How to Combat Rats in San Antonio

Residents in San Antonio and cities all over Texas have seen an uneasy increase in rats in urban areas and even homes. Here is a basic overview of what our Beeline experts have been able to confirm; Rat populations are high in the San Antonio area. You may be unlucky and living in a neighborhood or community where rat activity is rampant. You may be attracting rats to your home with some common mistakes. By taking precautions and following the tips outlined below, you can help make your home less attractive to rats.

Here is what a few of the experts from Texas A&M are saying.

Jerry Falke, wildlife damage management biologist for AgriLife Extension’s Texas Wildlife Services who is based in the Bastrop area stated, “Last fall was an exceptionally wet season in this area of Texas. The increase in late-season grass and seed was a major factor in greater native rodent activity, and the resulting population led to increased migration into residences, storage buildings, shops and other indoor locations in wintertime.”

The short answer to this question is yes, or absolutely. Rats have been known to carry deadly diseases and possible infections and can transmit extremely easily.

Rats in San Antonio are not usually aggressive and they try to avoid people just as much as we try to avoid them. Even though they are not aggressive they are considered to be very dangerous. When they invade homes and other properties rodents contaminate food prep areas and food sources with their saliva, urine, and feces. They are also can spread diseases, such as

Salmonella: An intestinal bacteria causing fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea
Leptospirosis: Bacterial infection bringing about body aches, diarrhea and vomiting, high fever, and yellowing of the eyes and skin.
Hantavirus: Leads to fever, body aches, chills, difficulty breathing, and kidney failure
Rat-Bite Fever: Not necessarily contracted through bites, rat-bite fever can cause elevated body temperature, aches, and pains, rash, skin lesions, as well as sore throats and has been linked to increased risk of future health issues, such as meningitis, liver damage, and pneumonia.
Bubonic, Septicemic, and Pneumonic Plagues: Though all these conditions begin with fever and muscle weakness, their symptoms vary from that point. Pneumonic plague leads to severe respiratory issues whereas Bubonic causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, a cough with bloody mucus, and extremely swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms of Septicemic plague include abdominal pain, internal bleeding, and shock.
All these conditions can be spread through contaminated food and water, inhaling particles from droppings, and bites from fleas feeding on both you and infected mice. Intruders carrying these viruses and bacteria place your family in danger. They also bring along dangerous threats like tick and flea epidemics.
What else can I do to avoid rats in San Antonio?
On top of the tips listed above to help make your home appear less favorable our technicians at Beeline have years of experience when it comes to rats in San Antonio and are extremely knowledgable as well. They will be able to assist any matters you would like to discuss and answer other questions that you have, call Beeline today!