Common Questions about Rats

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about rats that we get here at Clark Pest Control. Of course if you have any other questions about rats or rat control, you can still contact Clark Pest Control directly.

Can an exterminator get rid of rats?

Yes. Rodent control is complex and hazardous – rodents like rats carry serious disease pathogens – so it’s better left to pest professionals. With our knowledge and training, we observe what most people don’t see via thorough inspection, and we analyze our findings and determine the infestation’s severity. Then we devise effective treatment, which can include blocking entry points (exclusion) and trapping or otherwise controlling the rodent population.

Can rats in an attic ruin the insulation there?

Yes. Insulation can provide nesting material for rats and mice inside an attic. Rodents can be vectors for disease pathogens, and when they inhabit an attic, their defecation and urine will contaminate and ruin insulation.

Are rats a danger to my home's wiring?

They can be. Rats and mice have teeth that constantly grow and need to be filed down, and wires provide an ideal "grinding file" for them. Chewed house wires can cause fires. Rodents will chew wiring inside a car stored in a garage, too.

What kind of disease pathogens do rats and mice carry?

Rats can carry such disease pathogens as murine typhus, leptospirosis, salmonellosis (food poisoning), and ratbite fever, with plague an uncommon possibility. Deer mice (not the common house mouse) is known to carry hantavirus.