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Rats

There's nothing fun about finding rats around your home or property. Rats have been plaguing humans for centuries, famous for their continuously-growing sharp teeth, their desire for human food, their tendency to get into homes and buildings and create nests and their health problems - rats are the essence of a pest. Not only are rats unhealthy animals to have around your home or business, the damage rats do can be extensive and costly depending on the size of the infestation.

Western Exterminator is the expert in rat removal and rat prevention services and we have the latest methods for finding where rats are getting in and preventing them from returning.

If you have seen any of these common signs of rats and think that you might have rats on your property or inside your home then call for a Western Exterminator rat control expert at 800-937-8398 or contact us online to set up an appointment.

Contact your local rat control expert

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Prevention Tips

See how to prevent rats with practical, easy-to-follow steps

Signs of rats

Identify some common signs of rats to tell if you have a problem

Get Rid of Rats

Get professional treatments for an effective, long-term solution to rat infestations

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2. Survey

We will discuss your pest problem, arrange a survey if necessary, and provide a quote and recommendations.

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3. Treatment

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4. Aftercare

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Rat control services

At Western Exterminator we will do a complete inspection of your home and find where the rats are getting in. We seal up the access points and then go about finding the rat burrows and rat nests that might be inside your home. We work with you to find the right solution, such as rat bait stations, that works with your family, your schedule and your home.

Rat exterminator costs

There are a number of factors which go into the costs of a rat extermination. For example:

Size of the infestation
Size of the property
Whether the property is a business or a residence

Each of those factors will determine the nature of the treatment. There may also be follow-ups necessary. The size of the property will determine how many traps or bait stations are needed. The first step to finding out how much the rat exterminator treatments will cost for your property, is to contact your local Western Exterminator office and set up a property inspection.

Diseases from rats

There are numerous health problems associated with a rat infestation. These include:

Hantavirus - a potentially lethal virus if humans come in contact with rat urine or feces.
Rat bite fever - from the saliva of a rat, it comes from rats biting humans.
Bubonic plague - the famous disease that nearly wiped out humanity during the Middle Ages was eventually traced back to parasites like fleas carried by rats.
Rickettsial diseases - various forms of Typhus fall into this category and can also be carried by rat-borne parasites.
Leptospirosis - a disease transmitted from contact with rat urine that is serious enough to cause humans to bleed in the lungs.

Common rat control methods

Here at Western Exterminator, we have thorough expertise in rat control. In dealing with the rats at your property, we make sure to obey applicable laws and regulations:

Traps - Snap traps will help decrease the rat population. We can put the traps in rat runways (where rats go from nests to find food). We use food bait with the traps.
Bait stations - Bait stations are locked and located within 50 feet of a structure.
Fumigation - In certain situations, fumigation can take place but this needs to be carried out by a licensed professional and necessitates specific training.

Remember to let us know whenever you see a rat and do not disturb traps, bait stations, or other control devices we have put in place. Additionally, rats need to drink about ½ ounce to 1 ounce of water each day. Getting rid of sources of water is a good idea.

Your regional pest control

Over the last 50 years, we have accumulated extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with various types of pests throughout the United States. We carefully combine this knowledge with our understanding of seasonal pest trends and regional areas. Our local, highly-trained services technicians have been specially trained to provide you with the best possible pest control tailored to your property.

Los Angeles

We have a branch office in Los Angeles, so that a service technician is always in your area.

Phoenix

Our experts in Phoenix and the surrounding area will help you with your pest problem.

San Diego

Our service technicians operate in and around San Diego, with experts on every kind of pest.

Seattle

Are you based in Seattle? So are our technicians. They can be on site quickly to help you combat pests.

Western Exterminator makes sure the rats go away!

Get rid of rats from inside your home. We will remove the rats and make sure that no more rats come back. Stop a rat infestation today! Contact us online or call 800-937-8398 today.

Rat behavior

Rat populations can be found in rural, suburban and urban areas, especially if there’s a water source nearby. Rats need a water source in order to survive even though they don’t drink much water per day.

Rats are also social creatures, which means a hierarchy develops in rat populations. This typically consists of one dominant rat and several subordinates. Although this is typically found in male rats, female rats display hierarchies as well.

Rat biology

Male rats begin to secrete testosterone after puberty, which encourages reproductive behavior. On the other hand, female rats experience an ovarian cycle that is divided into several phases: proestrus, ovulation, estrus and diestrus. This cycle repeats itself once diestrus is complete.

Pregnant female rats will pick a nesting site and build a nest before her young are born. In order for the young to survive, the mother must lick her young clean, nurse them and return the young back to the nest if they stray away.

At this stage, a mother rat may display signs of maternal aggression to protect her young and attack animals who threaten the nest.

Rat diet

Rats will pretty much eat whatever is placed in front of them. A more technical term for this is “opportunistic omnivores”. From fruit to animal carcasses, don’t be surprised if you find rat eating these items or anything in between:

Grains
Fruits
Vegetables
Seeds
Nuts

Sometimes rats will hunt for bugs or small animals. Rats that live or are near cities can be found in garbage cans or landfills.

Rat bites

Did you know rats are able to chew through wood, cinder blocks and electrical wires? Rats have large front teeth that give them a powerful bite which can easily pierce skin and even cut through bone.

Rats typically bite when they feel threatened but they have also been known for biting people, especially children and babies, on hands, feet, fingers, toes and even the face. Symptoms of rat bites include:

Swelling and redness at the bite site
Fever
Nausea
Headache
Sore muscles
Rashes

If you or someone you know has experienced a rat bite, seek medical attention immediately. Diseases from rat bites can usually be treated with antibiotics but can be deadly if side effects lead to meningitis or pneumonia.