Rodent Control Atlanta

RODENTS,

such as rats and mice, have caused more human suffering and economic damage than any other vertebrate pest. Statisticians estimate that rodents destroy over 20 percent of the world’s food supply every year through contamination.

Yet the rodent’s adaptability can be admired. They have adapted to most human environments. They live in granaries, in fields, in city sewers, on ocean going ships, on roofs, in attics, in basements, in trees, high rises, and subway tunnels. In most instances, rats are wary animals. Hundreds may nest in a city blockin underground burrows, trees, buildings–with few people in the area realizing it.

Rodents are truly athletic and successful survivors as well, and because of their abilities and reproduction rates, successful long-term control is often not easy. With the help of our knowledgeable staff, we can create a custom rodent control plan for you.

Critter Control’s experts include wildlife biologists, entomologists, and wildlife managers have a general concern to provide the most effective, efficient, and environmentally safe rodent control programs available.

Critter Control provides rodent control programs in over 100 major markets in the United States.

Physical abilities of rodents

To prevent rodent entry, their capabilities must be understood. Did you know, for example, that rats and mice can:
• Run along or climb electrical wires, ropes, cables, and vines, shrubs and trees to gain entry to a building.
• Climb almost any rough vertical surface, such as wood, brick, concrete and weathered sheet metal.
• Crawl horizontally along pipes, wires, conveyers, or conduit.
• Gnaw through a wide variety of materials, including lead and aluminum sheeting, wood, rubber, vinyl and concrete.

Rodent Reproduction and Development

Born in a nest about 22 days after conception, the young rodents are naked, and their eyes are closed. The 5 – 8 young in the litter develop rapidly, growing hair within a week. When they are 9 to 14 days old, their eyes open, and they begin to explore for food and move about near the nest. In the third week they begin to take solid food. The young may continue to nurse until 4 to 5 weeks old. Rodents tend to segregate themselves socially in
both space and time. The less dominate individuals may occupy marginal habitat and feed when the more dominate rats are not present. Rodents usually begin searching for food shortly after sunset. If the food is in an exposed area and too large to be eaten quickly, yet not too large too be moved, they will usually carry it to a hiding place before eating it.

Rodent Control Methods

Most successful rodent control programs use a combination of tools and procedures to remove the rodent population and to keep it from reestablishing.

Some of the tools include lethal control such as traps and poisons. Other control tools, such as exclusion, rodent proofing and habitat modification
do not directly remove the rats but can prevent future infestations.

Critter Control uses all of these methods to provide a integrated rodent control program. We provide our customers with a full detailed inspection to locate entry points, food sources, and damage.

Our highly trained technicians can not only identify this rodent activity, but we also provide full service rodent exclusion and damage repair. Ideally, all openings greater than 1/4 inch should be sealed to exclude mice and rats. Remember, weeds and overgrown landscape plantings provide rodents with food and cover, along with access to roofs.

Customers who work to reduce food sources and harborage add to the effort needed for long-term solutions to rodent problems. It is our job to protect you and your property with permanent solutions to rodent problems, and we have the knowledge, equipment and commitment to do the job right.

Frightening

High–frequency sound-producing devices are advertised for frightening rats, but research has not shown them to be effective. These devices must be viewed with considerable skepticism and are not recommended.

Rodenticides

A rodenticide is a pesticide that kills rodents. There are three types commonly available for control of rodents; food baits, water baits and tracking powders. Because of their high concentration and unique formulation, tracking powders are potentially more hazardous than other rodenticides and must be used with foresight and extreme care. They are generally not recommended for use in and around homes.

All rodenticides can be effective rodent control tools if used properly and by a professional.

Discuss your options with your licensed Critter Control technician to insure a rodenticide program is your best option.

Rodent Trapping

The snap trap is an effective method of killing and removing rodent populations when used correctly. Trapping is advised where rodent populations are
high, the use of rodenticides is considered too risky, or are not working well. If potential odors of dead rats in walls and ceilings are unacceptable then we recommend a professional trapping program.

Critter Control’s proven techniques can solve a rodent infestation with little inconvenience to you.