Dangers of DIY Rat Removal
May 26th, 2020
Palm rats, also known as roof rats, citrus rats, or black rats are a rodent species that are very common in Florida because of our tropical climate and can often find their way into properties, becoming a nuisance for homeowners.
Palm rats can damage your electrical devices by gnawing on wiring, rummage through your kitchen and garden, cause destruction to your home’s attic– not to mention the risk they pose to your family by spreading disease. Simply put, if you find rats in your home, you want to get rid of them as soon as possible.
You may choose to go the do-it-yourself route to try to get rid of unwanted rats in your home, not realizing that a rat infestation isn’t something you should try to handle yourself.
Here are a few of the risks of DIY rodent removal to remind you why it should be left to the professionals.
Risk 1: Disease
One of the biggest risks of having rats in your home in the first place is the diseases they carry, and that is also a reason you should not try to remove them yourself.
They can transmit what’s known as RBF (rat-bite-fever) to you, your pets, or your children if you come in contact with them. Their droppings and urine also cause serious infection and disease.
If you are trying to set up traps or remove rats yourself, you could expose yourself to these potential dangers. Professional wildlife removal companies are trained in the proper procedures not only to trap and remove the rats safely but to decontaminate the area once they are gone.
Furthermore, any DIY rat poisons on the market also have harmful ingredients that are not safe to have in your home and can get your family or pets sick.
Risk 2: Damage
Since rats can destroy insulation, wiring, get into food, wood, and furniture, there is an added risk when trying to get into the area they are and set up traps. When rats get into your attic and potentially chew through wiring, the destruction they cause can lead to house fires or critical damage to your home.
A professional is trained to assess the current situation and evaluate if your home is in immediate danger and create a plan to trap the rats to mitigate any further damage.
Risk 3: Prevention
Many DIY rat control products are “quick fixes” but aren’t going to help you with keeping rats out of your home in the long term. At home rat traps and rat poison might help you kill or get critters out of your home, but one of the most important parts of rat control is prevention.
Sealing entry points is an essential step in the rat removal process. Rats are able to get into your home through some sort of entry point, usually in the roof (hence the nickname roof rats) that have to be identified and professionally sealed to keep them out for good.
Risk 4: Time & Cost
Many people go the DIY route because they want to see results right away, and they don’t want to spend a lot of money. However, this is counterproductive, because going with a professional wildlife company can save you money and time.
Since rodents are nocturnal, it can actually be difficult to identify them, and know exactly what type of rodent problem you are dealing with. If you’re unsure of the species and the entry points, you can often end up spending a lot of your valuable time and money on different treatments.
Since wildlife trappers are certified and highly trained in how to identify and remove rats, they will be able to identify your rat problem and create a solution that can be quickly executed and cost-effective.
Word with A Professional Rat Removal Company in Florida
If you’ve encountered a rat in your home, don’t panic!
Instead of going the DIY route and putting yourself more in danger and risking costly damage, call Alford Wildlife for help. We are a professional wildlife removal company that specializes in rat removal and rodent control services in Southwest Florida.
For a free quote on our services, contact us online or call (239) 245-7482.
