What Makes Our Rat Control Programs Effective?
September 22, 2019
Matthew S. Hess
It is important to take proactive measures for rat control instead of waiting for an infestation. Prevention should always be the main focus, as the well-known saying goes, “Prevention is better than cure,” and this is especially true for rodent control.
Working in the pest control industry for almost two decades and for several companies, I have learned what works and what doesn’t. While working for others, one recurring issue I noticed was their inability to control rodents. Unfortunately, this problem is still widespread in many other companies, and we often receive calls from their clients regarding the same issue.
Our customers have reported that while other companies can kill rats, preventing them from infesting in the first place is an entirely different story. Even though these companies could kill the rats, they could not eliminate the problem and stop them from returning.
With the knowledge of repeated rodent control failure, my goal was to develop a program that would not fail. Instead, this program would get consistent and successful results every time. With my team behind me, we set out to achieve that goal!
An Inhospitable Environment Prevents Rats
Creating an environment around your home or business that is unfavorable for rats requires a combination of various factors. You may be wondering just what kind of environment rats find inhospitable, and that’s a good question given that they seem to survive and thrive in nearly any condition.
Rat Control and Identifying the Factors that Contribute to Infestations
Pest control professionals use the term “conducive conditions,” which refers to anything that attracts or provides shelter and vitality to pests. In simpler terms, it means “things that allow pest problems to occur.” There are three main categories of conducive conditions, which are the three things that all pests need to survive and reproduce.
- Water/Moisture
- Food
- Harborage
When considering the broader context, it becomes evident that these three categories play a vital role in the survival and growth of pest populations. However, to gain a more in-depth understanding of why pest problems arise, it’s necessary to explore the specific conditions within each category. Specifically, we’ll delve into the topic of rats and why implementing effective control measures is crucial in preventing an infestation from taking hold.
Rat gnaw marks were discovered on a crawlspace vent during a rodent control inspection. Rodents chew holes like this one to gain access to structures.
Rat Control and Water
Water is essential for the survival of every living organism. We all learn this basic fact in science class at a young age. However, the amount of water a pest needs depends on the specific type of pest. Instead of focusing on what type of pest requires which amount of water, the most beneficial thing to do is eliminate the water around our homes or businesses and prevent them all. Now this can be a difficult task to undertake but once completed, will be most rewarding.
To do this, we must begin with an inspection of the exterior of the building. Performing a complete and thorough inspection should reveal all areas of moisture and hopefully, the source of that moisture.
Rain
Let’s begin by discussing what happens to rain when it reaches the ground. Where does it end up? It’s important to ensure that it doesn’t accumulate or flow towards your home. Improper water drainage can cause hydrostatic pressure against the foundation, leading to pest problems, water leakage, and the potential for significant foundation damage.
Additionally, ensuring that gutters and downspouts are functioning correctly to carry water away from the structure, is important. If damage to these crucial components of a structure are present, serious water damages can occur. If these components show signs of bends, breaks, improper pitch, clogs, leaks, looseness, or extreme age, they will need to be repaired by a reputable and trustworthy gutter specialist.
When water accumulates or flows toward your home or other buildings, it can contribute to pest populations. There are many possible reasons why water might be draining towards your home and it’s essential to find and eliminate them all.
Reasons Water May Be Draining Toward Your Home, Business or Other Structure
- Structure is below grade or grade does not have adequate fall away from the structure (grade should drop one inch for every one foot away from the building for the first 5-10 feet. A minimum 6-inch drop in 10 feet).
- Concrete, blacktop, or other substrate not properly pitched for watershed.
- Timbers and other landscaping barriers may retain water near the structure. These often require drainage ports to avoid serving as a retaining wall for moisture.
- Gutter downspouts are not connected to drainage pipes leading away from the structure.
- Gutters clogged and water overrunning gutters.
- Heavy overgrowth of trees/shrubs or other vegetation not allowing proper ventilation and sunlight to penetrate and dry the ground.
- Water shed from other property not properly designed to keep water away from your home or building.
- Clogged drainage pipes or other watershed.
