Do You Have Rats and Mice in Your Attic?

Not only can they cause structural damage to your property, wild rats and mice can carry several diseases that can be passed to humans.

• Plague - though it sounds outdated, the plague still kills people worldwide through animal infestations
• Leptospirosis – or Weil's Disease, strands from the bacteria Leptospira, is carried by rodents and other wild animals. Weil’s Disease is passed through the contaminated rodent’s urine into our water and food or cuts in the skin.
• Salmonellosis - this disease strands from Salmonella bacteria. This is commonly spread by not washing your hands after touching rodent droppings OR having rodent droppings contaminate your food.

Call the wildlife removal experts at Total Animal Control today in Cartersville, GA to ensure your family has a healthy home.

Mice, rats and the parasites they carry are a major health concern to humans. Parasites aside, these creatures play a large role in contributing to allergies and home damage. In fact, exposure to mouse allergens is a known cause of asthma in both adults and children.

Just because you do not see any rats or mice in your home does not mean they are not there. Mice and rats can live quietly and comfortably in your home for quite a while without detection. An estimated 21 million homes are infested with rats and mice each year - call Total Animal Control to avoid becoming a part of this statistic.

There are lots of different species of rats and all of them thrive in urban and suburban environments. The 2 most common species encountered in the Atlanta area are the roof rat and the Norway rat.

Roof Rats
The roof rat (Rattus rattus) is a species that is not native to the United States and it is also known as the Black rat. They tip the scales at around three-quarters of a pound (which is smaller than the Norway rat) and they are mostly found near the United States coastline. Their fur is a solid color and their tails are longer than their body and head combined. Their ears are also large enough to cover their eyes.

Norway Rat
Rattus norvegicus, or the Norway rat, is known by many names including the wharf rat, sewer rat, and the brown rat. These rats were stowaways that came to the United States on boats from Europe. These rats are now found all over the United States. They weigh around a pound and are a brownish-gray color with a whitish color on their belly. They have smaller ears than the roof rat and their tails are not as long as their bodies and heads.

The Physical Damage
Like any rodent, rats have to constantly chew in order to keep their teeth healthy and sharp. This need will result in them chewing on soffits and fascia boards, wood, insulation, and even wiring. This chewing can result in such situations as water damage and even fire hazards from exposed wires. There can be a lot of things that will need fixing once you get rid of rats.
Insulation is another thing in a home that can be majorly damaged because of rats. This damage happens due to their nesting habits and their movements through the walls. The insulation will get matted down and compressed will compromise the energy efficiency of the structure. Professionals are aware of all the things that rats can damage and this is why their expertise is invaluable in a removal process.

Biohazardous Contaminants
The other major type of damage they will cause is due to the urine and feces they create. These droppings can create a nasty smell and can even lead to health risks like bacterial and fungal infections. These animals will also bring with them fleas and ticks that can spread disease as well.

The most successful removal process is comprised of trapping, habitat modification, and exclusion. Poison is not a successful way to go about it because of the periphery problems it can cause. Poison can leave dead rats in areas that you didn't know about and a rotting carcass can bring other animals and disease that can be dangerous, especially when you don't know it's there. It can also poison pets, other animals, and children.

The trapping will happen first and as the number of rats in the home begins to decrease, the entry points into the home can start to be sealed up. Any hole that is a half an inch or bigger needs to be sealed up. Also, possible food sources need to be modified so that the rats cannot get into them.

Successful rat removal is a multi-faceted process. It is best to bring in a trained professional because they are going to be able to identify all of the things and modifications that an owner needs to do in order to make sure that the rats are not able to return to the structure.

Our technicians have been highly trained to provide safe and humane removal of rats and mice as well as other wildlife from the homes and businesses in our community. We are proud to serve the Cartersville, GA area.

Should you find yourself facing one mouse or an entire family of mice, it is time to call for help. Total Animal Control is your top choice in Georgia, Florida and Tennessee when it comes to rodent removal and rodent control, and we can help repair whatever damage they caused. Not only do we make repairs to the damage they cause, but we perform removal services and seal up the entry points so they do not come back! Reach out to Total Animal Control today for quick, easy mice control, wildlife removal and rodent removal. No job is too big or too small for our team. We look forward to serving you and allowing you to reclaim your home.