Rat Control in Polk County
Do you need to get rid of rats? We can help!
Some Geographic Restrictions
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In Polk County, rats are some of the most destructive pests homeowners encounter. They damage your home and pose health risks to you and your family.
Rats seek out the shelter your home provides to escape predators, find a safe place to give birth, and nest close to a reliable food source. You will find evidence of rats in the attic, inside our walls, under appliances, inside pantries, and under your house.
Attempting to control a rat population with your own rat traps can feel futile. Rats avoid new things in their environment, and they reproduce at such a high rate that you need to put down enough traps. Don’t waste your time and energy on DIY rat control.
Call Trutech in to Get Rats out.
100% Money Back Guarantee
With Trutech, your satisfaction is guaranteed. Trutech technicians take great pride in providing quality workmanship to solve your wildlife pest needs. If you are not completely satisfied, we offer a full refund upon request.
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Free Inspection
Unsure what pest is bothering you or how to fix it? Schedule a free inspection with Trutech to uncover what animal is in your house, where they got in, and how to solve the infestation fast and effectively. Our inspections include a full report, no obligation quote, and transparent pricing.
In-House Financing
Don’t wait on a solution because of financing. Get service now and pay later.
For Trutech customers fixed rate financing through the Rollins Acceptance Company (RAC) is available.
Both standard and 90-day same as cash financing options have 12-,18-,24-, or 36-month options. Some projects might qualify for a budgeted plan up to 60 months.
Rat Problems
Signs a Rat Infestation
- Droppings: This is often the most noticeable and definitive sign. Rat droppings are typically dark, pellet-shaped, and about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, resembling a large grain of rice. They are commonly found near food sources, in cupboards, under sinks, and along walls. Fresh droppings will appear moist and shiny, while older ones will be dry and crumbly.
- Gnaw Marks: Rats constantly gnaw to keep their ever-growing teeth in check and to create access points. Look for gnaw marks on wood (like baseboards, door frames, and furniture), plastic containers, food packaging, wires, and pipes. Rat gnaw marks are usually larger and rougher than those left by mice, often appearing as paired grooves
- Noises at Night: Rats are primarily nocturnal, so you’re most likely to hear them at night. Listen for scratching, scurrying, or squeaking sounds coming from within walls, ceilings, attics, basements, or crawl spaces. These noises indicate active movement and can be a strong sign of a hidden infestation.
Dangers of Rat Infestation
Rats are one of the most common and dangerous pests to have in your house.
- Health Hazards: Rats can carry and transmit diseases like leptospirosis, salmonella, and hantavirus. Their droppings and urine contaminate surfaces and food sources.
- Fire Risk: Rats gnaw on wires, which can lead to exposed wiring and increase the risk of electrical fires.
- Structural Damage: Their gnawing can compromise insulation, wood, and even piping.
- Infestation Growth: A small rat problem can quickly become a large infestation due to rapid breeding.
How Do Rats Get in Your Polk County Home
Roof rats easily climb trees, gutters, and siding to reach the roof. Rats can gnaw through roof material like shingles and plywood.
Overhanging tree branches and rats can climb to reach the roof.
Rats can gnaw through most home construction materials, such as wood, aluminum, vinyl siding, and plastic. Areas under the roof, like the soffit or the fascia boards above the gutters, usually have gaps. If a rat can't slip through these gaps, it can gnaw a bigger hole.
Cracks, holes, or gaps in the exterior provide easy access to rodents and then climb up walls into the attic.
The spaces around pipes, cables, and wires entering the house.
Professional Rat Control
Full Inspection
The rodents frequently seek refuge inside warm homes, which provide shelter from potential predators and access to human foods. Both attics and garages are ideal nesting locations inside, while sheds and barns on private properties also provide adequate shelter for the pests.
Rat Traps
Rat trapping typically takes 5-14 days depending on the infestation. We use our knowledge of rat behavior and biology to strategic get rid of rats from your house.
Prevention & Control
Seal cracks and openings in building foundations and any openings for water pipes, electric wires, sewer pipes, drain spouts, and vents. Rats cam gnaw away materials like wood, caulk, plastic, and aluminum.
Remediation
Rat droppings can spread numerous diseases. We remove rat feces and apply sanitization agents to the affected area. Ectoparasites like mites, lice, ticks, and fleas are all found on rats. Ectoparasite agents exterminate those pests.
Areas We Service
Rat Control Services Near You
Our team of experts have spent over 40 years developing and training to provide exceptional wildlife removal and pest control services in Polk County. When you work with Trutech, you can feel confident that the job is being done right.
