Reno Rat Catcher Extermination Service
As Reno grows, so does its urban rat population. B's Weed & Pest Control Services offers a prompt rat catcher service, removing rats from homes and businesses before they cause lasting damage.
Understanding Urban Rats
Urban rats threaten the health and safety of homeowners and businesses alike. They thrive in human-made environments, finding shelter and food in buildings, sewers, and garbage areas. Their presence leads to a host of problems: contaminated food and water, property destroyed by gnawing and nesting, chewed wiring that can start a fire, and diseases that pass to people and pets, including leptospirosis and salmonella.
Norway Rats and Roof Rats
The two species most likely to turn up around Reno look and behave differently, and telling them apart shapes where traps go:
- Norway rats are heavy-bodied, with a blunt nose, small ears, and a tail shorter than the head and body. They burrow, digging along foundations, under slabs, and beneath woodpiles, and they usually live at ground level or in crawl spaces.
- Roof rats are slimmer and more agile, with a pointed nose, large ears, and a tail longer than the head and body. They climb, travel along fences, vines, and utility lines, and nest in attics, trees, and the upper floors of buildings.
Signs of Rats
- Droppings about half an inch long or larger near food, walls, or nests
- Greasy rub marks along walls and beams where rats travel the same path repeatedly
- Burrow openings along foundations, fences, and garden beds
- Gnawed wood, wiring, or containers, and noises in the attic at night
How Fast Rats Multiply
A rat problem rarely stays small. A female Norway rat can have her first litter at about three months old. After that she can have several litters a year, often six to twelve young at a time. A pair of rats in the fall can become a colony by spring, which is why trapping works best when it starts at the first sign of activity.
How B's Rat Extermination Works
- Comprehensive inspections. B's begins with a thorough inspection to assess the extent of the infestation, find entry points, and locate nesting areas, which is the foundation of an effective plan.
- Baited rat traps. B's uses baited rat traps, including cage traps, placed in areas of confirmed rat activity where rats are most likely to take the bait, capturing them before they can breed.
- Humane handling. Traps are checked on a regular schedule and captured rats are taken off the property quickly, keeping suffering and odor to a minimum.
- Sanitation and prevention. B's advises on keeping rats from returning: sealing entry points, since a rat can fit through a gap about half an inch wide; removing food and water sources such as pet food, bird seed, fallen fruit, and uncovered garbage; and making the property less inviting by trimming vines and branches away from the roof and storing firewood off the ground.
- Ongoing monitoring and maintenance. B's monitors the property to confirm the infestation is gone, addresses any new signs of activity, and takes steps to prevent a new one.
Cleaning Up After Rats Safely
Rat droppings and urine can carry disease, so cleanup needs care. Public health guidance from the CDC is simple to follow:
- Open doors and windows and let the area air out for 30 minutes first.
- Wear rubber or plastic gloves.
- Do not sweep or vacuum droppings, which stirs contaminated dust into the air.
- Spray droppings and urine with a disinfectant or a mix of one part bleach to ten parts water, and let it soak for five minutes.
- Wipe it up with paper towels, bag them, and put them in the trash.
- Disinfect the area again, then wash your gloved hands, remove the gloves, and wash your hands again.
For urban rats in Reno, Sparks, and Carson City, B's provides reliable rat removal that puts the health and safety of customers and their properties first. See rodent control in Reno for mice, chipmunks, and other rodents.