At the top of most peoples homes, a small room known as an attic is found. These attics can be small or large and is often used for storage. As useful as these rooms can be, they can also be the first to have rodent infestations. These rooms almost always have lots of insulation to make nests in, they provide protection from the elements and are seldom disturbed by us humans. How do rodents get in your attic? In most cases, rodents will either find a gap or crack to enter our homes, or they will chew a hole to gain entry.
There are a few different kinds of rodents that will find their way into your attic. These small animals are often looking for a place to over winter in. Once they find a good place to winter in, it’s often that they will stay even during the summer months if they’re not dealt with. In order to get these animals out, it’s important to find the entry points, remove the animals and patch up any holes that they are using.
THE AMAZING FEATS OF RODENTS
Rodents are amazing in their abilities. Squirrels have an uncanny ability to climb. Another little known fact about squirrels is that they can chew through quite a few different substances. Wood, foam, plastic and other materials are not safe around squirrels. Squirrels have practically evolved with the ability to enter your home, make a nest in your attic and stay there indefinitely. Call a Tulsa exterminator for help removing these rodents.
Mice and rats have some unique abilities of their own. They can maneuver through very small crevices. If they can get their head through a gap, and they can get the rest of their body through. This means that your average rat can maneuver through a hole the size of a quarter, and a mouse can get through a hole the size of a dime. Couple that with their ability to chew through things, and you will find few structures that they cannot gain entry to.
SQUIRRELS
Late winter early spring are the times when female squirrels are looking for a place to create their nests. It’s also this time that they are most likely to enter an attic, looking for a nesting place. It’s important to listen and identify areas where squirrels could be entering. If you’re hearing scratching noises or paws above you, it is likely that a squirrel has found its way in your home. A walk around of the home can identify holes the squirrels could be using to enter and exit. Your Oklahoma pest control company can help.
If you have a lot of rotted wood around the outside of your home, this could be a place where squirrels could easily chew holes. These holes then can be used to get in and out. It’s important not to simply cover the holes. If the squirrels made a nest inside, and you trap the squirrels inside, the squirrel was simply find another way in, or chew new hole. You’ll need to deal with the squirrel problem first, and then close up any holes. It’s also important to remove and replace rotted timbers on the side of the building.
MICE AND RATS
Mice and rats are also common invaders to your attic. Rats usually come in two varieties here in Oklahoma. We have the Norway rat, and the common roof rat. The Norway rat is the larger of the two. We also have many different kinds of mice that can infest your attic. Both mice and rats present a unique issue in that they will also search for food in your home. Pantries, kitchens and other food storage areas can be visited by these invaders.
Rodents also spread disease. Mice and rats are known for being part of the vector chain for the bubonic plague. Contrary to popular belief, the plague is still active in the world including the southern part of the United States. Other diseases that mice and rats can spread include hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, leptospirosis, salmonella virus and many more. It’s important to deal with these issues as soon as you find mice or rats in your home. Call a Tulsa pest control company today if you are having issues.
OTHER RODENTS
Other rodents can find their way into your attic as well. Bats are common in Oklahoma.They can find small gaps and your roof line and make their way into your attic. Bats will nest in your attic, sleeping during the day. These flying rodents are often carriers of rabies, and their dung and urine can be poisonous. But seldom attack people, and if you actually feed upon blood. Most are insectivores and not to be feared.
Opossums are less commonly seen in attics, but they can’t find their way into your home. The insulation found an attic’s is very conducive to them making nests for their young. What do possum eat. It’s because of this that you must be vigilant and making sure these animals don’t have entry points into your attic.
REMOVING RODENTS FROM YOUR HOME
Removing rodents from your home may require you to get on your roof, climb very tall ladders and have a very clear understanding of the biology of these animals. In most cases, it’s important that you find an experienced Oklahoma exterminator to get the job done right. Here at TermMax Pest Control, we can get you a free estimate to get rid of these pests for good. We service the greater Tulsa area including Broken Arrow, Jenks, Bixby, Sapulpa, Sand Springs, Pratville, Catoosa, Claremore, Coweta, Owasso, Turley and much more. Call us today! We are here to help!