Rodent Exterminators

Norway rats, roof rats, house mice, deer mice, and woodrats are the most common rodents here in El Paso. All of these rodents are mammals best known for their strong, ever-growing incisors. Other rodents include squirrels, capybaras, and more. All rodents are nocturnal, meaning they are active during the night and rest during the day. 

Rodents are known for their athletic abilities. Rats in particular are excellent climbers. Roof rats are known to jump from overhanging trees to access roof lines and attics. Mice can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime and rats only need a gap the size of a quarter. Rodents enter homes using gaps around dryer vents, utility pipes, exterior doors, and garage doors, and will also gain entry through chimneys. Rodents can fit through openings smaller than you want to think. 

Rats and mice can indeed bite, but it’s rare. A rat bite most often occurs when the rodent feels defensive. Needless to say, a rat bite can be dangerous for several reasons:

• Rat saliva in some species carries dangerous diseases such as leptospirosis and Hantavirus.
• In even more rare circumstances, bite victims may contract rat-bite fever or tetanus infections.
• Always seek professional medical attention when bit by a rat or mouse, especially when you exhibit symptoms.

Rodents are not subtle creatures, meaning it is easy to tell when you have an infestation inside your property. The top signs of rodent activity in your El Paso home include:

• Gnaw marks on door corners and walls, or gnawed fruit in trees
• Rat droppings are shiny black and up to 3/4″ long. Mice droppings are smaller with pointed ends.
• Odd noises or scratching sounds at night in the walls.
• Spotting burrows outdoors along foundations, walls or trees is a sign of Norway rat activity.
• Foul odors that are otherwise inexplicable could be due to a rodent problem.

A rodent infestation is infamous for being one of the more destructive pest problems. Accounts of the rodents’ ability to start fires by carrying matches to their hiding places, as well as by causing short circuits through the gnawing of electrical wires, have been widely reported. Chewed, exposed wires inside walls may spark, causing interior walls to catch fire. They also cause damage with their nesting habits.

There are many diseases that can be carried and spread by rodents. The main ones include:

• Hantavirus
• Salmonella
• Lassa fever
• Leptospirosis
• Tularemia
• LCM
• Rat-bite fever
• Plague

Rodents are a year-round pest problem. However, reports of infestations spike in the fall and winter months. This is because rats and mice will try to make their way inside your property to wait out the colder months. Once inside, they can cozy up in your attic, basement, and other areas.

To prevent rodents from getting inside, it’s important to learn how to make your property less attractive to them in the first place. Our tips are as follows.

1. Keep your home clean and free of clutter, and use tight fitting lids on trash bins.
2. Eliminate access to your home and remove the food and water resources that attract them.
3. Seal gaps and holes around utility cables, outdoor vents or pipe work with steel wool or silicone-based caulk.
4. Outdoors, pick up fallen fruit, clean up around bird feeders, remove leaf litter and and pick up pet waste.

Rodents can be a very dangerous pest problem. For that reason alone, it’s usually best to enlist the help of a pest control expert. DIY methods such as rat traps and glue traps might be effective for a short while but are rarely a long-term solution for infestations. Professional rat exterminators can ensure all rodents are removed as well as protect your property from future infestations.