There are four main types of rats here in Canada, and we promise you that despite their unassuming size, all of them can become a huge nuisance.
We get it: you may feel like you have bigger problems to worry about than a stray rat or two. But lurking in the quiet corners of your home is a host of hidden dangers these tiny pests carry with them.
Whether you've noticed a single rat or you're dealing with a full-blown rat infestation, it's important to know about the hazards you're facing. Here are the five biggest issues that rats bring through your door:
1. Rapid Breeding
If you've seen a rat in your home, it's a bad idea to turn away and hope the problem goes away on its own. Rats can reproduce at staggering rates, with one study suggesting that a pair of rats can produce almost half a billion descendants in only three years.
While it's unlikely that things will ever get that far in your home, the last thing you'll want to do is allow these unwanted guests to breed. Instead, make sure to speak to a rat pest control specialist as soon as possible to nip the issue in the bud.
2. Allergies
Just as some people are allergic to pets, it's also possible to struggle with allergies to the rats in your walls. Despite how small rats are, they shed fur, produce dander, and release other airborne allergens. This can lead to annoying problems like sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and itching around the eyes, lips, and throat.
Worse, if anyone in your household has asthma or other respiratory conditions, these allergic reactions can be an even bigger health hazard.
3. Disease
One of the main hazards of rats is that they can carry a number of harmful diseases. While many of these are mild, some can get dangerous fast.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is one of the most common diseases humans encounter through rats, and its severe flu-like symptoms can sometimes require medical treatment. Rodents can also carry the salmonella bacteria as well as rat bite fever, tularemia, and the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV).
In addition to direct transmission, rats can transmit diseases via parasites. Fleas, ticks, and mites can spread diseases like tick fever. Fleas can even spread the Bubonic plague!
4. Flea and Tick Bites
As if the spread of diseases wasn't enough, the tiny pests that rats carry in their fur can be a nuisance throughout your home. It's common for households with rats to notice an increase in tick and flea bites. Both of these can lead to unpleasant skin irritation and even dangerous allergic reactions.
5. Home Damage
In addition to the rat health hazards we've listed above, you'll also have to worry about structural damage to your home.
Beyond fecal matter, the most telling signs of rats include the gnawing of various objects in your home. This can include upholstered furniture, insulation, walls, and even electrical wires.
If left unchecked, this can lead to structural damage, exposed electrical wires, broken ducts, and even holes in certain types of pipes!
Let Us Tackle Your Rat Infestation
While it may be tempting to ignore your uninvited guests, there are no benefits to putting off a phone call to a rat control specialist.
Getting rid of your rat infestation can help you and your household avoid both major health risks and structural damage. If you're ready to evict these tiny rodents, reach out to the team at The Bugman Pest Control for a free quote today. We provide rat and rodent control in Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon and throughout the Okanagan.