Category: Rodents

Understanding Hearing Sounds

Signs you have something living in your garage   Fall is my favorite time of the year, I love pumpkins, cooler temperatures, mums, and all the nights sitting out by the fire.  But there is something that no one really likes about the fall and winter months, rodents. It is a pretty common issue when the temperatures start to drop and the nights become longer, that those pest, such as rats, mice and racoons start thinking about a better home.  This is usually your home or garage. But their are some pretty common signs that something has just taken up residence in your garage. Here are 5 Signs that a pest is living in your garage: Well, if you have notice any of these things or the hair on the back of your neck is tingling, then you might want to panic.  But take a moment to stop and take a deep breath and then you can panic. What this does not mean: You are not filthy, you are normal.  When temperatures cool off and food sources can get a little more scarce those outside pest look for any opportunity. So first you will want to see if you can identify an entry point, mice would live inside 100 % of the time, but that is not the case for rats, raccoons, opossums.   Recommended Read :COMMON RODENT CONTROL QUESTIONS They need to come in and out of the structure. An opening as small as a dime can allow mice to enter, a quarter for rats. Best to get out your flashlight and start becoming your inner detective and see if you can locate.   This would be low and high, as they can easily jump from branching and scale brick to reach the top of your roof line. Now if you have notice any entry points, lets get those repaired or sealed up, copper mesh works really well, you can then fill up with a foaming agent. The next step is to eliminate the ones that are already there.  Rats and mice you can use snap traps, glue boards and rodent bait.  It might be time to call the experts in Rodent Extermination, successful trapping and exclusions takes years of experience to get rid of rats and mice quickly and prevent reentry.  The more you use the better your success, keep in mind that you will have to collect and dispose of the dead rodents, so if this is not in your wheelhouse, then better to hire a professional. If you suspect a larger animal, such as raccoon, time to get a trap and placement will be important.  Check out Our Raccoon Trapping Guide. Good luck and remember FullScope is here to help with all you pest control needs, so give us a call and schedule your inspection and treatment today. 832-989-0190  

Common Rodent Control Questions

Should rodents be a concern for homeowners in the U.S.? Every year, rodents gain access to homes, causing property damage, contaminating food sources, triggering allergies and, in some cases, causing illness/disease. It is estimated that rodents infest approximately 21 million homes in the United States, each year, when the cold weather forces these pests to seek refuge indoors. Are there any clear indications of a rodent infestation in a home? There are several signs a rodent may have taken up residence in a home, including chewed door frames or furniture legs; small, dark-colored droppings; gnawed food boxes that are stored in pantries or cupboards; oily marks along walls, which are caused by rodents’ habitual use of the same paths; and sounds of movement in pantries, ceilings and behind walls. Recommended Read :COMMON TERMITE CONTROL QUESTIONS ANSWERED What are the most common types of rodents a homeowner may come across? The most common type of rodent across the world is the house mouse. A nocturnal animal, the house mouse can gain entry to buildings and homes through openings as small as one-quarter inch. Another common rodent is the Norway rat.  Also known as the sewer rat, this rodent is found throughout the United States and can measure up to 16 inches in length, including the tail, and weigh just under a pound. What are some precautions that homeowners can take to help prevent rodents from coming indoors? There are a number of pest-proofing measures that homeowners can take to protect their home and families from the threats posed by rodents. NPMA recommends the following: How should homeowners treat a rodent infestation? Licensed and professionally trained pest professionals are best suited to treat a rodent infestation. Today’s pest professionals have the training necessary to identify pest problems and recommend the most responsible and effective pest management methods available. As rodents can pose certain health risks to humans, it is vital that these types of pest problems are managed efficiently and responsibly. What types of health risks do rodents pose? Rodent droppings most often cause allergic reactions in human beings.  However, rats and mice spread over 35 diseases, worldwide, including the Plague, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Leptospirosis, Salmonellosis and Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM). How do rodents spread disease? Rodent-borne diseases can be spread both directly and indirectly to humans in various manners. Directly, rodents can spread disease through bite wounds; by contaminating a human food or water source with feces; by contaminating surface water with urine that a human consequently comes in contact with; and through a process known as aerosolization, where humans breathe in germs that may be present from rodent urine or droppings. Diseases from rodents can also be spread to humans indirectly through ticks, mites and fleas that transmit infection to humans after feeding on infected rodents. Where can a homeowner find additional information about rodents? For more information on all pests and pest issues, specifically rodents, please visit www.pestworld.org. Have signs of a rodent infestation? Let FullScope Pest Control get you a quote and inspection. Call today, 832-898-0190

