Traps are often thought to be the first line of defense against rodent infestations in Riverside, but they don't always work the way we expect. There's a lot more to Riverside pest control than setting a few snap traps. Here's what you need to know about identifying rodent problems, the diseases they spread, the reasons why traps don't always work, and the best way to safely get rid of rodents in Riverside.
Identifying a Rodent Problem In Your Home
Rodents are sneaky and secretive pests, and it can be challenging to catch infestations in the early stages. Different types of rodents leave different signs, but in general, some of the ways you can identify a rodent infestation include:
- Finding droppings in storage spaces, corners, or near food supplies
- Gnaw marks on various materials throughout your home
- Holes chewed through packaging or walls
- Evidence of nesting materials
- A musty odor that worsens over time
- Scratching noises inside walls late at night
If you notice these or other signs of rodents in your Riverside home, it's important to take action right away.
The Diseases Spread By Rodents
Rodents aren't just nuisance pests, either. They damage property and personal belongings, soil insulation and other hard-to-clean areas in your home, contaminate food, and bring a host of diseases and parasites into your home. Some of the diseases rodents spread include:
- Hantavirus
- Leptospirosis
- Tularemia
- Salmonellosis
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis
- Rat-bite fever
In addition to these, rodents also bring ticks and fleas inside, where they can spread to your family and pets, risking infections like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.
Don't let California rodents get the best of your home and put your family at risk.
Why Rodent Traps Don't Typically Work
Traps may seem like a simple solution, but there is expertise involved in using them correctly. Traps need to be placed carefully to ensure they are in the runway of traveling rodents or rats and mice will simply go around them. Similarly, the bait is important. In cartoons, a little square of cheese is all you need, but, in reality, rodents can be much more discerning about their food choices.
When used correctly, it's not that traps don't work so much as they are not a total solution. Traps catch some rodents, leaving many people with the false impression that they are working. In reality, many rodents are too smart or too picky to be lured in by traps.
The reality is that traps catch some but not all rodents, and with the rate at which rodents reproduce, catching a few rodents here and there is not effective rodent control. Traps can be part of a solution, but you will need to find a way to get rid of the entire infestation as well as prevent new rodents from coming inside.
How To Safely Get Rid Of Rodents In Your Riverside Home
If you are looking for rodent control in Riverside, you can't go wrong with Compass Pest Management. Our experienced pest control technicians know what it takes to get rodents out of your home and prevent them from coming back. Our rodent exclusion services begin with an inspection so that we can provide you with a quote based on the specific needs of your home. We offer full-service options, including attic insulation clean-up when needed and a one-year warranty on exclusion work.
Traps are not the answer for getting rodents out of your home and ensuring they don't return, but professional services from Compass Pest Management are – call us now!