Water retention around a structure is a common issue that our inspections often reveal. Left unaddressed, these can cause significant property damage and lead to pest infestations. Although some are easier to correct than others, all of them can and should be fixed as soon as possible.
Crawlspaces and Basements
Checking for moisture and water in the crawlspace or basement is essential for controlling rat and other pest infestations. Often, these areas have high levels of moisture, which can attract a variety of pests. Fixing issues around the exterior of the property may resolve the moisture problem. However, further investigation and repairs may be necessary to fully remediate the problem.
Leaks and Drips
While inspecting, we also check for any signs of wet pipes, drips, damp ductwork, and air leaks in your HVAC system. Air leaks can transfer moisture from inside your home to the crawl space, which can cause problems. Old metal ductwork without proper mastic sealant and insulating wrap can also create moisture issues. Additionally, we need to confirm that the dryer vent exhausts outside of the crawl space. Otherwise, it can transfer all the moisture from your clothes to the crawl space.
Foundation Leaks
We must also inspect the foundation walls for wet or water-stained areas, cracks, gaps, and deterioration. This will pinpoint where any water may be entering the crawlspace and help aid in re-routing the watershed around the perimeter of the structure. Underground springs are sometimes the culprit and take special skills to re-route. Other times it may be as simple as moving landscaping timbers and other products, which act as a dam and retain water that should be shed.
When parts of the landscape act as a dam, water may build up until it finds a point of release. That point of release may be a gap or crack in the foundation and even a rodent burrow leading to the foundation. Once the water has direct access to the foundation, any small cracks will allow it to seep through! In time, even the tiniest of cracks can result in much more serious damage.
Other Signs of Infestation
While we’re in the crawlspace or basement, we also inspect for rats, rat grease stains, droppings, carcasses, nests, damage, and other signs of pests. Finding entry points that allow rats or pests into the crawlspace must be repaired. Entry points from the crawlspace to the living quarters also need to be repaired. Generally, these are found around plumbing penetrations at sinks, showers, tubs, and other drains, pipes, or wiring. These fall under the “Shelter” category but are addressed while we inspect for moisture in the crawlspace.
Additionally, other pests, such as insects, are important since rodents eat insects. While these fall under the “Food” category, since we’re already in the crawlspace, it’s best to find those at that time. Before we move to the inside, we like to take a look at the surroundings and locate any potential areas of concern away from the structure. We will cover this under “Harborage”.
Interior
Once we finish our exterior inspection, it’s time to move inside. We must inspect all water sources to discover any unwanted moisture, including under the sinks, around toilets, showers, tubs, water heaters, the HVAC, and anywhere there is running or draining water. If anything is discovered, it may be necessary to hire a licensed plumber.
Windows, doors, chimneys, and vent pipes should have no leaks or moisture present. Windows and doors should be dry above, beneath, and on either side. Any staining, warping, bubbling, soft spots, rot, or other signs must be addressed.
Attic
With the inside inspection nearing completion, let’s head to the attic to look for signs of moisture there. Here, stained insulation or wood members would indicate potential leaks. This is likely to occur around chimneys, vents, and plumbing penetrations. Since we’re in the attic, we’ll also search for visible signs of rodent activity. Burrows, droppings, food sources, nests, carcasses, live rodents, and other signs might be found. If so, we will take note of these and include them in our final report.
The Well Trained Rat Control Specialist
Our team’s well-trained rat control specialists can perform a quick walk-through and note most deficiencies. However, getting into serious moisture control requires a bit more detail and attention than a typical inspection. These inspections are performed by other qualified staff who specialize in detailed inspections and remediation.
Should You Do Your Own Moisture Inspection?
You could do your own moisture inspection and have quite the template to get started here! However, we recommend hiring a professional pest company for a proper inspection. Such thorough inspections are what our technicians do. We can recommend all types of pest control and corrective structural modification programs. Rat control is simply the beginning!
Rat Inspections are Second Nature to Pest Professionals
For us, conducting inspections is a routine practice, but it can be quite a challenge for those without training. An expert in rat control can easily identify these subtle details without much difficulty.