5 Easy Steps to Rodent Proof Your House

How to Rodent Proof Your Home This Winter Great Rodent Control Tips to Implement in Your home Rodents are becoming a major problem in cities. They tend to spread very fast, and the main challenge is that they can transfer a variety of diseases. They will also cause structural damage, not to mention they contaminate food too. So you need to find ways to get rid of them. The problem is that they are constantly expanding, which means finding the right way to deal with them properly might take a little bit of time to do it right. But if you tackle correctly, the payoff itself will be second to none every time and that really helps a lot. Always make sure that you block entrance ways One of the best ways to get rid of rodents is to block their entry points in your home. The idea here is that you want to keep them away from your home as much as you can to avoid any complications. The main focus is definitely on value and quality, and if you do it right, you will not deal with major rodent infestations. The main idea here is to check your foundation and home in general for openings like crevices or cracks. Even the smallest cracks can be an entry point for a rodent, so you have to pay attention and make sure that everything is handled in the correct manner. All those large areas near pipes should be covered with mesh if possible. Then you can use cement to seal everything. It’s a very important aspect to think about and the results on their own are second to none. Even the ventilated areas need to be covered with mesh, as you never really know what you can expect and what issues you will deal with in a situation like this. So covering the right way can really make quite the difference. Keeping the exterior access away You need to do everything you can in order to make sure that all the outdoor stuff that comes right near your home is not an entryway for rodents. It might become one, so the best thing that you can do here is to remove the overgrown vegetation, weeds and trees near your home. Trim the trees and everything near your home should be removed. You don’t want to leave rodents any entry point for your home, so try to take that into account and you will be just fine all the time. It takes a little bit to handle this process correctly, but try to commit to the process and make it work, especially if you take your time and avoid any major rush in a situation like this. On top of that, the firewood and outdoor items in general need to be at least a few inches away off the ground, so the rodents will not nest in there. In case you have outdoor pets, be with them upon feeding. The idea is to not have food left around as that will be a very important aspect to keep in mind in a situation like this. Of course, if you have lots of trouble with mice and rats in general, you may want to use concrete landscaping or rocks around the edge of your home. This will keep vegetation at a distance and rats will not be able to climb onto that to get into your home. Ditch all the inside attractors The inside atractants can also be a problem here. The idea here is that sanitation is pretty much crucial when it comes to rodent control. Simply put, try to remove any water or food source from the interior of your home. Clean up everything and put all your food in airtight containers. Store it in pantries or even in the fridge if possible, as that will matter a whole lot in a situation like this.  Removing your garbage fast is also important, as the last thing you want is to leave garbage outside, obviously these pests will cling onto this and try to stay within your home. Just try to take that into consideration and you will be more than ok in the end. Most of the time you want to avoid having all kinds of stuff on the floor or anything like that. Instead, you need to keep clutter at the bare minimum, and you will be just fine all the time thanks to it. You will be very impressed with the results and the experience as a whole! Conclusion Make sure that you use all these rodent control tips to ensure no rodent is coming within your home. Take good care of this and you will be very impressed with the results. There will always be challenges to deal with, so the most important aspect is to have a good plan. Once you have that and you set the right traps and clean up your home, then the chances of having rodents are way lower. Rodents can cause serious damage of all types of structures, but luckily with a little preparation work you can rodent proof your home this winter and prevent those rats, mice and animals from invading. These furry pests inside you attics and walls, can cause damage to insulation, electrical wiring, plumbing and other structural pieces of a building.  Not to mention the smell of urine and feces that can accompany their residence. Rats and Mice also can serve as vectors to a variety of diseases. Recommended Read :LAUNCHING OUR BUSINESS   Keeping them out of the structure is always better than trying to eliminate them after they have entered. Here are 5 Easy to Follow Steps to Rodent Proof Your House: Follow these easy steps this fall to winter proof your home from Rodents, and keep the unwanted guest out in any neighborhood.  Rat extermination can be difficult, we help to take the guess work out of eliminating these pests.  When you are trying

