Rat Damage – Humane Wildlife Removal

Damage rats can cause in your attic

Rats are tiny for the most part but if they are left for any significant amount of time within your attic, they can do an extensive amount of damage, especially when there are quite a number of them. Not only can rats spread disease and other germs through your house but they can also eat away at the house itself. Because, by nature they are gnawing rodents, they cause significant damage in places they spend great amounts of time. In houses, this is usually the attic as this is where they tend to set up their nest.

It can be sometimes hard to identify a rat in your attic due to the fact that you may not often or ever be up there, however, if you hear scratching throughout the night, this is a sign of their presence. The damage the rats are doing up there is not huge at first since they are quite small and the damage has to be done over time in very small increments. However, once this damage exceeds a certain point, it can be quite devastating.

All of that being said, if you are dealing with an infestation of rats, these problems will only grow quicker. Here is a list of the possible damage rats can cause:

Droppings which can carry diseases.
Chewed/frayed wires.
Nesting materials are strewn throughout the attic.
Urine on the insulation of the attic.
Brown grease streaks all over the walls.
Electric wire short.
Destroyed plumbing.

The biggest issues here are the last two, plumbing damage, and wire shorting. The most serious problem which can arise from these issues is fires. The reason rats are attracted to things such as wires, in particular, is unknown but it is safe to say that its related to their gnawing nature. As a result, you should always check every important wire in your attic and the rest of your dwelling once you have discovered a rat or an infestation, and replace all compromised wires to prevent things such as fires. As well as all this, the presence of rats in your property, in the attic particularly, will result in everything in the attic being contaminated with feces and urine, forcing you to pretty much throw out everything that’s in there including any insulation you may have.

Due to all this, if you think you may have rats anywhere on your property and in particular your attic, don’t just forget about it or hope it’s not happening out of fear or disgust. You should get on top of it immediately for your own health and safety and to mitigate the damage being done to your property. If you do think there is a rat problem in your attic, take the appropriate steps right away and possibly think about contacting a professional for help. You should never approach a serious rat problem if you do not have the necessary experience and knowledge as there are a number of dangers and health risks associated with the removal of these rodents.