Water-related problems can significantly contribute to the growth of rodent populations. Addressing these issues is a vital first step in preventing rodent infestations, other pest-related problems, and structural damages and deterioration caused by inadequate moisture control.
We Specialize in Inspections
At Four Seasons Pest Solutions, we’re experts in conducting inspections and using effective techniques to prevent rat infestations, manage pests, control termites, remediate moisture, and provide crawlspace care solutions.
A quick look at this commercial building and its surroundings revealed a lot to be desired. For instance, the gap between the metal on this building (right side) and the block portion (left side). Not only can moisture enter, but insects and rodents can as well!
In this photo, we can see there is no closure material or rat guard at the bottom of the metal siding. Closures are rubber or foam-like pieces of material formed to seal the ribs on the back side of metal siding and roofing. Rat guard is a metal trim secured to the structure so the vertical metal siding rests against it. Both of these can help prevent pest entry to the wall voids behind the metal and both should have been installed with the metal siding.
In this picture, there are several concerns: The cardboard stacked against the facility can retain moisture, serve as a food source for pests, and provide shelter and nesting material. Additionally, there is garbage present along the edge of the blacktop in the grassy area. Last but not least, the overgrowth against the parking can potentially provide food and shelter, especially when spring and summer return.
A small home located behind the previous two commercial buildings is at a potential risk of infestation.
It’s important to take note of the surroundings when implementing rat and other pest control. This rock wall is located against the mountainside and is just at the edge of the wooded area, providing water, shelter, and some food sources (mainly insects) for rodents.
Rat Control and Food
Identifying this particular category typically doesn’t require an extensive investigation. During the examination of the attic, we may come across an array of potential food sources, including nuts, seeds, and bugs. Similarly, the crawlspace may yield comparable results. While exploring the surrounding outdoor areas, we may discover similar food sources, such as farm goods, garbage, and partially digested food present in animal feces.
Rodents are known to be opportunistic foragers and can scavenge for food in unexpected places. I have witnessed them feeding on undigested corn granules from dog food in feces scattered throughout a lawn. A solution to this problem could be to switch to a grain-free dog food option, which can quickly reduce the available food source for rats.
To keep rodents and other pests away, it’s crucial to store pet food in sealed, air-tight containers. Leaving an open or closed bag of dog food or other pet food can attract rodents to the area. It’s also essential to ensure that your pets don’t consume food that has been contaminated with rodent feces and urine.
Rodents have a vast range of food options, including things that humans cannot consume. As a result, the list of possible food sources for rodents is extensive. Although it’s not possible to mention them all, I’ve seen several unusual sources over the years. Finding a food source may not always be easy!
Unusual Food Sources
- Undigested corn bits from dog food in dog feces
- Seeds on wreaths set out on shelves for sale or in storage
- Insects
- Soap
- Corn-based (or other plant-based) plastic on vehicle wiring
- Plant-based plastic coating on child’s car seat
- Other plant-based plastics
- Food/plant-dyed materials
- Peppermint candy
- Other dead rodents
- Bodies of other animals (and, unfortunately for anyone who has ever witnessed it, human bodies as well)
- Horse hooves
- Potpourri (the kind that has various dried plant parts)
During an inspection, we discovered that rodents had nibbled on the armrest of a car seat in Louisville, Kentucky. Few shavings were present, indicating that the covering was probably made from plant-based plastic or rubber. It’s possible for rodents to resort to modern plant-based materials as a food source in desperate situations.
Mmm… Corn Plastic, Anyone?
Sometimes, animals consume unusual things for sustenance. I once watched in amazement as a couple of goats consumed a rather sizeable piece of styrofoam. The reason why animals consume unconventional items is beyond my expertise. Still, it is essential to acknowledge that they do so and that what we would consider to be a proper food source may not always be necessary for survival.
Rodents can find a food source in some unlikely places. Thankfully, no children where hurt by this rodent problem. However, it is worth mentioning that these rodents were living INSIDE the vehicle this car seat came from. That in itself, is a serious hazard!
