About a decade ago, roof rats famously invaded Phoenix area neighborhood, Arcadia. While roof rats remain an issue in Arcadia, the population of these insidious creatures, has become very fond of the comfort and luxury of these nearby areas. Perhaps it is the bountiful orchards of citrus trees or maybe it is the ease and simplicity of ever present irrigation systems. Given that roof rats reproduce quickly and literally exponentially -they can easily take over a geographic region in a mere matter of months. Regardless of the reason, it has become clear that roof rats have invaded and will be moving ever further into neighborhoods that offer the best ammenities for the convenience of roof rats.
How can you tell if you have roof rats?
Roof rats are nocturnal, meaning that they are generally most active at night. One of the first signs that you may have roof rats is that you will hear this activity occurring in attic areas. Attic areas are, in many cases, very simple to for roof rats to access for a number of reasons. While they are in attic areas they will chew on wiring, plumbing and insulation while nesting in other areas such as nearby trees, bushes, and cacti. You may notice these nests in perimeter areas of property.
How can you prevent an invasion?
The methods of safeguarding yourself from an invasion of roof rats are many and each will be specific to one’s own situation. Considering that roof rats carry a number of life-threatening diseases such as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), Rat-bite fever (RBF), Murine Typhus, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Leptospirosis, and Eosinophilic Meningitis, prevention must be considered a necessity to any home or business owner. For a customized plan to protect your home or business from invasion by these pests, consult a company specializing in rodent proofing such as Rodent Proof, L.L.C. Companties such as Rodent Proof L.L.C. specialize in rodent exclusion and will make changes to a structure to prevent entry thereby preventing damage to property and exposure to disease.
Invasion can be discouraged on the exterior of a home or business by:
1. Limit food sources. One might do this by removing fallen and ripe fruit from trees. Clean up pet waste. Feed pets indoors rather than on porch areas. Make sure bird feeders are rodent proof and clean up any fallen seeds.
2. Trim tree branches that hang near to roof line. In many cases, a short jump from branch to roof is all a roof rat needs to gain entry.
3. Cover roof drainage pipes. These pipes, originally meant to drain water from your roof, are the super highway to your roof for roof rats. Make sure that water can get out, but roof rats can’t get in.
Roof rat populations will inevitably continue to grow, but with a small amount of effort and perhaps the help of companies such as Rodent Proof, L.L.C., communities (such as Scottsdale and Paradise Valley) will be able to minimize damage to property and health.
What to Remove and What to Add:
Easy & Inexpensive Methods of Minimizing Pest Invasion
Remove the following…..
Fruit of Citrus Trees
While one may love the beauty and aroma of citrus trees like those often found in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, they can become an open invitation to pests. As a source of both food and water to rodents in particular, fallen fruit becomes irresistable. To prevent attracting hungry rats to your yard, do your best to pick up fallen citrus regularly and harvest ripe fruit before it has a chance to fall.
Overhanging branches
Tree pruning is rarely at the top of anyone’s to-do list, but if trees are near the home it needs to be given some attention. Pests of all kinds gain easy access to a rooftop where there may be countless entry points when they jump from branch to rooftop. Leaving overhanging branches in place puts your roof tiles, underlayment, attic, insulation, electrical wiring and more at serious risk. Simply pruning limbs away from a home’s roofline will aid in discouraging entry by good climbers and jumpers such as squirrels and rats.
Pet food and waste
A yard filled with pet waste and pet foods is a veritable buffet for local pests. While we may find these things unpleasant at best, they are a delight for many types of rodents. Regularly removing pet waste from areas in the yard will discourage pests from foraging there as they will need to find their food elsewhere. Try to feed and water pets indoors to avoid making it all too easy for pests to find their next meal on your porch. And YES! Rats do eat dog food. Not to mention that a pack of coyotes will consume anything you are offering and shouldn’t be encouraged to enter residential areas where small pets are also considered food.
Bird feeders
It is lovely to feed the birds, but a loose feeder can become a big problem. Squirrels everywhere are well aware that bird food is delicious! Try to hang bird feeders in areas that would be nearly impossible for a squirrel to climb to rather than off of a tree branch. Once an animal has breached bird feeder, it is likely to spill seeds onto the ground inviting other pests to feed. Should such a spill occur, a quick clean-up is the only solution to prevent wildlife from descending upon your yard.
