Have you had a favorite relative visit from a distant state, and you enjoyed the time you had with them? You sat enthralled by the stories, mesmerized by your aunt's knowledge, and felt comfortable in her presence. After a few fun days, however, the time came for her to leave, and you knew you wouldn't see her for a few more years. As she left the house to catch a ride to the airport, you gave her a hug and a tearful goodbye.
On the other hand, have you had a relative that drove you crazy? You dreaded when they came over for a visit because they were obnoxiously loud and arrogant; they made you feel worthless and dumb. When the day came for his return, you felt a sense of relief as you said your goodbyes.
Depending upon the situation, goodbyes can be difficult, or they can be a sign of relief. However, one goodbye is always good, satisfying, and rewarding; saying goodbye to rodents in your house. When these furry creatures invade your home, you want to see them gone, and the first step to booting them out is to secure the Reno pest control team from Celtic Pest Control. We are a locally owned and operated company, and our mission is to provide our community with high-quality pest control. We listen to your concerns to ensure you receive the proper service.
You probably found this article because you have rodents in your home and want to say "goodbye" to them for good. So, keep reading to learn how to eradicate these troublesome pests.
What Are Rodents?
Before you can say "goodbye" to rodents, let's say "hello" to them. Effective rodent control begins with identifying these creatures and learning their habits and behaviors. Once you understand what is invading your Reno home and how they act, you can form an attack plan to get them out of your house.
Rodents are warm-blooded animals with two eyes, two ears, four feet, and a tail with a furry body. Although that general description describes many creatures in the animal kingdom, what sets rodents apart from the pack is a single pair of ever-growing incisor teeth. Rodents use the upper and lower teeth to chew through wood, plastic, glass, thin metals, dirt, and roots. Because their incisor teeth grow constantly, rodents gnaw to keep their teeth from becoming too large in their mouth. If the teeth grow too large, the rodent will starve. Unlike other animals whose teeth become blunt and dull with wear, the combination of a soft dentine backside with a hard enamel front side creates a razor edge when rodents gnaw on objects. Thus, rodents chew to keep their teeth controllable and sharpen them.
Two types of rodents invade Reno properties; wildlife and commensal. Wildlife rodents avoid humans, do not wish to share the same habitat, and do not depend upon humans for sustenance. Examples of problematic wildlife rodents for many Reno homeowners include squirrels, groundhogs, voles, and chipmunks (woodrats). These rodents rarely invade Reno houses but cause property damage.
Commensal rodents do not mind living around humans and often rely on humans for food. The two primary examples of this group of rodents are rats and mice. There are two rat species that infest Reno homes; roof rats and Norway rats. Of the two groups, roof rats are more prominent. As their name suggests, roof rats invade attics and upper levels in homes. The smaller of the two commensal species, they have a slender, 16-inch body with brown fur interspersed with black hairs on the top side, grey or white hairs on the underside, a long, scaly tail, and large ears and eyes. On the other hand, Norway rats have round, plump bodies of the same length and fur with the same coloration; these rats prefer to stay on the ground level in homes where they hide in basements and under piles of debris in undisturbed areas.
There are many species of mice, but the house mouse is the most common in homes in Reno. This mouse has a dusty grey 2 1/2 to 3 3/4-inch body and a tail that adds another 2 3/4 to 4 inches to its total body length. These rodents prefer to live in secluded areas in nests constructed from insulation, fabric, packaging materials, and other items.
Whether it is wildlife or commensal rodents, Celtic Pest Control can stop a rodent infestation in your Reno home. Our licensed technicians know the signs of a rodent problem and can track and locate the hot spots of rodents on your property.
The Problems Rodents On Your Property Can Create
Wildlife and commensal rodents present different problems to Reno homeowners. With the occasional exception of squirrels, wildlife rodents remain outside the house where they damage property. Chipmunks build underground tunnels adjacent to sidewalks, concrete slabs, and patios, with several side chambers for food storage. Groundhogs create thirty-foot tunnels four to five feet underneath the soil. Pocket gophers tunnel six to 12 inches below the dirt and construct storage chambers as deep as six feet. Voles leave trenches above ground through the yard with several burrow openings.
