Seeing the first signs of a rat invasion – droppings, strange noises, chewed items – is deeply unsettling. The damage caused as populations multiply is even worse. Yet there are key steps homeowners can take to prevent infestations from developing rather than trying to remove an established colony.
In years of pest control service, we have inspected thousands of properties for rodent activity. We know firsthand their uncanny ability to find overlooked entry points and food sources allowing them to thrive. Sealing up access routes and denying other survival needs are crucial to making homes as unattractive as possible to rodents before they sneak inside.
Implementing targeted rat-proofing measures takes vigilance, effort, and know-how to address the small gaps these destructive pests exploit. But preventing rat issues is far easier than trying to eliminate them once nests and colonies form inside walls and structures. Stop them from getting a foothold in the first place with the right proofing plan.
Major Rat Entry Routes that Enable Infestations
Openings where utilities enter:
Rats dig and chew with frightening power. They follow pipe runs from sewers or poke into any tiny exterior gaps where cables or conduits enter. Carefully sealing all utility access points with metal mesh and concrete patching keeps them out.
Damaged vents and ducts:
Any compromised ventilation outlet, dryer vent, or similar opening allows rats easy interior access. They climb well and fit through gaps as small as 1 cm. Inspect all wall and roof vents for corrosion and cover them with fine screens. Repair any damage right away.
Loose patio doorways or cracked foundations:
Rats squeeze through astonishingly small spaces. Check any patio doorways or cracked slab edges where they could enter. Installing door sweeps and sealing foundation gaps prevents easy access. Pay special attention to potential holes where additions meet original structures too.
Mulch or debris piles near walls:
Keep all landscaping at least half a metre from foundations. Rats use mulch and wood piles to hide and burrow near buildings. Moving these materials away forces them to remain further outside where traps and baits work better. Never stack firewood or trash next to exterior walls either.
Choosing the Right Bait Stations
In addition to sealing cracks shut, installing permanent bait stations around the exterior guides invading rodents toward controlled points of entry where poisons or traps await. Our technicians strategically place tamper-resistant stations loaded with fast-acting rodenticide at optimal spots based on inspection findings.
Key factors we consider include:
- Locations along walls or fences where rodents travel
- Areas shielded from weather that entice rats to enter and feed
- Presenting multiple stations to intercept all possible approach paths
- Lockable, child-proof designs that keep bait securely inside
Only commercial-grade, weather-resistant bait boxes meet these criteria. DIY plywood or plastic stations fail to guide rodents effectively to the bait inside or protect poisons from the elements. They remain a weak link invasion routes stay open. Installing around ten superior stations provides an outer perimeter defense stopping rats before they reach doors or pipes leading inside.
What Do I Do If Rats Still Get In Somehow?
Prevention measures like sealing and improved sanitation minimize the risk of rats invading your home. But with their tenacity and sharp teeth, sometimes a few still find ways to sneak inside and breed. At the first signs like strange noises or droppings, call in professional pest control right away.
After a thorough inspection, we create a removal plan targeting all interior nesting areas and food supplies. Precision cage trapping, targeted baiting methods, and repeat follow up visits will eliminate them. The longer an indoor infestation goes untreated, the more damage it causes. Take fast action by calling our Johannesburg office the moment rats reach past your defenses.
For a free quote on proactive rat-proofing using secured bait stations around your home or business, contact Pest Control WR today. Once rats infest interior areas, removal gets difficult and destructive. Block them successfully from ever going inside in the first place. Our rat prevention plans make that possible.