Consider adding these……
Eucalyptus trees
Amazing, but true this tree is wonderfully beneficial at repelling ticks. Adding these trees not only keeps ticks away from the areas of your yard where these are planted, but off of your pets as well. Simply allow pets to use this tree as a scratching post or rub up against its bark.
Pest Repellant Flowers
Chrysanthemums – This flower has it’s own all-natural pesticide called pyrethrum that can help control things like roaches, ticks, silverfish, lice, fleas, bedbugs, and even ants .
Marigolds – The marigold is very well known plant for repelling insects. Mexican marigolds are said to deter many destructive insects as well as rabbits. Please note: these must be scented to work as a repellant and while this plant drives away many bad bugs, it can attracts spider mites and snails.
Pest Repellant Herbs
Lavender- Lavender in its many varieties is a favorite herb of many beneficial insects and also repels fleas and moths.
Basil -The oils in basil are said to repel thrips, flies and mosquitoes.
Catnip – This plant repels just about everything, except for cats of course! Catnip can be used to keep away flea beetles, aphids, Japanese beetles, squash bugs, ants, and weevils.
Adding any of these plants should aid in repelling pests, yet beautify the yard. Using these helpful suggestions should help any homeowner live in harmony with nature this summer while avoiding the headache of a pest invasion.
Initially, the signs of a tick problem are quite subtle. Dogs pick up ticks here and there and it’s no big deal, right? One really had no way of knowing how long a tick problem has been going on, but when it becomes a full blown infestation, you can no longer avoid it.
Here are some signs of a tick infestation so that one might recognize sooner and before it gets out of control, saving hundreds of dollars in pest control and veterinary bills.
First Signs
1. Any ticks found on pets. Sure, your dog may have simply picked up this pest in the back yard or on his walk, but you must realize that the tick you find may not be the first or only parasite on your beloved pet.
2. Spots of blood. These appear anywhere a tick has burst if found on the the floor or carpeting. If found on your pet, you can assume that the small bloody area recently housed a feeding tick. Common areas on pets to find these spots and other living ticks are on paws and ears, but any area on your pet is fair game for these pests.
3. Sightings of tiny spiders. At first, you might think these pests are just baby spiders making their way in the world. While they are arachnids, they are quite different from spiders as they are considered to be external parasites, living on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles.
If this is where your journey into tick invasion ends – good for you! For the sake of your pet or pets, take action to protect them from tick fever and other diseases by consulting with a veterinarian. A flea or tick collar may not be sufficient and you may want to looking into using an application of Advantix or a similar product to be sure. Some breeds are sensitive, so it bears repeating that you will want to consult a vet. It is prudent at these early stages of infestation to have a reputable pest control company spray the home to keep down any rising population.
Full blown infestation
Infestation of ticks becomes obvious when ticks can be visible in the areas you might expect to find a cockroach (ie, under, behind, and in between areas). In particular, ticks appear to seek out areas that resemble hair such as carpeting, towels, blankets, and even shower curtains. The edges of these are the easiest place to find lurking ticks. The pests are generally anxious to move about when furniture is moved and cleaning is being done.
Ticks can find find amazing hiding places within the home. Under switchplates and outlet covers as well as the tracks of sliding glass doors are safe places for the pests. Beneath and behind as well as within sofas and chairs appears to be a favorite nursery environment for ticks as it is so seldom disturbed. If you are finding ticks in these areas, multiple, extensive sprays will be necessary from a reputable company such as Rodent Proof, L.L.C..
Tips
Follow these tips for best results once you have determined that you are dealing with a substantial infestation.
1. Clean home thoroughly before a spray as you will not want to disturb the chemical once it is sprayed for at least a few days. This allows the chemical time to do its job and time for the pests to walk through or encounter it.
2. Flip furniture over and vaccuum out anything that is visible. Have these areas sprayed by your chosen pest control technician.
3. Shake out and clean area rugs removing inhabitants before chemical spray.
4. Clean perimeter areas of each room leaving no area untouched. The area you skip will become a breeding ground. Have these areas as well as all wall plates and threshholds sprayed.
5. Have yard areas sprayed throughly to control outdoor tick and general pest population. Getting the surrounding areas under control will go a long way to containing the infestation indoors.
