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Rat Control in the Carolinas

Controlling and Preventing Rat Infestations in the Carolinas

 

North Carolina and South Carolina are nothing if not beautiful places to live and work. Gorgeous weather, numerous opportunities, and plenty of lush natural areas to explore make the Carolinas and the surrounding areas appeal to just about anyone.

However, the perks and benefits that make the Carolinas great places for people also make them ideal places for rats and other pests to thrive. Rats can be incredibly destructive to your home or business, as well as hazardous to your health, so it’s crucial to act as soon as you realize there might be an issue.

At Clark’s Pest Control, we leverage experienced technicians, environmentally responsible products, and cutting-edge technology to provide our clients with unparalleled rat control solutions. Here’s an overview of what makes Clark’s Pest different, as well as some facts every North or South Carolina property owner should know about how to prevent and eliminate a potential rat problem.

 

Rat Exterminator in the Carolinas

What Kinds of Rats Live in North and South Carolina?

 

The most common types of rats found throughout the Carolinas and the surrounding areas are the Norway rat (also known as the common brown rat) and the roof rat (also known as the ship rat or black rat). Both types commonly infest homes, businesses, and other structures.

Depending on where in the Carolinas you live and what the area is like, you may also encounter brown rats and marsh rice rats. Brown rats tend to favor dense urban environments, while marsh rice rats love wetland settings. Woodrats and voles also exist throughout the Carolinas.

 
 

Why It’s Important to Call a Rat Exterminator Right Away

 
 

If you’re like most people, the mere thought of rats living in your home or running freely around your business makes you sick to your stomach, and with good reason. Rats can carry numerous diseases, some of which are potentially deadly. These include:

 
  • Rate bite fever
  • Plague
  • Murine typhus
  • Lymphocytic choriomeningitis
  • Hantavirus
  • Leptospirosis
  • Tularemia
  • Salmonella

Associated pathogens most often spread through the rats’ droppings and urine, so it’s important to clean potentially affected areas thoroughly. It’s also important to be careful if you ever come into direct contact with a rat, as they’re known to bite and can potentially spread disease through their saliva.

Rats can also cause considerable damage to your property. They chew constantly, as their teeth grow perpetually, and need to stay filed down. Once they’re on your property, their chewing material of choice is typically the wood in your walls, your furniture, or your pipes. Rats can chew through electrical wiring, which is a serious fire risk. They can even damage vehicles with their nesting and chewing.

Rats can also spell trouble for even the most popular North or South Carolina business, as well. All it takes is one rat sighting to make a customer wary about ever coming back, and word travels fast when it comes to rodent infestations.

That’s why it’s crucial not to wait around if you’ve seen a rat on your property or noticed potential signs that they could be around. Rat problems can balloon out of control quickly, and they don’t get better on their own. The sooner you call a qualified rat control company like Clark’s Pest Control, the better.

 

The Clark’s Pest Control Approach to Rat Control and Rodent Monitoring

 

So, what happens after you get in touch with a Clark’s Pest rep to talk about rat control solutions? We’ll send one of our rodent control experts out to your property to conduct a thorough inspection and assess the situation. From there, they’ll decide on a solid course of action, both to address the current situation and prevent future re-infestations.

The actual solutions implemented will depend on your unique situation, property, and needs. However, examples include tried and true techniques like baiting and trapping, as well as the use of environmentally responsible but effective treatments.

Clark’s Pest Control also offers top-of-the-line rodent monitoring and control options like Anticimex SMART Rat Control, an advanced, eco-friendly system that uses infrared technology and automated messaging to keep your property safe around the clock. Anticimex is available for Carolina properties of all types, including commercial structures and municipal buildings.

 

How to Tell Whether You Have Rats

 

Like most rodents, rats are nocturnal, so you may not notice their presence right away. However, if the infestation is in your home, you may eventually notice strange rustling or scratching noises at night, especially within your walls.

If it’s your business that’s infested, the first sign that you need a rat exterminator will likely be their droppings. Pay attention to the size, number, and location of droppings, as they can offer important clues as to what kind of rat you’re dealing with, how many there are, and where they’re congregating.

Other potential signs of rats or other rodents include:

  • Holes: Rats tend to chew holes in the walls, usually about the size of a dime or slightly bigger.
  • Chew marks: Anything that looks like it’s been chewed by little gnawing teeth – including food packaging and furniture – is almost certainly a sign of rodents.
  • Nesting material: Rats and other rodents create nests by shredding paper, cloth, and other soft materials. You may find such nests in out-of-the-way places where rats feel safe, like attics or the back corners of closets.

Some people also report smelling foul odors or noticing grease smears along walls and baseboards where rodents pass often.

 

Carolina Rat Control FAQs

The following are some frequently asked questions many North and South Carolina property owners have about rats and potential rat infestations.

Rats tend to travel in packs, so there’s rarely just one, even if one is all you see. However, if you see several rats at once, it’s almost guaranteed that you have an infestation.

Rats don’t need especially large openings to enter a structure. If their heads can fit, then the rest of their bodies can follow. Most rats get in through small cracks and holes or by burrowing underneath the foundation of a property.

Check your property for potential points of entry, and address any you find immediately. Keep your home clean and your property clear of excess brush, debris, and garbage that can attract rats and other rodents.

Female rats are ready to mate and reproduce within weeks of birth. They’re also capable of giving birth multiple times a year and to multiple babies rats each time, so a rat infestation can get out of control quickly.

Not at all. Clark’s Pest Control is great at both mouse and rat control, but we also handle other common Carolina pests like mosquitoes, ants, roaches, and more.

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