There are lots of species of rodents that live here in Conroe. We have big rodents. We have small rodents. We have rodents that climb trees. We have rodents that chew down trees. We also have rodents that like to invade homes. We will be talking about one of these furry pests today. Here is everything you should know about the Norway rat and why it is the most problematic pest rodent in our area.
What Are Norway Rats
Norway rats are known worldwide for being the most invasive species of rat. They are also known for their large size. Identify a Norway rat by its 7-9 ½” long body, brown fur with scattered black hairs, heavy frame, long hairless tail, and blunt muzzle. Despite being a bit larger than other area rodents, Norway rats make up for their size with the way they chew through materials like aluminum, wood, and plastic. Sometimes these pests chew straight through walls, other times they gnaw on preexisting holes to make them large enough to fit through.
The Reason Norway Rats Invade Homes
If Norway rats had the choice they would be house rodents all the time. The only issue they have with living indoors is that you are there. Besides that, they love snacking on food inside your pantries, munching holes through walls and gnawing on furniture legs, tearing up fabrics to build their nests, and sipping moisture from your sinks and bathtubs. It’s almost like your home was made to be lived in. The only problem is that Norway rats are not the one it was built for.
How A Deep Clean Helps To Prevent Norway Rats
Norway rats do not need your home to be clean to want to live indoors, however, it does make them more comfortable. These furry pests prefer cluttered and dirty environments as it provides them with more opportunities to find food, water, and moisture. Make your living areas less attractive to Norway rats by performing a deep clean. This should involve washing down surfaces, mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming floors, reducing clutter as much as possible, and organizing your storage areas. Once your home is clean, we recommend taking steps to keep it that way. Wash your dishes daily, take out the trash before it fills up, and address food messes and drink spills as they occur.
Do Traps Kill Norway Rats
There are many store-bought rodent control products that promise to handle pests like Norway rats. In our opinion, only one is worth your time and money: heavy deputy snap traps. If you suspect rats have just recently invaded your home, purchase some rat traps and bait them with peanut butter, not cheese. The reason we recommend peanut butter over cheese is that cheese is easily stolen where peanut butter requires the rats to lick and move traps around making them more likely to trigger. Once traps are baited, place them in areas you suspect rodents are traveling at night like in the back of pantries and under sinks. If this solves your problem within a few weeks, great! If your problem persists, assume that Norway rats have begun to breed, and get a pest professional involved.
To make sure your rodent infestation is handled quickly and effectively, trust the experts at Chase Pest Control. We understand these invasive pests and have invested our time, money, and energy into ensuring that our rodent control is the absolute best in the area.
Contact us today to find out more about our services and schedule your Conroe home for a visit.