Even following these tips, it may take as long as a month to completely solve a major infestation. Patience, vigilance, and removing ticks each time they are seen will eventually shut down these pests. Thankfully, commercial grade pesticides used for controlling ticks and other small insects are completely safe for pets and people. Additionally, some ticks are specific only to animals and have no interest in a human host (such as those pictured here) however there are more than 900 species and many have been known to carry disease. It is in the best interest of all involved to take action to protect pets and people from ticks using these methods.
Finally, be aware that there is a possiblity that ticks may be introduced to a home or yard on the fur of another pest such as gophers or mice. Preventing these types of animals to enter the home will also safeguard you from a tick invasion. There are many ways to acheive this and every home is different. Customized solutions are available in Arizona by reputable companies such as Rodent Proof, L.L.C.
For more information or help in fighting off an infestation, call Rodent Proof at 480-874-1368.
Why Paradise Valley and North Scottsdale, Arizona Have A Growing Rat Problem:
In the pristine and exclusive communities of Paradise Valley and Scottsdale, Arizona rats have moved in and have no plans of vacating the lush and beautiful surroundings of these Phoenix oases. The Arizona packrat and the now quite infamous roof rat have become the latest residents of Paradise Valley and Scottsdale. This Phoenix rodent invasion is leaving homeowners puzzled by both how and why roof rats and packrats have come to Paradise Valley and Scottsdale. The costly damage and annoying presence of such rodents in Paradise Valley and Scottsdale should be a reason for concern for all homeowners in these Phoenix neighborhoods, particularly as the damage is being caused at an alarming rate. These Arizona rodents ruin attic insulation, destroy electrical wiring, tear roof underlayments, chew plastic piping, and deposit disgusting and disease-laden urine and feces in the Paradise Valley and Scottsdale homes they have infested. The cost to Paradise Valley and Scottsdale homeowners is often alarming with insurance companies offering little or no help for rodent damage in Arizona.
Why Paradise Valley? Why Scottsdale?
Paradise Valley and Scottsdale area is the location of some of the finest and most exclusive homes in all of Arizona. With sprawling estates, lush gardens, highly manicured desert landscaping, a healthy assortment of fresh citrus fruit, and a fantastic array of swimming pools, Paradise Valley and Scottsdale can be seen as the ultimate desert oasis for any living creature. What living creature, human or rodent, wouldn’t want to make Paradise Valley or Scottsdale their home? The answer to this question points toward the beauty and vast Arizona desert resources found in Paradise Valley and Scottsdale. Rodents need free space in which to roam, habitat in which to hide, readily available water sources, easily attainable food to consume, and safe places to breed. Not to make any comparisons between humans and the Arizona valley rodents—which have the residents of this exclusive Phoenix neighborhood in an uproar—but Paradise Valley and Scottsdale are highly desirable places to live and raise a family. The Arizona roof rat and packrat have made it clear that they can also thrive and grow in population in these areas. With ever-present resources and large attics to both breed new rat babies, as well as hide from their natural predators, Arizona’s packrats and roof rats will likely remain in Paradise Valley and Scottsdale for many more years.
How Did Packrats and Roof Rats Come To Paradise Valley and Scottsdale?
As building continues up into the hillsides and rocky desert mountains of Phoenix, sprawling home sites have encroached into the rodent’s natural desert habitat. This has offered the native Arizona packrat many new opportunities to find success in growing their population. The infamous Arizona roof rat has made the transition into Paradise Valley and Scottsdale from neighboring Phoenix communities. Only a few short miles away from Paradise Valley and Scottsdale are the Biltmore and Arcadia neighborhoods. The roof rat and packrat populations are continuing to grow in number in Arizona, making places like Paradise Valley and Scottsdale susceptible to rodent invasions. With an increasing presence of roof rats and packrats in Phoenix, infestations of rodents are a real threat to Paradise Valley and Scottsdale homeowners and many Arizona residents.
Rodent Proof L.L.C provides services to these commmunities as well as surrounding areas to protect home owners from infestation as rodent populations grow. With solutions for every budget as well as an expansive and comprehensive warranty, solutions are just a phone call away. www.rodentproofaz.com
Pest Control & Exterminating in Phoenix