Brampton Pest Infestation

Telltale Signs Your Brampton Home Has A Pest Problem

Pests are sneaky little things, rarely showing themselves when you are looking. But just because you cannot see them, does it mean they are not there? Possibly not, and fortunately, there are a few signs that pests leave to alert you to their presence.

Why you should be concerned
But why should you be concerned about pests? The answer is that pests, whether they be rodents, insects or other animals, often carry diseases that can, if they take up residence in your home, lead to health issues for you and your family. Cockroaches, for example, carry allergens in their saliva and droppings and have been known to increase the severity of asthma attacks. In contrast, rodents can carry the Hantavirus in their droppings and infect your food work surfaces, leading to food contamination.

Telltale signs

The most obvious sign of a pest infestation will be droppings. With mice, you can expect to find droppings in and around food areas, as it is the ready availability of food attracts them, but they can inhabit any room in a property. Mice and other rodents will do their best to avoid being seen and will spend most of their time in places that are not visible, such as behind kitchen cabinetry kick spaces and fridges. Their droppings and small dark grey and black pellets are unmistakable, and it is also likely you will be able to smell their urine. You may even notice dirt tracks on your surfaces where they have been scurrying around. If you have a pet cat or dog, the smell of rodents and their urine will cause them to become excited, so pay attention if your pet’s behaviour suddenly changes.

Rodents will also nest, so check the darkest corners of your home for evidence of nesting materials, such as shredded paper. Rodents will attempt to get into your food, so keep an eye out for packaging with gnawing marks or holes.

Insects leave other traces. Whilst finding the odd dead fly or bug around your home is normal, clusters of shed wings and dead bodies are likely to mean you have an infestation. Insects that destroy wood, such as termites, will leave small piles of sawdust or powder-like residues.

How to deal with pests

If you only see rodents at night, it is likely that their numbers are small and so can be dealt with using humane traps and bait. However, if you do catch sight of rodents during the daytime, it is a sign of a larger infestation. Although it can be tempting to use over-the-counter treatments to get rid of insect pests, it is unlikely that such products will deal with the long-term issue, as they often work on specific bodies onto which they are sprayed rather than a whole colony.

For severe infestations, the only sure way of eradicating the problem is to hire a professional pest controller.

A professional pest control company will assess your problem and advise on the most effective eradication treatment, helping protect the health of your home and your family.

Why Termite Control is Best Left to the Professionals.

Termites are not as common as other pests, such as spiders and rodents, but the damage they cause is often far greater and more expensive. As a homeowner, you can self-treat termites with over-the-counter chemicals. However, this particular pest is best treated by a professional service for several important reasons.

Termite Colonies are Huge and Impacting

A termite infestation is huge and grows fast. When you get a termite colony in your home, the termites multiply and work quickly to eat away at the cellulose in your walls and other materials.

A professional can detect where the colonies live and operate for quick eradication. A novice homeowner is not able to find them as easily. Delays in treatment lead to rapid descriptions of your wood frame, which contributes to expensive repairs. The modest investment in professional treatment is nothing compared to the worst-case scenario.

Expert Treatment Selection

Several termite species infest homes. Therefore, you cannot buy a generic one-size-kills-all solution. An expert inspects for signs of the termites and figures out which species are in your home. This analysis leads to the correct treatment to get rid of the colony.

Along with the effectiveness of a solution, safety is a concern. A termite specialist understands the importance of using safe chemicals and treatment procedures in your home.

Complete Eradication and Preventative Measures

Homeowners who try to find self-treat that termites never leave. You kill a bunch, but the ones you miss replenish the colony and face the same disturbing problem. An expert knows the right treatment steps to eradicate the entire population. He also inspects after the job is done to ensure no survivors.

After you treat the existing problem, it is important to use preventative measures to prevent future infestations. A termite specialist installs chemical barriers that deter termites from getting into your home in the first place. The common treatments a homeowner invests in do not keep termites at bay.

The Difference Between Pest Control and Wildlife Control

Pest control and wildlife removal are two different services. Pest control removes pests in your home, such as insects, rodents, and cockroaches. On the other hand, wildlife removal is the process of removing animals that are not pests from your homes, such as bats, birds, and squirrels. So, do you need pest control or wildlife removal? The answer depends on what kind of problem you’re having. If you’re dealing with pests, then you need pest control. If you’re dealing with wildlife, then you need wildlife removal.

How to Find a Reliable Wildlife & Pest Control Company

No one wants to deal with a pest infestation. Though several DIY pest control techniques exist, nothing is as quick and effective as hiring a pest control company. The professionals have the skill, experience, and special equipment needed to do the job quickly.

But not all pest control companies are created equal. Like any other industry, some pest control companies are far superior to others. Below is a little information on how to weed through the lacklustre companies so you can select one that will provide the most effective service possible.

• Referrals 

The best way to find a reliable pest control company is through referrals from friends and neighbours. Ask people you know if they have dealt with a pest problem before. If they have used a pest control company and were pleased with the results, this company should be on top of your list of companies to consider.

