How Can Rats Get in Your House?
WouterOne of the best ways to prevent rats from entering your house is to avoid opening any holes in your walls and roof. Rats can squeeze through holes as small as 3/4 inch in diameter. To keep rats out of your home, seal any holes or crevices with wire wool or metal kick plates. Don’t leave leftover food outside, and clean up any clutter. You can also hire a pest control company to locate and seal any holes and crevices to prevent rat entry.
Rats are attracted to warm places and will try their best to get inside your house. Make sure you put away anything that would attract rats, such as dog food and unsealed garbage cans. This way, you can minimize the damage they do to your home. Rats are opportunistic eaters, which means they will consume anything that’s available.
Aside from droppings, other evidence that rats are present in your house are burrow marks. If you notice these, they may have gnawed paper and cardboard. Rats can also get into your home through smallest cracks, so make sure you seal these areas and feed your pets on a regular schedule.
Rats are destructive and can cause a variety of problems, including food poisoning. Rats tend to like to browse through garbage and feces, and can contaminate the food in your kitchen. The resulting bacteria can cause salmonella, which is a life-threatening disease. Additionally, rats can cause fires by chewing through electrical wires. According to experts, damage caused by rats is responsible for 20-25% of house fires that are not categorized as accidental.
