There’s almost nothing creepier than hearing the scuttling of little footsteps above your head and not being sure what you’ll face if you go take a peek. While wildlife can infest your attic, including raccoons, squirrels, and bats, the most likely culprits of the scraping and scratching are the usual domestic rodents. Keep reading to learn more about the types of rodents that invade attics, the dangers of having them there, and home pest control services in Tampa.
What Types Of Animals Invade Attics?
For the most part, rodents are the culprits chewing through your cardboard boxes and leaving disease-carrying feces in dark corners. As to what types of rodents you can expect, mice, rats, and squirrels are the most common.
House mice tend to stay where the food is, but if you’ve got a convenient collection of cockroaches and other small insects in your storage, you’ve got plenty to feed a house mouse population. House mice are small at around 3¾ inches long with a tail that is about the length of or longer than their bodies. They are usually gray with cream-colored bellies and large, round ears.
There are a couple of different rats that may infest your attic, but roof rats are more likely. Roof rats are adept climbers who may use overhanging tree limbs to infiltrate your attic. Roof rats are around 16 inches in length from their noses to the tips of their tails. They are usually black with brown intermixed.
Finally, you may have a more atypical house guest. Squirrels aren’t as likely to break in as mice and rats, but when the weather gets bad enough, and if it’s convenient, they will make themselves at home. In Tampa, the eastern gray squirrel is a common tree squirrel with a cream-colored belly and an intermixed coat of brown and gray on its back.
Each of these species of rodent carries diseases that can be transmitted to humans and pets through urine, feces, saliva, or contact with their corpses. If you suspect a rodent infestation in your attic, you should trust a professional pest control advisor to conduct your home and pest inspection.
How Dangerous Is It To Have Animals In The Attic?
On the most superficial level, having animals in your attic is a threat to your insulation, electrical wiring, and structural timbers. However, the bigger threat than property damage is an attack or exposure to illness. None of these species is particularly aggressive unless backed into a corner, but what is an attic except a bunch of corners?
While a bite can transmit rat-bite fever, even coming into contact with the feces, urine, or urine particles of these rodents can cause asthma attacks and allergies as well as potentially transmit diseases like salmonellosis, trichinosis, and leptospirosis.
Another threat brought on by a rodent infestation is the fleas and ticks they bring into your home. These parasites can cause even more spread of disease. Don’t expose yourself to these risks. Instead, trust the best pest control services near me, Haskell Termite & Pest Control.
What’s The Best Way To Get Rid Of Animals In The Attic?
Without question, the safest and most effective way to get rid of rodents in your attic is to call the best pest control services near me, Haskell Termite & Pest Control. Our home pest control services for this situation would involve a free home and pest inspection, rodent removal, sanitization services, and, if the pest problem is severe, the installation of pest-resistant attic insulation.
With these services, there is no risk of exposure to you or your family, as the professional pest control advisor will work to create a safe environment for you. Our services come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, which we are happy to back with follow-up appointments. For your home pest control services, call Haskell Termite & Pest Control, today.
How Do You Prevent Animals From Getting Into Your Attic?
If you want to prevent animals from breaking and entering, there are a few maintenance tricks that might make it more difficult for them. To keep rodents out of your attic, try these tips:
- Trim tree limbs that reach over or near your roof.
- Seal cracks and holes not only around the foundation of your home but also where your attic touches the outside air.
- Try pest-proof insulation.
- Store your stuff in sealable plastic boxes, not cardboard.
- Get rid of insects in your attic with regular visits from a pest control professional.
No matter the season or the trial, if you’re having trouble keeping home invaders out, or if you’re not sure where to start, give Haskell Termite & Pest Control a call. We can guide you through eliminating any issues pest-proofing your home for the future.
Customer Reviews
Efficient, effective and trustworthy. After using them, I paid the annual insurance in case the drywood termites came back. When they did come back, Haskell promptly re-tented the house - no arguing, no cost to me.