• Reviews 

Reading Wildlife Control Reviews is also a great way to find a highly-rated pest control company. You can easily search for reviews of local wildlife removal companies online.

• Experience and Expertise

A company’s experience tells you a lot about its service level. Generally, you want to look for companies with at least a few years of experience in pest control. Though there are undoubtedly great new businesses, you don’t want to take any chances regarding a pest infestation.

• Quote 

After narrowing down your options, ask each company you are considering for a free quote over the phone. They should be able to give you an accurate estimate for the cost of raccoon removal, free of charge. You should also remember that the lowest quote does not always equal the lowest quality work, and the highest quote doesn’t always equal the highest quality work.

If your home is infested with pests of any kind, it goes without saying you want them gone as quickly as possible. Hiring a professional pest control company is the fastest way to remove them. Yet you don’t want to hire just any old company. The tips above will help you find a pest control company that charges a fair price and does a great extermination job

MICE

Having a mouse for an unwanted roommate is never fun. Mice spoil food, make noise at night and leave urine and droppings in places where you prepare food. A mouse infestation can spread diseases in your home and make you sick. The best way to deal with a mouse problem is to nip it in the bud as fast as possible.

If you discover a mouse in your home, you must act fast. Mice reproduce in about two and a half to three weeks. One pregnant female will multiply the problem very quickly. Rather than allowing your home to become a safe harbour for mice, take action using these methods.

1) Prepare your home before winter. Mice can fit through tiny spaces and love to move indoors once the weather turns cold. You can prepare for a potential mouse invasion by liming points of entry. Block little holes and cracks in your home with steel wool. Unlike many other materials, steel wool is resistant to mouse teeth.

2) Set up your traps effectively. A trip in the middle of the floor does little good. A trap set up against the wall is much more effective. Did you know that mice don’t usually cross to the middle of the floor? They prefer to stick to walls and corners. Whether you use a snap trap or a no-kill trap, keep it flush against the wall and in the mouse’s path. You’ll be more likely to catch mice. Peanut butter, bread, and cheese are all highly effective bait.

3) Should you catch a mouse in your no-kill trap, release it far from your home. Mice have a good sense of direction and move fast. Take the mouse with you on a long drive and hike. Some people prefer to release mice in the middle of fields. This increases the chances that a hawk or another predatory bird will catch the mouse. There’s something a little more “morally clean” about giving a mouse to a natural food chain than killing it yourself.

4) Get a cat. If you aren’t allergic and don’t hate cats, keeping a friendly feline around is a guaranteed way to control mice and other vermin. Bear in mind a cat might sometimes bring you a “kill.” Instead of being grossed out, be happy that your cat is doing its job.

Even after you’ve removed mice from your home, you will need to be proactive to avoid future infestations. If mice have invaded your house once, more mice are likely to want to move in. Remember, your house is a perfect haven for little rodents: warm, safe from predators and full of food. If you let your guard down, mice can very quickly take over.

You can also take comfort in knowing that mice are not the worst infestation you could have. Unlike rats, mice cause no direct harm to humans and aren’t a huge health concern if their numbers stay small. A few mice in your house is not a big deal, but you do need to take measures to avoid a full-blown infestation.

RATS

If you suspect you have a rat infestation, your first impulse might be to close off any openings you suspect the rats may be used to enter and leave your home or scream. Do neither of these; instead, figure out what type of rat is causing the problem, and then use one of the five primary methods of rat combat to rid your home of the infestation.

Two main types of rats are known for causing an infestation in North America – Norway rats and roof rats. Norway rats prefer to nest underground. They dig holes outside your property around gardens, trees, and other shrubs and against foundations. These holes lead to burrows, which eventually tunnel into your house via pipes, cracks in the encasement, or any unprotected crawl space. Since Norway rats are fond of the lowest nesting places, they will most often be found in kitchens or bathrooms.

Roof rats prefer just the opposite type of nesting location. Extremely skilled climbers, these rats build their homes in high places, such as cabinets or attics. Scaling any material from which your property is constructed poses no problems for these limber rodents. Roof rats climb wood, brick, or stucco siding, then find a small point of entry into your homes, such as an exhaust pipe, bathroom vent, or space between the roof and the boards surrounding it. If your house is airtight, these indomitable rodents will chew a hole through any material they can.

The location of your house’s rodent infestation should provide a strong clue as to what type of rat is responsible. The location of droppings ensures that rats have travelled through the area recently and will do so again. The shape of this leavings can also help to confirm what type of rat is the culprit. Though both types of rats leave waste approximately the size of a black bean, the droppings of Norway rats are smooth and rounded, while those of roof rats have pointy ends.

Once you have determined that you have a rat infestation, several methods of combat are available, including poisons, glue boards, snap traps, live traps, and electrocution. Two main types of poisons are often used to battle rat infestations: rodenticide and liquid bait. Rodenticides are poison baits that seem like attractive foods to rats. Most rodenticides are anticoagulants, which means that they prevent the rat’s blood from properly clotting. Once a rat has ingested such an anticoagulant in multiple doses (generally for at least 15 days or until signs of feeding have stopped), any bleeding it undergoes becomes deadly. Since its blood cannot clot, any type of injury that ruptures an artery or vein, such as a cut or internal hemorrhage, causes the rat to bleed to death. Rodenticides should be placed in areas where the rat infestation seems most obvious, but also with caution – make sure that this poison is not in a location where family pets or small children can inadvertently consume it.