Close-up image for clarity. Rodent gnaw marks are clearly visible on the arm rest of this child’s car seat. Potential food sources like these are often overlooked by homeowners, and even some pest professionals!
Typical or Expected Food Sources
- Pet foods (Dog, cat, bird, turtle, goat, horse, pig, etc.)
- Human foods
- Scraps
- Food particles found in wrappers
- Food particles in garbage
- Any peanut-based candy
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Crops
- And many more
To prevent infestations and ensure effective rodent control, it is crucial to identify and remove all available food sources, whether typical or not. This should be an integral part of any rodent control plan, regardless of the stage of infestation. Our inspection process involves closely monitoring all potential food sources, and we customize our rodent prevention, proofing, and control strategies accordingly. This approach sets us apart from our competitors and ensures greater success. By eliminating food sources, we create an unappealing environment for rodents and discourage them from staying or infesting the area.
Observation in Rat Control is Key
I mentioned previously that our inspections also involve observing the environment around the structure. This includes even the drive to the structure. Observing what’s in the neighborhood or the general area and even the geography of the area often helps us understand why there are rodent issues or why rodent control or prevention measures might be necessary. Whether it’s a landfill, crop field, garbage dump, orchard, neighbor’s house/yard/barn, grain storage, feed mill, farm or other similar issues, discovering the potentially primary food source may prove crucial in proper rodent control and rodent prevention.
Around a bridge like this one, there may be burrows around the foundation where large drainage rock is present. Inspecting the surroundings helps us identify where a problem may be coming from and the pest-load we may have to deal with in the future.
Limit a Rat’s Success
Rats MUST have a food source for continued infestation; otherwise, their success will be limited. That’s where Four Seasons Pest Solutions’ thorough inspections prove second to none! If we can locate and eliminate food sources, we can reduce and eliminate rodents. If those food sources are reduced or eliminated before a rodent infestation occurs, we can effectively prevent infestations. Without food, pests cannot survive, so eliminating or reducing food sources should play in integral role in any rodent control program.
Harborage
When pests are present, so is harborage. Like you and I, pests need a safe and hospitable place to harbor. This may even include our own home or business as well as a lengthy list of other areas. We could never eliminate all the possible harborage areas that pests might use. However, we can block access to them, make them inhospitable, and set up barriers to intercept activity coming towards those harborage areas. Once a pest has set up harborage, prevention is no longer an option, and therefore infestation control must instead be performed. When possible, it’s always best to practice prevention rather than control.
Prevention May Save Lives!
Preventing rodent harborage may require some effort, but it can pay off in the long run, particularly when safeguarding your home. A single rodent can cause significant damage by gnawing through wires and resulting in a fire, quickly engulfing your home while your family is fast asleep. While this is a worst-case scenario, it is a possibility that occurs more frequently than most people realize.
During an inspection of a local attic, a deceased rodent was found. Most attics contain electrical wiring, and therefore rodents in this area can present a severe hazard that should not be ignored.
Rat Control and Structure Fires
Did you know that rodents are responsible for approximately 20% of undetermined structure fires? And that’s not even including the ones where rodents ARE determined to be the cause! It’s important to remember that it only takes one rodent to cause severe damage, even burn a building to the ground. Therefore, it’s crucial to take measures for rodent prevention and control when an infestation is possible. You can read more on this topic in our Rodent Control and Modern Health Concerns blog.
Rodent Harborage Areas
Rodents can find shelter in numerous locations. They can make their home in anything that provides even temporary shelter. While there are countless options, here are a few key examples to remember.
- Homes
- Barns
- Abandoned buildings
- Crawlspaces
- Attics
- Abandoned vehicles
- Abandoned animal dens
- Under rocks and in the ground
- Under shrubs and bushes
- Inside wall voids
- Under cabinets
- In cluttered areas
- In wood piles
- Near water sources
- Near water sheds where pipe and rock are used to prevent erosion
- And so many more that we just cannot list them all.
The list of places where rodents wouldn’t harbor is likely much smaller! There are a plethora of harborage scenarios available, but the primary concern is harborage within a structure.