Living Pest Free: The Ultimate Year-Round Guide

Information about pest control is scattered all around the internet, but isn’t concentrated in one hub. That’s why we thought it was important to create a useful infographic so that you are prepared year-round to fight the pests that ruin your home. Scroll through our infographic

Texans Beware: Rodent Control in Texas and How to Protect Your Home

Find the Best Experts for Rodent Control in Texas Each part of the country has certain pests that are unique to that area.  Not only different pest, but different pest during different times of the year.  When the cooler temperatures arrive so do a totally unique pests, rodents! Aside from taking precautions with general pest control, it’s a good idea to look at the rodents that are common to your area so that you can take extra precautions to ensure your home’s security against rodent invasion. Here, we’ve provided a list of common rodents in Texas so that you can take care and have the proper rodent control in Texas. Common Rodent Invaders: Rats Mice  Raccoons Opossums Squirrels Got a Rodent Problem? Hire an Exterminator! First, you might need to know exactly what defines a rodent. Rodents are mammals that are characterized by their incisor teeth that grow long on each side of their jaw. For the most part, rodents have tiny but strong bodies and long tails. So mice, hamsters, and everything in between fits the definition of a rodent. While rodents might seem like cute, furry friends, they can wreak havoc on your home. Not only can they get into your walls and chew on wires, woodwork, and put holes in drywall, but they also multiply exponentially. Two rodents can turn into thirty and then one hundred if you don’t get the proper rodent control in Texas. Recommended Read : PEST CONTROL IN THE KITCHEN: BASICS Texas has many rodents that are common throughout the whole United States, like squirrels and mice. However, the most common invaders in our area are rats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, and opossums.  Luckily, we have dealt with all of these rodent pests in homes and businesses.   Typically, once you call us because you have seen, smelled or heard something in your attic are garage, we will do a thorough inspection of the entire area.  We are looking for indications of the pests, and entry points.  We can also determine the severity.  The next step is to give you a proposal and discuss the necessary steps to get rid of and prevent the rodents or wildlife from reentering. Once we begin the work, we will make numerous return visits to check traps and or remove the animals.   Animals that are specific to Texas can be found here, and in this article, you will find descriptions of all the rodents that are Texas specific. We hope you don’t ever have to get a rodent out of your home, barn, or property. However, if you do find yourself in a sticky situation, Fullscope Pest Control has the best rodent control in Texas. Give us a call at 832-898-01900 and set up your free consultation. Our representatives will be happy to help you with any questions.

Got a Rodent Problem? Hire an Exterminator!

