Whether you live in an urban or suburban area of Pittsburgh, the city offers something for everyone —from endless food options to an abundance of warm, residential homes and commercial buildings. Unfortunately, the local wildlife enjoy the same qualities of Pittsburgh life, especially rodents. As with any highly populated city, rats are constantly trying to make their way into Pittsburgh properties in search of food and shelter. If you think rats have invaded your Pittsburgh home, take action right away by calling to prevent a few invasive rats from turning into a full-blown infestation.
5 Signs of a Rat Infestation
The simplest and most obvious, way of determining if you have a rat infestation in your Pittsburgh home is seeing them with your own eyes. However, you should also be on the lookout for the following signs of rats:
- Gnaw marks: A telltale sign of a rat infestation is discovering gnaw marks. They can appear anywhere but are most often found on wires, food packaging, and in the attic of a house on cardboard, baseboards, and drywall.
- Noises: Rats typically make scratching and scurrying noises while they run through the walls and attic of your home. Since they’re nocturnal, you’re more likely to hear them at night.
- Droppings: Rodent droppings are another common sign of rats. Their droppings are usually found near food or in hidden kitchen areas.
- Foul smell: A strong urine or ammonia-like smell often accompanies a rat infestation. In the early stages of an infestation, household pets may be able to sniff it out earlier than humans, due to their strong sense of smell.
- Nests made of various materials: Out of survival, rats will make nests out of any kind of material they find around your home. This can include cardboard, paper, attic insulation, or really anything they can get their paws on.
The Dangers of Rats in Your Pittsburgh Home
Rodents are known to be carriers of infectious diseases and unfortunately, if you or any objects in your house are in direct contact with them, the diseases can be transmitted very easily. The longer a rat infestation lasts, the easier it is to contract something because of the buildup of their urine and droppings. Diseases rats are known to carry include:
- Rat-bite fever
- Salmonellosis
- Weil’s disease
- Leptospirosis
- Tularemia
To prevent the risk of contracting any of these diseases, keep your distance, and take care of the problem right away by contacting professional rat removal services.
Contact the Best Rat Removal Services in Pittsburgh
At Critter Control® of Pittsburgh, our experienced pest removal technicians are equipped to handle any kind of animal intruder that’s made its way into your home, especially rats. We will thoroughly inspect your property, strategize an affordable removal plan, safely and efficiently remove all rats, restore any damaged areas, and seal up entry points to ensure the pests are not able to find their way back into your home. To schedule an inspection, call Critter Control® of Pittsburgh today at 412-767-4067 and receive a free estimate for our rat removal services.