Liquid bait is formed of a poisonous concentrate mixed with water and is ideal for dealing with rat infestations during dry seasons or in areas where rats have few water sources. Adding a little sugar to the liquid bait should make it even more attractive to rats, who need water daily unless they are somehow feeding on very moist food. Liquid bait containers should be safely enclosed in liquid bait stations (available from commercial suppliers and self-constructible) in high places like cabinets or crawlspaces, as well as any other out-of-the-way locale where the target rats will be the only ones to find and ingest it. In rodenticide and liquid bait station usage, the food and water provided need to be fresh, as rats will not eat stale, dirty, or spoiled food. If possible, both types of poison should ideally be placed between the rats’ nest and their main food source.

It is relatively easy to construct than purchasing your own liquid bait container station. These containers can take many forms and be constructed of many different materials, but it is key to design them so that multiple rats can feed at once. A bait station can be formed of a flat piece of wood (at least eight inches long to prevent children from gaining access) nailed at an angle with the food positioned between the wall and board. Bait stations can also be constructed from pipes or elaborate boxes with two holes cut into the sides, equipped with childproof latches for easy checks to ensure the bait is fresh and still being consumed. Each station should have at least two 2½-inch openings, preferably at opposite ends of the station, so rats looking into one end can see an easy escape route and thus be more inclined to venture in.

Glueboards and snap traps are somewhat outdated means of dealing with rat infestations but can still meet with success when the problem is limited to one or two animals. Glueboards are pieces of plastic or wood with non-drying glue spread on top, to which the curious rat will become stuck. Glueboards can be bought from commercial suppliers or self-constructed. To build your glue board, cut a square or rectangular shape from a sturdy substance such as plastic or wood (avoid paper at all costs). Spread a form of non-drying glue (Rodent Bulk Glue is fairly popular) on the board, and place it near a wall or under furniture where rats are likely to travel. The downside of glue boards is that only one can be used per rat, and often, a rat ensnared on such a board will scream with a human-like sound that may be not only hard for human occupants of the house to bear but also scare other rats away from additional glue board investigation.

Extended trigger traps are the springloaded, updated version of yore’s snap traps (planks of wood with metal triggers). They, like glue boards, are best used in cases where only one or two rats are causing a problem. Place the traps as close to the wall where the rodents normally frequent. The disadvantage of using trigger traps is that once rats see their kind dead, which they inevitably will when the spring of the trap, they will consistently avoid any further traps you set out at all costs.

Live traps are considered the best modern means of dealing with rat infestations. They are safer and less hazardous than poisons and enable quick release of a live rodent (or the ability to dispose of one) so that odour does not become a problem. Make sure you purchase or construct a trap constructed of a 1/2-inch wire grid – no larger – to prevent rats from escaping. This is especially important when dealing with roof rats. Like all other rat-trapping methods, live traps should be placed in areas where rats often travel. Since rats are inherently cautious around foreign objects, it would be wise to place the traps unsprung with food inside for at least two weeks to give the rats a chance to get accustomed to eating in them. Set many traps during this time to ensure that there are many rats comfortable around them when you set the traps, ensuring that many will be trapped at once; when they are sprung, rats will see their own trapped and completely avoid the traps.

If you want to kill a live rat you have trapped, four methods are the most efficient and popular: freezing, suffocating, drowning, and electrocution. Freezing is one of the most humane options but also the most lengthy. To freeze the rat to death, place the trap in which it was caught into a bag, then place it in a freezer. Be prepared to wait several hours, or even overnight, for the rat to fall asleep and die painlessly. Suffocating takes less time but can still take more than you might expect, as rats are persistent animals. To successfully suffocate a rat, you must devise some means of sealing it in an airtight space, which can be tricky. Use your ingenuity; if nothing seems to be working, attempt one of the three methods.

Drowning and electrocuting take far less time. To drown a rat, place the trap into a bucket of water or submerge it entirely in a nearby pond or stream. The rat should be dead within 15 minutes at most. To electrocute or shock a rat to death, you must install zappers in areas the rats travel heavily. Zappers are battery-operated electrical devices that contain food attractive to the rat. Once the rat enters the zapper, the latter quickly and humanely delivers enough volts to kill the rodent. A small red light at the top of any zapper will notify you when the job has been successfully completed. Best of all, no direct handling of the carcass is necessary, as you can gently shake the zapper to let the rat’s body fall into a disposal bag.

Using zappers to electrocute and live traps to ensnare rats alive are the best modern ways to deal with rat infestations. However, glue boards, extended trigger traps, rodenticides, and liquid bait are also popular options. By employing any of these methods, you should be able to rid your home of a rat infestation in a relatively short period.