Rodents are a problem that almost all homeowners have to deal with at some point. However, even if you aren’t sure if you have a pest problem, it’s best to get your home inspected by an exterminator. Exterminators will be able to see the signs of a rodent infestation before you will, and can stop the problem right in its tracks. Not only do rodents indicate a possible problem with the outside structure of your home, but they are also harbingers of disease and can carry smaller pests, like fleas and ticks. Because rats and mice can give birth so quickly, one mouse can turn into 40 in just a month. That is a story of an infestation gone terribly wrong, and it’s the reason that you want to catch a rodent infestation as soon as possible. Recommended Read :fullscope pest control  Rodent Control Rodents can appear out of nowhere and they can bring in massive infestations. Which is why you have to pay attention to everything and ensure that you eliminate them as fast as possible to avoid any issues. Rodents are known for the fact that they can carry diseases and they can also contaminate our food too.  They can multiply very fast, which is obviously something that you need to avoid. It’s important to know how to identify rodents, and once you know how to do that, things will be a whole lot easier to deal with. There are many different types of rodents out there, such as pack rats, pocket mouse, deer mouse and many others.  What should you know about mice? The thing to keep in mind is that the house mouse is around ½ to 1 oz in size and he is very slender. His ears are large and it can be very challenging and tricky to find the right way to catch them. The mouse has a dark gray coloring on the back and a lighter gray on the belly. Of course you can find some variations. Mice also tend to nibble, they tend to make visits to the same food source, and they feed at dusk or dawn, depending on the situation. Mice also tend to eat seeds and grains, but they will go with sweets as well as peanut butter and meat too. The mouse tends to spend most of his life within buildings in the cities. But you will find many of them in rural areas, which is something that you may have to take into consideration. Another thing to note here is that they tend to explore the territory. They are very curious beings. However, they also try to adapt to the environment and they do everything in their power to really push the boundaries and take things to the next level in a clever and unique way, which is what you really need at the end of the day in a situation like this. Learning more about rats Rats on the other hand are known for trying to move around from one place to the other all the time. They eat most foods at once, and due to the fact that they have to be on the run all the time they also learned how to swim. This is very interesting and a great insight into rats in general. They tend to prefer food with lots of protein and carbs, but they do eat just about anything. They can’t survive a lot without water, something that mice will do without that much of a hassle. Also, they tend to be very cautious with the new things and objects, as they want to stay alive so this is evolutionary more than anything. Most rats tend to stay outdoors, however they will be indoors at times if they are trying to find food. You can even find roof rats that will stay in trees and attics. They enter homes via trees and power lines. Of course, most rats will eat everything available and they will try to stay alive by any means necessary. That really says a lot about the resilience of rats and how important it really is for them to just stay alive and survive as much time as possible. It’s definitely impressive and a great thing to know about rats in general. Do they have something in common? When you compare rats with mice, you will see there are some resemblances. For example, both species tend to reproduce very fast. Also, both of them don’t see very well. And on top of that, they can squeeze through openings quickly and that on its own can be incredibly challenging if you want to manage them correctly. Getting rid of rodents Rodents are very demanding and that’s why you need to have a good rodent control program. Normally things like baiting and trapping will help a lot, as they will give you a very good success rate. But at the same time, you will need to consider cleaning up their hiding places and your home in general. The more you do that, the higher the chances that you can get rid of them properly. Rodent baits are pretty much mandatory at this point, so you really have to handle them properly and you will be quite impressed with the results and the entire process. Just take all of that into consideration and the experience will be great every time. Commit to the idea of adding baits and if they don’t really work, try to work closely with a professional. That will help eliminate issues and ensure that everything works exactly the way you want every time no matter the situation!v You should always look out for signs of a rodent infestation so you’re ready to call an exterminator if need be. Signs include scratching, holes in food containers, pellet-like droppings around the home, and squeaking/rustling in the walls. If you have any of these signs, let your local exterminator know immediately. You don’t want to end up with

What are the Most Common Mistakes? in Rodent Control

What are the most common mistakes homeowners make when it comes to rodent control in their homes?  We have put together a list of items that we deal with when a homeowner tries to DIY their rodent control.

