Rats are never welcome in any house in Damascus as they are a nuisance and pose serious health risks. In fact, they can also cause property damage and reproduce rapidly. If you have an active rat issue in your house, understanding how an infestation happens is the first step toward rat elimination. Also, it is important to seek pest control services from Green Pest Services to avoid direct contact with rats, which can be dangerous. Below are the reasons you may be seeing an increase in rat activity in your Damascus home:
Geography and Climate
Damascus is famous for its scenic landscapes, proximity to natural waterways, and abundant wildlife. Although such features make this city an inviting place, they create the ideal environment for rodents. Wooded areas, residential neighborhoods, and rivers offer enough food sources and shelter for rats.
Rats tend to thrive in temperate climates, and the seasonal shift experienced in Damascus can affect rodent behavior. In winter, rats seek warmth indoors for nesting while summers offer them enough outdoor food sources. With the fluctuating temperatures, rats are active throughout the year, always looking for the right locations to establish colonies.
Proximity to Water Sources
Natura water sources surround Damascus, VA, including creeks, small lakes, and rivers. For rats, water is a survival necessity, and can infest houses near such water sources. Usually, rats and other rodents create nests in damp areas like basements, sewers, and crawl spaces, which offer access to water and shelter.
Standing water in the yard, pet water bowls, and leaky pipes can be water sources for rats. If your house offers a source of hydration, rats may stick around and take over your living space permanently.
Food Availability
Rats invade houses as they constantly search for food. Damascus is home to local farms, residential areas, and restaurants that offer opportunities for rats to get nourishment. These rodents are attracted to food sources such as the following:
- Garbage bins and compost piles. Rats can detect food craps from a distance. When not sealed properly, compost piles and trash cans create perfect feeding grounds.
- Pet food. When left outdoors, pet food can offer rats their much-needed meals.
- Unharvested fruits and vegetables. Fallen produce from fruit trees and gardens can offer a buffet for rats.
- Unsecured pantry goods. Leaving cereals, rice, and flour in easily accessible packaging allows rats to chew through them.
Structural Vulnerabilities in Homes
Rats can easily squeeze through tiny openings in homes such as foundation or wall cracks, gaps around doors and windows, unsealed utility lines and plumbing openings, chimney and vent openings, and roof or attic holes. Older houses in Damascus, especially those that have aging foundations, loose roofing materials, and worn-out sidings are at risk of infestations.
Once rats are inside your house, they nest in areas that have little human activity like attics, storage rooms, basements, and crawl spaces. Such areas allow rats to breed and raise their young comfortably.
Lack of Proper Pest Control Measures
Sometimes, an increase in rat populations results from a lack of proactive pest control measures. A lot of people don’t realize they have a rat problem until the infestation has escalated into a full-blown issue.
Not addressing tiny signs like droppings, scratching noises, unusual odor, and gnaw marks lets rats establish nests and grow their colonies. To prevent and manage a rat issue effectively, homeowners must regularly inspect their homes for rats and possible entry points, seal up entry points, and keep their homes clean.
Clutter and Storage Areas
Rats like environments that have lots of hiding spots. Cluttered garages, basements, sheds, and attics offer perfect nesting grounds. Old furniture, boxes, and stacks of newspapers create an ideal setting for these rodents to breed undisturbed.