Although it is important to pinpoint any potential harborage areas within a structure, it is equally important to pinpoint access points. An access point is a conducive condition which allows rodents easy access into the structure. In a commercial setting this might be something as simple as a dock door which is left open on a regular basis or an entry door where foot traffic occurs nearly non-stop. In a home, it can be similar but generally it comes down to two things; poor initial construction techniques or neglect of the structure over time.
Poor Construction
We do not mean to criticize or speak negatively of builders and contractors. They are not necessarily at fault. We recognize their focus is on constructing and providing all the essential elements of a home, not necessarily on pest-proofing the structure. This results in the presence of access points, which are spots where the sealant or closure was not correctly applied during construction. These areas may comprise, but are not restricted to:
- Plumbing penetrations
- HVAC line set penetrations
- Poor or improper construction of crawlspace doors
- Poor choice of crawlspace ventilation devices (Cheap vents)
- Soffit-to-brick veneer or stone transition (leaves small gaps between mortar joints and soffit allowing mice to scale the brick and enter the attic)
- Improper garage door installation (Failure to seal it properly)
- Failure to install proper closure seals under metal roofing and ridge cap
- Failure to trim trees away from the structure before building
The list of gaps, cracks, and holes that rodents can use to enter your home is extensive. Once inside, they can reproduce and cause an infestation. We specialize in sealing up these areas that your construction team or repair person may have overlooked. It’s essential to trust the experts in construction for construction and the experts in pest control for your pest control. In this way, you can be assured your home stays rodent-free.
Neglect of the Structure Over Time
Neglect of a structure is to be blamed on the occupant or owner and is among the leading causes of rodent infestation. If they can’t get in, they can’t infest! Therefore it is crucial that you not ignore your structure through the years. Repairing areas that have minor issues prevent major issues later down the road. Such types of issues may include but are not limited to:
- Rodent gnaw marks
- Damaged siding
- Damaged gutters
- Damaged windows or doors
- Small gaps and cracks
- Any sort of moisture accumulation
- Rot
- Storm damage
- Construction shortcomings (access points left by construction)
- Leaks
- And many others
Nearby Conducive Conditions
These minor issues can become significant issues leading to dangerous rodent infestations. Environmental conditions around the structure also pose substantial risks when access areas are available. These issues can be as simple as a neighbor’s regularly uncut grass to as complicated as a river on the backside of the property adjacent to a rock wall. Something can be done with the neighbor’s tall grass, but you can’t move a mountain and a river.
Other Nearby Conducive Conditions May Include:
- Garbage dump sites, legal or illegal
- Farm food production
- Farm animal production
- Feed mills
- Food production plants
- Heavily overgrown and brushy areas
- Drainage ditches covered with large rocks
- Rock walls
- Bodies of water
- Roadways with drainage areas
- Railroad tracks (especially stopping points)
- Shipping/receiving areas
- Abandoned buildings
- And the list just keeps going
We assess the surroundings to identify areas of concern to gain a better understanding of how the environment may affect potential or existing infestations. This allows us to determine the most effective measures to implement in your situation. While we have a highly effective method for controlling rodents, we recognize the importance of considering any specific conditions that may be present.
Finding the right company to identify and fix rodent issues and establish a control plan can be daunting. But we’re here to make it easy for you! Our Rodent Exclusion and Control Programs are designed to locate problem areas, make necessary repairs, and prevent future infestations. We aim to make your property inaccessible to rodents and other pests, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for your home or business. Don’t hesitate to contact us when you need assistance – we’re always here to help.
CONCLUSION
What makes our rodent control programs effective? Knowledge! It takes knowledge to understand all the intricate details necessary to supply the demands of a rodent infestation. If you know these details, you can work to prevent each one individually, thereby preventing the infestation. We know these details and apply them to all our pest and rodent control solutions. Our work can help make your home or business an inhospitable environment for refuge-seeking pests. Eliminating water, food, and harborage will make any environment inhospitable to rodents! Implementing suitable rodent control measures before an infestation occurs stops an infestation from occurring!
Remember, it’s okay to live among pests… but you don’t have to live with them!
