Eliminating Rats for Good in Your Toms River Home

Rats have long been a persistent issue for homeowners in Toms River, wreaking havoc with contaminated pantries, damaged furniture, and countless holes gnawed through walls. Beyond the physical damage, these rodents bring diseases, disrupt peace of mind, and instill a sense of disgust in your home, making coexistence nearly impossible.

In Toms River, encounters with either Norway rats or roof rats are most likely. Norway rats, the larger of the two, can grow up to a foot long, boasting a longer body with a blunt muzzle and small ears, usually in brown with lighter undersides. They excel at burrowing and tend to infest lower parts of buildings, especially basements. Roof rats, on the other hand, are adept climbers found predominantly in attics and roof areas, smaller than Norway rats with brown bodies, white or grey undersides, and prominent ears and eyes.

Rats, being nocturnal and elusive creatures, multiply rapidly, making early detection crucial before their numbers spiral out of control. Let's delve into recognizing signs of a rat infestation, explore effective preventive measures, and, if needed, find quality pest control in Toms River.

How to Identify Rat Infestation Signs in Your Home

Rats' knack for avoiding detection makes it essential to act promptly upon observing signs of infestation:

• Furniture damage, wall holes, and gnaw marks on food containers
• Capsule-shaped droppings with pointy or blunt ends
• Greasy, dark marks from rats rubbing on walls
• Rat footprints
• Chewed and contaminated stored food
• Nocturnal scurrying noises in walls and attic

If you suspect a rat infestation, it's crucial to enlist the expertise of a seasoned rat control professional.

Rats in Your Home: A Serious Health Hazard

Once inside your home, rats wreak havoc by gnawing on everything in sight, especially wood furniture legs and walls. With teeth growing up to 14 inches a year, they are relentless. Rats possess an acute sense of smell and will go to great lengths to access and destroy food supplies, posing a significant health risk.

Rats also transmit various contagious diseases, including leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, tularemia, salmonellosis, jaundice, cowpox virus, and trichinosis. While rat bites are rare unless provoked, the bites are prone to infection.

Rats are agile climbers, capable of dislocating parts of their skulls to fit through quarter-sized openings. To prevent rodent infiltration:

• Seal gaps and cracks in exterior walls; cover vents with metal mesh
• Store food in sealed, glass, or metal containers
• Keep debris and firewood away from walls
• Use sealed, rat-proof containers for trash



If preventive measures fall short, and you suspect rats in your home, seeking professional help is paramount.