Seattle’s rat population has recently undergone exponential growth. While the rodent count is still a weak match to that of New York City or Chicago, a recent survey listed the Seattle-Tacoma area as one of the top twelve U.S. cities with an overwhelming rat population.
Why the Rodent Rise?
Most major U.S. cities have had to deal with a persistent rat population simply because urban areas present excellent living conditions. Seattle is damp, but not cold, with easy access to garbage, plenty of water, and innumerable hiding places makes this busy city the ideal location for rats to feed and breed. Seattle’s recent reconstruction projects are also responsible for forcing a number of rats to relocate to more residential areas. Seattle homeowners are desperate for ways to keep these dangerous and destructive critters out of their homes. Here are five simple ways to defend your home against the recent rat invasion:Five Steps to Avoid a Rodent Infestation
There are five important steps that Seattle homeowners can take to make sure that their home doesn’t fall prey to a rodent infestation:1. Clean Your Crawl Space
A Seattle crawl space is often a prime location for a rodent infestation. The cool, quiet climate offers a safe and peaceful environment for rats to breed. The crawl space also offers easy access to food and moisture around the home. Rodents are incredibly destructive when they gain access to your crawl space. Rats enjoy gnawing on electrical lines, shredding up insulation, chewing on ductwork and piping, and destroying the wooden structure of your home. Your crawl space must be thoroughly sealed and cleaned to keep rats out. Remove any moldy insulation, family belongings, chopped wood, and any other items from the crawl space. A full crawl space renovation by a crawl space cleaning company can ensure that the area is sealed and secure against a potential infestation.2. Inspect Your Home
The best way to avoid Seattle’s growing rat population is to ensure that these rodents don’t have a way to enter your home. Thoroughly inspect the outside of your home for any gaps, holes, or cracks around the foundation, windows, doors, pipes, or vents. Be particularly wary of any gaps or holes around your garage door, as this is the easiest way for rodents to access your property. Rodents have unique body structures that enable them to fit through even the smallest openings. If their head will fit, the rest of their body will as well, so be sure to inspect the walls, foundation, and roof of your home for any small cracks or holes. Homeowners have discovered that rats are deterred by steel wool, so filling any cracks or holes with this pliable material is an easy way to prevent rodents from getting inside.
