Do you think that squirrel you saw running on the power lines somehow lost its tail? You’d better look again – that’s no squirrel, that’s a rat.
At Critter Busters, we know the difference between a tail-free squirrel and a rat.
Atlanta may be home to the Braves and the Hawks, but it also houses the 14th largest rat infestation in the US and it’s not getting any better.
Types of Rats Common to Atlanta
There are two types of rat infestations in Atlanta – already infested and about to be infested. A rat infestation is no indication of someone’s level of hygiene, either. Rats prefer no one in particular and then they just prefer everyone.
Greater Atlanta is home to two types of rats: Norway rats and Roof rats. The larger rat, thank you Asia — not Norway, is known mostly for its size. Obviously, larger rodents are bigger problems and these guys have serious burrowing talents. Lighter in color than the Roof rat, these bad boys have been known to make grown men scream.
The Roof rat isn’t your friend, either. Usually black in color, this is the rodent you saw earlier on the power lines. Proficient climbers, you’ll see them in trees and eventually your attic, scratching and gnawing on the rafters, decimating your insulation and leaving behind unspeakable filth.
Why The Rat Attack?
Georgia weather has a lot to do with happy rodents. Mild winters have done nothing to decrease the population and although the past few seasons have been harsher than years past, they haven’t been effective or prolific enough to diminish the rat population.
Look at traffic patterns and you’ll realize Atlanta’s popularity is only increasing. That means more people, more waste, more rats.
The downturn in Atlanta’s real estate market emptied a lot of residences. Vacant buildings are a comfortable haven for rodents of any kind, not just rats.
The proactive thought is to act immediately if you hear scratching in the attack or between the walls. The odor of death is so offensive it won’t need to be identified.
Call Critter Busters. We specialize in rat removal, even if those rats are dead and between your walls.