As our weather begins to change, and we all start to haul out the holiday decorations from the attic, garage, storage or other areas that we only go into once a year….the phone lines at Senske start to ring with homeowners panicked over finding evidence of rodents in their beloved belongings. Many people ask us what these signs are. Here in Las Vegas, the most common rodent activity is from Roof Rats. The most common signs of Roof Rat activity are: rat droppings (avg.1/2 inch long and pointed), noises in the attic and walls, pets acting out of character, hollowed out fruit/ hordes of dog food in wall void/attic/storage room and/or gnawed surfaces where rodents have gained access to an area. All of these symptoms point to the fact that Roof Rats have been at work in your home and Senske needs to be called to action to remedy the situation.
The single most important thing you need to remember to do, is something NOT to do. DO NOT USE ANY POISON BAITS TO CONTROL ROOF RATS INSIDE YOUR HOME! We say this because a rodent who eats poison bait will get sick and die. But before it dies, it will go to the least accessible corner of your home, and hide before expiring. Upon it’s demise, as with all things, the smell will be awful. Your problem will now be compounded. You will still have to locate the former Roof Rat, and then deal with the odor of it’s decomposition. This is why high level professional companies never use poison baits inside a home for rat control.
The professionals at Senske know that Roof rats spend 90% of their life 4 feet or more off the ground and understand how to evaluate your home, outside and inside to resolve the problem completely. They have been trained on Roof Rat biology, and are equipped with the knowledge that these rats are busiest during twilight and nighttime hours in a territory 200 to 300 feet from their daytime nesting locations. We understand that they thrive in cool weather and are most active from November through May. This is why we make sure your home is sealed tight against rodent access first, before utilizing secure rodent stations on the exterior of your home, to satiate the rodents desire for food there, long before they begin to explore the residence for food options. We train our technicians to look for entry routes into the home, because we understand that roof rats are strong tree climbers and travel along power lines to trees, oleanders, vines, bushes and roofs. They can climb up brick walls, stucco and other rough surfaces. They can jump 2 feet straight up and 4 feet horizontally (twice that distance if they are jumping from a height). Remember, ground covers and compost bins also provide safe travel routes and nests. They will use all of these routes to gain entry into your home and your Senske representative will point these out, showing you how to eliminate these, making your home a less rodent friendly environment.
Once a home is sealed against rodent access, and rodents are still potentially active inside, Senske will place snap traps strategically inside. These are not the same traps that you can buy at the local hardware store. Much like getting your oil changed or having your carpets cleaned, it is the tools of the trade that make the difference. Professional grade traps and Senske training make the difference between a long tedious and frustrating attempt at getting rid of rodents in your home and the efficient productive results that a professional delivers. If your Holiday decorations are a little heavy with additional “decoration”, give Senske a call, we will come right out and lighten your holiday load.