- Aurburndale
- Bartow
- Davenport
- Eagle Lake
- Fort Meade
- Haines City
- Lake Alfred
- Lake Wales
- Lakeland
- Winter Haven
Why Chose Trutech Wildlife Service
- Guaranteed services
- Over 40 years of experience
- Licenses & insured experts
- Financing available
At Trutech Wildlife Service, we pride ourselves on offering humane raccoon removal services that prioritize the safety of you and your family, your property, and the animal.
Our team of experienced and certified technicians uses humane and eco-friendly methods to ensure a safe and effective removal process. We provide a comprehensive service that includes thorough inspection, humane removal, meticulous damage repair, and proactive prevention measures.
When you choose Trutech Wildlife Service, you can trust that we will handle your raccoon problem with the utmost professionalism and care, giving you peace of mind and a raccoon-free home. Contact us today for a free quote and let us help you reclaim your space.
Some Geographic Restrictions
Frequently Asked Questions
Aptly named, rat-bite fever is transmitted through contact with the rodents’ saliva. This, along with Hantavirus, salmonellosis, E. coli poisoning, and leptospirosis, is one of the illnesses people can catch directly from rats. Ticks, fleas, and mites that live in the pests’ fur often ferry rat diseases to humans indirectly.
In addition to the plague, these parasites may carry Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The pests’ droppings, dander, and fur can also trigger allergic reactions.
There is more than one DIY rat repellent, though none are completely effective.
Popular repellents include:
- Putting out mothballs
- Sprinkling cayenne pepper in gardens
- Enclosing plants with hardware cloth
There are several issues with these approaches. Mothballs only last a short time and can be toxic to pets and small children. The other two rat deterrents may show some results outdoors, but don’t address indoor pests.
Homeowners looking to control infestations are usually offered standard rodent traps such as snap, cage, and burrow entrance traps, as well as glue boards.
Do Rat Traps Work?
This control measure is surprisingly effective. Since the pests are drawn to strange objects in their surroundings, they’re extremely susceptible to traps.
Unfortunately, trapping is not a long-term solution to pack rat problems. Homeowners are better off targeting factors that attract rodents in the first place such as poorly stored food or breaches leading into homes.
Other Issues with Rat Traps
Though rat traps have a higher rate of success than other control methods, this doesn’t mean it’s the best way to get rid of infestations. These animals often host a number of disease-carrying parasites in their fur, which means getting too close can be a health risk.
Also, after
When rats enter homes, they prefer to stay out of sight in undisturbed areas. Identifying a rat infestation, however, is easy, especially as the rodents increase in number. Rats move around a lot and individuals should listen to the sounds of scurrying in attics, false ceilings, and wall voids. These noises intensify at nighttime, as rats are nocturnal and become most active after dusk. Additionally, homeowners should look for rat droppings around sources of food, like pantries, smudge marks on walls left by the greasy, oily fur of rats, and gnawing damage. Finally, residents may spot adult rats in sheltered locations such as storage boxes, seldom-used drawers, and stacks of firewood.
Homeowners may be alerted to the presence of rats in the attic by sounds, sights, and smells. Usually the most apparent signs of infestation are the scratching and scurrying sounds these rodents make. As rats are nocturnal, they are noisiest when individuals are settling in for a night of rest. Additionally, home residents may notice visual cues such as rat droppings, teeth marks in food containers, and even tracks. Finally, the musky smell of rat presence and malodorous collections of droppings and urine are sure indications of rat infestations in the attic.
To detect the presence of rats in walls, residents should remain alert for rat droppings around homes, oily smudge marks, and gnawed holes in walls and food containers. Droppings are long, cylindrical pellets typically dark brown in color that can be found wherever rats frequent.
Smudge marks appear as greasy patches on floors and walls as a result of the pests’ dirty fur rubbing up against a surface.
Finally, rats use their large front teeth to chew access holes into walls and gnaw open food containers. These openings are ragged around the edges and may only be as large as half an inch in diameter.
Since rats are primarily active at night, infestations usually go undetected for some time. However, knowing what rat signs to look for allows property owners to notice the presence of rats
under decks sooner. Telltale signs of rat infestations include scratching and squeaking noises, the presence and smell of urine and excrement, and remnants of nesting materials like ripped up insulation.
A clever way to detect the presence of rats under decks is to place newspaper over the openings. After a few days, if the paper is ripped or gone, property owners should assume they’re dealing with an infestation.