Rat Control in the Carolinas

The Greater Charlotte area is more than just an exhilarating, wonderful place to live and work. Miles of beautiful greenery, lots of bright sunshine, mild winters, and balmy summers make this part of the Carolinas the perfect place to own property, as well.

But, unfortunately, people aren’t the only living things that absolutely thrive when they decide to call the Charlotte area home. Numerous pests do very well for themselves here, as well – including rats – so it’s important to have a solid pest control strategy in place when it comes to your property.

Killingsworth Environmental has the expertise and cutting-edge techniques to make short work of even the worst rat problems. Here’s a closer look at what Carolina property owners need to know when it comes to preventing and controlling rat infestations, as well as how Killingsworth can help with pest control for rats.

What Rat Species Live in the Carolinas?

There are several different rat species to be aware of if you own or manage property in either of the Carolinas. Some key examples to watch out for include

Roof rats: Also referred to as black rats, roof rats have dark fur on their backs and lighter fur on their underbellies. They are among the most common rats in the Carolinas.

Norway rats: Also sometimes called brown rats, Norway rats typically have bristly, brown or black fur with lighter underbellies. They also have small ears and blunt noses. You’re most likely to encounter them in urban areas like Charlotte, especially in tunnels or near trash.

Marsh rice rats: Marsh rats prefer swampy, damp habitats like marshes and wetlands, so they’re most frequently problems for properties located in those areas.

Both Carolinas are also home to numerous species of mice and voles, so a good rodent control solution is key.

Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Call a Rat Exterminator

If there’s one pest that instantly fills a property owner with disgust, it’s a rat, and you’re right to feel that way. Here are a few reasons why you don’t want to wait to call an expert who specializes in pest control for rats.

Rats carry serious pathogens

There’s a reason why rats are so strongly associated with sickness and filth. They can carry very serious pathogens, some of which are potentially deadly. Examples include but are not limited to:

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

Humans are most likely to come into contact with these pathogens via a rat’s droppings, urine, or saliva. So, if you know or suspect rats have been in a particular area of your home, clean it thoroughly. Any food they may have gotten into needs to be disposed of.

Rats are highly destructive

Like all rodents, rats have teeth that grow perpetually. They also have a powerful gnawing instinct that helps to keep their teeth from becoming overgrown. Rats that infiltrate homes or businesses satisfy that instinct by chewing on walls, furniture, and just about anything else they can find.

Rat teeth are also incredibly strong, so they can do a lot of expensive damage to your property. In the worst cases, they can even cause flooding or fires by compromising pipes and electrical wiring.

Rats can ruin your business

All it takes is one rat sighting to destroy a business’s hard-won reputation, especially if that business serves or handles food. Word gets around, people talk, and there are lots of other local businesses folks can go to instead.
Researching how to get rid of rats and pursuing professional assistance at the first signs of a potential issue is the best way to stop an infestation before it gets out of control.

There’s no such thing as a solitary rat

Rats are social creatures that live together in communities, so there’s never just one, even if that’s all you’ve seen. In fact, it’s often safe to assume that if you’ve already seen a rat in the flesh, you’re likely already dealing with a serious infestation.

And rats reproduce extremely quickly. A single female rat reaches breeding age at only three months old, produces up to 12 pups per litter, and can have up to 12 litters a year. Rat infestations don’t improve on their own, either, so the sooner you seek out professional help, the better.

How to Spot and Prevent Rat Infestations

It can take a while to know for sure that you have rats, as they’re most active at night. This is especially the case if they’ve infiltrated a business where you don’t spend much time after dark. Keep an eye out for sure signs like droppings, and pay attention to their number as well as their location.

Be aware of other potential signs like the following:

• Dime-sized holes (or bigger) in your walls
• Marks on furniture, packaging, or other items that suggest small, chewing teeth
• Potential nesting materials like shredded cloth or paper
  Scuffling noises in the walls or attic

Sometimes you can even smell when rats or other rodents might be around. Many people describe the smell as oddly sweet, corn chip-like, or similar to the smell of a pet rodent’s cage when it needs to be cleaned.

You can prevent potential rodent infestations by keeping your property as clean and uncluttered as possible. Store food and trash in rat-proof containers with tight-fitting lids. Promptly seal or cover any holes you find anywhere on your property to keep rats out.

Why You Should Trust Killingsworth with Your Control Needs

When you’re dealing with a potential rat infestation, you don’t want to trust just any pest control company to take care of it. You want experienced technicians and state-of-the-art techniques in your corner – solutions you can trust to take rats out of the equation and ensure they never come back.

Here are some examples of what sets Killingsworth Environmental apart in all the right ways:

• Over 28 years of experience dealing specifically with Charlotte-area pests, including rats.
• Safe, environmentally responsible products and extermination techniques that won’t harm your family, your pets, or the environment
  Cutting-edge techniques and technology that wipe out pests and keep them from returning again.
• Thorough inspections and customized control solutions designed with your unique needs and goals in mind.
• SMART Rodent Control service that uses cutting edge technology and pro-active service to predict and prevent infestations for home, businesses and even communities.

So, if you think you could be dealing with rats or any other Carolina-area pest, don’t wait to seek out help. Call a Killingsworth Environmental rep now and tell us more about how we can help!