces in many places.

• Rats contaminate surfaces, dishes, silverware, stored foods, and other areas with unseen bacterial organisms.

• Rats bring ticks and fleas into a home. These can transmit a long list of diseases.

• Rats chew on building materials, such as baseboards, sheet rock, insulation, and more.

• Rats chew on stored items. They'll rip up clothing and use the material for their nests. They'll chew a hole in upholstered furniture and create a nest inside. They'll chew a hole in cardboard boxes and explore the objects inside.

• Rats chew on wires and gas lines. This can cause a fire. Experts believe that as many as 25 percent of fires that are ignited by an unknown source are likely to be the result of rodent infestation.

You Need To Know The Rats Are Gone

Perhaps the worst issues with DIY rat control is that residents don't know when their rat control fails. Rats can live inside a home without making any detectable noises. If you manage to capture and remove one or two rodents, there could be dozens left inside your home that you don't know about. This will allow rodents to continue to present the threats listed above.

What To Do About Rats

At the first sign of a rat problem, contact Aerex Pest Control. Our highly-trained and experienced service professionals use industry-leading rat control products and strategies to get control of rat infestations in Chicago. They are also trained in rodent surveillance. If any rats remain, your technician will know. This can give you peace of mind. Reach out to us today and ask about our pest control service options in Chicago. We'll guide you toward the right options for your specific needs and budget.