
The Importance of Rat Removal in Richmond Hill
Professionals know DIY methods are ineffective, and they know why. Rats are not an easy pest to get rid of. Rats are persistent and formidable creatures. The animal has three specific qualities that make it ill-suited to DIY removal and treatment.1. Rats Reproduce Quickly
When a homeowner spots a rat in their home or around their property, it is only a piece of a larger problem. Rats reproduce quickly. A female rat can produce up to 56 pups in a year. Those pups typically reach sexual maturity within five to eight weeks. Since colonies usually have multiple breeding females, rat populations can quickly reach hundreds or thousands without immediate intervention.
Depending on the species, a rat may reproduce multiple times per year. Each litter may contain between four and seven pups.
2. Rats Cause Significant Damage to Property
Even if homeowners notice and hire rodent control in Richmond Hill when an infestation is minor, rats can cause significant property damage. Like other rodents, rats need to chew frequently to file down their teeth, which do not stop growing.
Rats will chew on structural beams, wires, boxes, and anything suitable to file their teeth. A colony of rats can quickly become destructive and possibly create fire hazards.
Beyond chewing, rats urinate and defecate all over. One of the first clues of an infestation is the sudden appearance of an ammonia odour. Urine and feces can damage building materials and pose a health risk to families.
3. Rats Can Spread Diseases and Contaminate Food
Like most wild animals and rodents, rats may carry several diseases and bacteria, which can transmit through saliva, feces, and urine. A person does not have to come into direct contact with a rat or its droppings to contract an illness or infection. Rats can also pass bacteria along to people by contaminating food and surfaces.
When rats run along their routes, they may walk through old urine or droppings. Anything that ends up on their paws will also end up on the surfaces and items they walk across or handle. Rats may even transmit bacteria from sources other than themselves. For example, they may walk across garbage or toilets, transferring those germs to counters, floors, and food.