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Typical chewing on electric wire |
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Another case of wire chewing |
Chewing on the insulation of an attic pipe |
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Chewing on a pipe outside to gain access |
Chewing through a gable end for access |
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Chewing in a gable vent screen for access |
Rats chewed through this soffit vent |
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Chewing on a ridge cap end plug for access |
Damage caused by rats - Of all the animals that invade a home, rats are one of the most destructive. All rodents have an instinctual need to chew. This requirement of their species is due to forever-growing teeth that need to be
worn down. Chewing is the primary cause of damage in a home from rats, though there are plenty of secondary issues that will pop up as you get deeper into the investigation. Chewing has obvious dangers associated with it, especially
if that chewing occurs on electrical wires within the home. Damaged wires are a potential fire hazard and something that no homeowner should ignore. Other areas of the home will suffer from chewing and can result in costly repairs.
Duct work and cable lines are not easy or cheap to replace. Beams and drywall damage are also time consuming and costly. Secondary issues from rats include the large amounts of waste they leave anywhere that is travelled often. This
waste is dangerous to humans and can transmit a number of diseases through the air or by physical contact. Large amounts of urine and fecal material mean subsequent damage to any place they are present for a long period of time.
Insulation and drywall often need to be cut away and completely replaced. If you leave the exposed materials the smell will linger and will draw in new rats.
Do rats chew pipes? All rodents need to chew to keep their incisors from growing to unmanageable lengths. Rodent teeth grow constantly, regardless of the animal’s ability to keep up with them. Rats are no exception to this rule.
These greasy critters will chew on anything that looks hard enough, including pipes or ductwork. There is no substance, with the exception of metal, that is rat-proof. There is no effective way to stop a rat from chewing. If you
are considering the use of hot sauce or pepper salts, you are not addressing the bigger issue at hand: you have a rat in your house. It is not enough to prevent a rat from chewing. Rats should not live in homes. They carry serious
diseases and cause significant damage. If you need to prevent a rat from chewing, tap the animal and remove it from your home. Trapping is effective and does not cost a lot of money. A professional will do a full attic inspection and set the proper rat
traps, bait the traps, and place the devices in the areas where they’ve noticed feces or urine. The most important step is this: Seal off any openings around your home. Eventually your rats will be caught and you will not have to worry about chewed pipes or ductwork.
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© 2017 OrlandoRats - site content, photos, & maintenance by Orlando Rat Removal, original site by Moonrise Group, Inc |
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