As the weather turns colder, you may assume that you have no need for pest control in Toronto because many common pests are either dying off or going dormant. Rats and mice are an exception; they stay active throughout the winter months and, unfortunately, you may be more likely to find rodents in your home for this reason. Here are some reasons why rats may be attracted to your home and how you may be able to keep them out.

What Attracts Rats To Your Home?

Rats are mammals, which means their body temperature is self-regulating. However, when the temperatures become very cold, a mammal’s body becomes less efficient at maintaining a normal temperature. Some mammals cope with this by hibernating or going into torpor; these inactive states slow down metabolism to conserve energy. However, rats stay active all winter, meaning that they need to seek out warm shelter to help maintain their body temperature. Rats in the wild may dig burrows underground or find a hole in a hollow tree, but since your house has central heating, it becomes attractive as a possible shelter.

Finding food in your house is no problem for a rat. Rats are opportunistic feeders, meaning they feed on anything that is edible. This includes things that you might not think of as possible food sources, such as garbage and compost. Rats are nocturnal, so they come out to find food while you are sleeping and then scurry away to their hiding places around the time that you are waking up to sleep all day.

Animals need water to carry out vital bodily functions, and rats are no exception. During the winter, there is little liquid water available outside because cold temperatures cause it to freeze. Rodents don’t necessarily need to drink much water because they get it indirectly from the food they eat. Nevertheless, a consistent source of either food or water can attract rats to your home.

Rats are prey animals that like to stay under cover to hide from predators. Therefore, they are attracted to disorganized homes with a lot of clutter.

What Can You Do To Prevent a Rat Infestation?

If rodents are already in your home, professional rat removal can resolve the problem. However, it is preferable to prevent rats from getting inside in the first place.

Once you have confirmed that you don’t already have rats, the first thing to do is to look for any potential entry points and seal them off if you find them. Look for holes, cracks, and gaps in your home’s exterior, and don’t underestimate rodents’ ability to fit through very small openings. A rat can fit through a hole approximately the diameter of a quarter. They are also good climbers, so make sure you conduct your inspection from the roof to the foundation.

Keep your home clean and free of clutter. Make sure you clean up any crumbs in the kitchen after cooking a meal and wash the dishes as soon as possible. Avoid leaving any food out on the counter, even if it is still fresh. A loaf of bread, a butter dish, or a bowl of fruit could all attract rodent pests. Be sure to keep pet food sealed in sturdy containers and feed your dog or cat inside the house rather than outside.

Bear in mind that what you regard as trash, rats might see as food. Store your garbage in receptacles with tightly closing lids and make sure it gets collected on time.

Why Should You Contact Truly Nolen for Pest Control in Toronto?

Each of our rodent pest control plans is tailored to the particular situation. Nevertheless, in addition to reducing the population through trapping, we also provide vector control to prevent illness from parasites and exclusion to prevent the rats from getting back in. Learn more about our Four Seasons approach, which takes seasonal changes in rats’ behaviour into account.