Rodents and Wildlife Control

Protecting Your Home Against Nuisance Wildlife The change of seasons in many areas brings with it cooler temperatures, increased precipitation, rodents and nuisance wildlife seeking refuge. They can end up finding shelter in your home if there are access points that make it easy for them to find their way in. If sharing your home with various wild animals is not appealing to you, then now is the time to begin taking steps to ensure that the only ones staying warm and dry in your home this winter is your family. Rodents and other unwanted pests in your home are more than just annoying. They can wreak havoc, damaging your property and even posing significant health risks. Rodents like rats and squirrels can gnaw through wires which can cause fires, destroying insulation. They can also carry diseases like hantavirus and salmonella. Rodents that invade your home can also introduce infestations into your homes such as mites, fleas, or ticks, not to mention the rodent droppings and urine stains and the smells associated with them both. A good plan of action to protect your home involves securing it inside and out. Take these steps to keep your home free of unwanted pests. Keep areas that are normally damp, like crawl spaces, attics, and basements, dry and well ventilated. Many types of pests are drawn to moist environments. Keep your gutters clean, well maintained, and working properly. Find all cracks and crevices both inside and outside of your home. Seal them with caulk so pests can’t get through. Look closely at areas where pipes enter your home and seal even the tiniest of spaces. Mice are great jumpers and can squeeze through impossibly tiny openings. They can fit through a dime-sized hole so seal them all. Place screens over chimney openings, attic vents, and other areas in your home that provide open access to the outdoors. Recommended Read : CHOOSING A PEST CONTROL COMPANY? WHAT TO CONSIDER Keep plants, ivy, and grasses that may be against your home well weeded and sparse. Do the same for shrubbery and trees. Heavy foliage that is near your home provides a hiding place for pests, giving them plenty of covers to search for access to your home. Any loose weather stripping or loose mortar should be replaced as soon as possible. We can help you by doing an inspection of your home and assist you in securing any access points. Because we know our pests, we can look for areas of entry that you may not think to check, make suggestions of removing harborage areas, and help you set up long-term solutions to keep your home and property rodent and wildlife free. This is the best way to protect your home and property against a pest infestation. At FullScope Pest Control, we are trained to identify areas that could pose a problem and help you keep the pests out. In the event that you do have an infestation, we are here to help and will take care of the problem and so that you can return to living a rodent free life. The experts at FullScope Pest Control are experienced and fully certified in nuisance wildlife removal. Our specialized service targets vermin like squirrels, bats, and raccoons, removing them from your home and taking steps to ensure they don’t return. We stand behind our work with a removal guarantee. We will rid your home of unwanted wildlife, including: Squirrels Opossums Moles Skunks Groundhogs Bats Raccoons Nuisance birds Mice & Rats We will begin by inspecting your home inside and out to find every possible point of access, including the crawlspace, attic, and roof. Then we will assess the impact that the animals have on your home and property, including the level of infestation if there is one. From there, we will create a customized service plan that addresses removal and secures your home from unwanted access by the animals. Our customized treatment plan may include baiting, live traps and relocation, traditional traps, and other wildlife removal tools to make sure that nuisance animals are evicted – and stay that way. Trust your Nuisance Animal Control to FullScope Pest Control. How Some Cities have found Creative ways to Manage Nuisance Wildlife Nuisance wildlife and rodents are a problem everywhere. It seems no area is immune. However, some cities, like these three, are taking creative approaches to manage their rodent and wildlife problems. Ellensburg, WA Beavers are quite troublesome to landowners in this town and the surrounding areas. They are usually trapped or killed in an effort by property owners to protect their land. However, a recent article in the Miami Herald tells a different story. The Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group has started a project in Washington State as well as other areas in the west that actually uses beavers to help restore rivers. They are channeling the power that many consider destructive and directing it to something that is beneficial. Tampa Bay, FL Feral cats are a problem in many areas. As laws are getting tougher on animals being allowed to run free and prohibiting people from feeding wild animals, nothing is being done to reduce the feral cat population – until now. Programs are popping up throughout the nation, including this one in Tampa Bay. According to an article in the Tampa Bay Times, animal welfare groups and county commissioners are working together to find a better way to control the feral cat communities in the area. What is being proposed is a program that would trap the cats, sterilize them so they cannot reproduce, vaccinate them, and return them to their colony. It is a humane way of culling the population. Atlantic City, NJ Canadian geese are a real problem in several counties in New Jersey. They have become a real nuisance; the local schools, golf clubs, shopping centers, and other areas are overrun with the unwelcome critters. An article in Press of Atlantic City, though, shows how one company is humanely ridding