Though rodents are technically wild animals, some have come to rely on people. Rodents are one of the most common household pests to find their way onto properties in Tampa, Florida. These small mammals have adapted to living near people and taking advantage of the daily necessities we provide them.
Because rodents are so common, there is a lot of information available on how to control and prevent these pests. However, only some of the information you will come across is accurate, while many rodent prevention and control tips are unreliable and outdated. One of the biggest myths is that DIY pest control is effective. However, DIY pest control is not the most efficient way to remove rodents from your Tampa property and keep them away long-term. Professional rodent control will always be the top-tier solution for solving rodent problems.
Here at EcoTech Pest Control Services, we are committed to our customers and offer pest control in Tampa that you can trust. We will provide you with helpful information about controlling and preventing rodents. Let us provide you with the pest control services that will ensure Florida rodents won’t be calling your house home!
Types Of Rodents Common To The Area
There are many rodent species living worldwide. Rodents make up the largest group of mammals, and they are found living in almost any habitat. Most rodents live outside, well away from people, but a few species have made themselves comfortable near people.
Three types of rodents are common in our area:
- Mice: These small rodents have oval bodies and small triangular heads with ears that sit up off their heads. The ears and long tail are covered in a light layer of velvety fur. Other physical features include noticeable whiskers, four legs, and usually brown, gray, or black fur covering their body.
- Rats: Rats have oblong bodies with large blunt heads and, for their size, powerful jaws. Compared to their heads, rats have relatively small ears. Their most notable feature is their long, thick, scaly hairless tail. They also have whiskers, four legs, and brown, black, or gray fur covering their body. Adult rats are noticeably larger than adult mice.
- Squirrels: These rodents use their long, bushy tails for balance and to successfully land the acrobatic jumps squirrels are known for. Squirrels have an elongated cylindrical body covered in fur that ranges in color (black, brown, reddish-brown, and gray).
Each rodent species has varying appearances, food preferences, habitats, and behavior. Correctly identifying the type of rodent on your property is key to successfully removing their presence.
If you suspect rodent activity on your Tampa property, immediately contact us. Our professionals will come to your property and perform an inspection to identify the rodent and form an effective treatment plan that offers long-term results.
Rodent Infestations Are A Major Health Risk
When rodents in Tampa are outside minding their own business and living away from people, they are mostly harmless. In fact, rodents play essential roles in nature. They provide a food source for many predators, help to disperse seeds, and assist with the aeration of the soil. Yet, as soon as rodents cross over your property line and make themselves home in your yard or home, they become an immediate threat.
Animals in the order Rodentia are grouped together because they all have continuously growing front incisors. Their short front teeth are sharp, and to prevent them from overgrowing, rodents must constantly gnaw. In our homes, their teeth cause a lot of damage to structural elements and personal belongings. Rodents can cause short circuits, fires, and water damage by chewing on wires and water pipes.
In addition to being destructive, the bigger problem with rodents is the health risks they pose. Rodents carry and spread many different types of bacteria, parasites, and human pathogens, resulting in illnesses including:
- Salmonellosis and E. coli infections
- Rat-bite fever
- Leptospirosis
- Hantavirus
- Tularemia
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM)
Rodents will also often bring fleas and ticks into your home as well, and these pests have their own associated health risks.
Squirrels, mice, and rats reproduce quickly, so just a couple finding their way to your property can cause significant issues. The more rodents carrying disease and parasites moving to and from your home, the more health risks they will cause you and your family.
The Hassles With Do-It-Yourself Rodent Control
Rodents are one of the most common household pests that homeowners try to eliminate on their own. Just walking down the pest control aisle of any big box store will lead you to believe you are a pest control expert. However, most DIY rodent control products cause more problems than help. Ultimately, they cost homeowners way more time and money than they are worth.
The biggest issue with DIY rodent control is that it doesn’t address the root of your rodent problem. If you don’t figure out and fix why and how they are entering your home, you may be able to get rid of the rodents currently in your home, but you won't be able to keep them out in the future.
Rodents, especially rats and mice, can squeeze their bodies through tiny spaces. Inspecting your home for potential entry points is very time-consuming and, unless you are experienced, almost impossible. The good news is that a professional can thoroughly inspect your home and quickly locate and eliminate entry points.
In addition to understanding how they get into your home, it's essential to know what attracts rodents to your Tampa property. Food is likely the most significant thing to attract the attention of rodents.
Rodents are omnivores and feed on almost anything. Our properties offer rodents multiple food sources from places like:
- Trashcans
- Gardens
- Fruit trees
- Compost
- Outdoor grilling or eating areas
- Outdoor pet feeding areas
- Bird feeders
Inside our homes, rodents can forage for food in our kitchens, pantries, and dining areas.
Furthermore, it is important to understand that DIY rodent control can be dangerous. Baits, sprays, and other forms of chemical control can put you, your kids, and your pets in harm’s way.
Finally, the placement of rodent traps is vital to trapping and removing these pests from your Tampa home. Rodents are intelligent creatures and creatures of habit. If traps are not placed correctly, they won’t be effective, and you will have wasted your time and money.
While DIY rodent control may seem like a good idea, the reality is that professional rodent control is always the best choice.
The Most Effective Rodent Control For Your Home
EcoTech Pest Control Services is here to provide effective rodent control for your Tampa home. Though rodents don’t mind living with us, the opposite is untrue. Rodents make poor houseguests; they don’t pay rent, cause costly damage, make us ill, and contaminate our food.
Letting the licensed professionals at EcoTech Pest Control Services handle a rodent problem and keep these pests from returning is the ideal solution. We take pride in helping Tampa homeowners remove unwanted rodents from their property in a humane manner.
Before you can ask for help for a rodent problem, you must first realize you are dealing with a rodent problem.
Below is a quick overview of the most common signs that a rodent infestation has developed in your home:
- Discovering black rodent droppings trailing along floors, counters, and in boxes, drawers, cabinets, attics, or basements
- Hearing scratching or running sounds behind your home’s walls or above its ceilings, especially at night when rodents are most active
- Finding holes in the exterior of your home, baseboards, boxes, upholstered furniture, mattresses, and food containers
- Seeing gnaw marks on wooden trim, flooring, or cabinets
- Finding greasy markings on walls or furniture caused by rats traveling to and from their nesting sites to food sources each day
- Noticing unpleasant, musty odors have developed in a particular area of your home; nesting sites are usually smelly because of decaying food, urine, and excrement
- Seeing squirrels spending a lot of time on your home’s exterior
At any notice of rodents near your home or signs of their presence in your home, immediately reach out for help. Here at EcoTech Pest Control Services, we are proud to offer a scientific solution to pest problems. Our rodent control methods are backed by science and provide safe, eco-friendly, and effective results.
Our rodent control services in Tampa includes a thorough inspection and the development of a rodent control plan tailored to your property’s unique needs. To remove rodents from your home, we will lay down our traps in strategic locations, returning to your home every couple of days to check the traps and reset them if needed.
After removing the rodents inside your home, we perform the most important step in any rodent control plan: exclusion. Our professionals will seal up any and all entry points we discover in your home’s exterior. Materials most likely to be used are those tough enough to stand up to rodents' sharp, strong teeth, like steel wool, caulk, and wire mesh.
Rodents are tricky pests to try to tackle on your own. Please reach out today to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Tampa, one-year warranty, and rodent inspections. Our professionals are here to assist you in maintaining a property free of rodents, helping to ensure you and your family are happy and healthy when spending time at home.