These underground rodents harm gardens and landscape vegetation by chewing through root systems. They also feed on vines, trees, shrubs, and other plants. Wildlife tunneling rodents may chew through irrigation lines causing damage to grass growth, lawn aesthetics, and costly repairs. Their tunnels may collapse as people walk over them, creating a fall hazard and a potential for twisted ankles.
Of course, we have all seen our share of squirrels running through the yard. Although they prefer to live in trees, they occasionally invade attics looking for shelter. Using their sharp teeth, squirrels often chew through aluminum siding to access the attic. Once inside an attic, they tear through insulation and often destroy HVAC ductwork. They also will chew through wiring and cause short circuits and power and internet outages. Additionally, they defecate in the attic, and as a result, the odor moves throughout the house through the HVAC system.
Roof rats also invade attics through openings no larger than a nickel. Like squirrels, they also can create entry points by chewing through aluminum siding, drywall, and wood. Once in the house, roof rats build nests from the insulation, fabrics, and other materials. They also chew through electrical and internet wiring. Their droppings spread leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, tularemia, salmonellosis, and other bacterial diseases. They also transmit the cowpox virus and microscopic parasites that cause trichinosis. Dried fecal matter that enters the HVAC system may also prompt allergic reactions and trigger asthma attacks.
Norway rats spread similar bacterial-borne diseases and others like E. coli infection, and they carry additional parasites. Norway rats also chew two to three-inch diameter holes in walls and floors to create access to food and water sources. Because they hide in appliances and wall voids inside the house, they chew through electrical wiring, destroy devices, cause power outages, and may spark electrical fires.
Protect your family from harmful diseases and avoid destruction to your home by securing Celtic Pest Control.
Effective Rodent Exclusion Methods To Prevent Rats
Once our technicians from Celtic Pest Control eradicate rodents from your Reno property, there are several rodent prevention tips you can implement to keep them from returning in the future, such as:
- Remove rotting fruit, pet food, and animal feces from the yard.
- Eliminate wood piles, junk, and overgrown vegetation.
- Elevate firewood piles and move them 20 feet from the house.
- Keep outdoor garbage containers closed.
- Cover all attic and crawl space vents with wire mesh.
- Install a spark arrestor over the chimney opening.
- Seal gaps between incoming pipes and wires with steel wool.
- Close holes in the foundation and along the roof line of the home.
- Prune shrubs and tree branches away from the house.
Other exclusion techniques depend upon the rodent infestation. Installation of quarter-inch wire mesh around gardens, trees, and shrubs will protect against earth-dwelling rodents. The depth below and above the soil depends upon the problematic pest infesting your lawn.
When you secure one of our fully trained technicians from Celtic Pest Control for rodent control on your Reno property, we can advise about additional exclusion options.
The Key To Total Rodent Control For Reno Properties
Celtic Pest Control removes different types of rodents in the Reno area. We will send a licensed and trained technician to evaluate your situation. We will inspect the interior and exterior to identify entry points, attractants, and hot spots. We place baits and traps in strategic locations to stop the infestation. We work with you to eliminate food and water attractants to prevent future invasions. Our monthly and bi-monthly rodent service plans ensure you never again experience a rodent infestation. During our follow-up visits, we inspect the traps and apply barrier treatments when necessary.
Contact Celtic Pest Control today to learn more about our rodent removal plans and process and to schedule a free evaluation and get a free estimate.
What Celtic Pest Control Customers Are Saying
"My overall experience with your company was very good. They were on time and professional. They did good work and answered all questions we had. From the first point of contact with your company, we have had a good experience. Great customer service. We will use them in the future and highly recommend them!"
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