Rodent Control in Antioch, CA and the Surrounding Areas

There are two main species of rats found in the United States. The majority of states have only one species, the Norway Rat. The other fraction of states have two, both the Norway rat and the Roof Rat; California is one of them.

The Norway Rat (Norwegian Brown Rat) is one of the largest rat species to exist, and they like to be lower to the ground when getting into homes. These rats primary food source are proteins and greasy foods like meat and dog food. The Roof Rat, as the name implies, likes to be higher up in the air and generally gets into homes by tree branches, power lines, and the roof. The Roof Rat is smaller than the Norway Rat, and these rats eat foods like fruits and vegetables.

Differences at A Glance:

• Color
  • Norway Rat: brown or dark gray rat with light gray/brown belly
  • Roof Rat: dark brown or black rat
• Nose
  • Norway Rat: thick and blunt
  • Roof Rat: thin and pointed
• Ears and Eyes
  • Norway Rat: small
  • Roof Rat: large
• Tail
  • Norway Rat: shorter than head and body
  • Roof Rat: longer than head and body
• Body
  • Norway Rat: thick and bulky, one of the largest rats
  • Roof Rat: thin and slender

It is important to note that there are other subspecies of rats that also exist in California. Rats that could be found in our service counties include:

• Hispid Cotton Rat – Black or dark brown in color, back is a dark brown and beige mix, and a grayish white belly. Tail is darker on top, lighter on bottom, and shorter than body.
• Kangaroo Rat
  • Ord’s Kangaroo Rat – Colors can vary from dark gray, gray-tan mix, brown or light orange. Sides have a light stripe (tan or yellow) and they have a white belly. White spots above/below the eyes and behind the ears. Furry tail with black tip. Five toes on hind feet.
  • Heermann’s Kangaroo Rat – Medium-sized and can be a yellow-gray mix, yellow-brown mix or a dark black-brown mix in color. Sides are lighter in color (tan, yellow, orange brown, dark orange) and belly is white. Faint spots near the eyes and behind the ears. Striped tail with black tip. Five toes on hind feet.
  • California Kangaroo Rat – Larger and darker colored than other Kangaroo rats (dark gray or orange-brown). White spot above eyes and small spot below ears. Four toes on hind feet.
• Desert Woodrat – Colors are gray to a gray-brown mix on the back, and sides are tan or pale orange. Belly is white, and tail is covered with short fur and is shorter than body.

Our Diamond Certified Rat Control Strategy

Free Rat Inspection and Estimate

A Rat Control Specialist will arrive at your home within 24 hours of your initial call. They will assess the degree of the rat infestation and offer the best treatment solution.

Exterior Rat Exclusion Treatment

Your specialist will identify, seal, and monitor any access points outside that allow rats to enter your home.

Rat Trapping and Removal

Though entry points will be sealed, it is important to make sure that the rats are captured from both inside and outside. Rat traps and bait stations are placed in common places where rats are found including basements, attics, crawl spaces, and also the exterior of the home to keep the closed off entry points sealed. These rat traps are secured with a lock and therefore can be used safely in the presence of children and pets.

Follow-up Rat Inspection & Monitoring

A specialist will return every 7-10 days to ensure that the treatment is effective. These visits include the specialist removing any trapped rats or dead rats from the premises and making sure that entry points have remained sealed. This process can take 4-6 weeks depending on the degree of the rat infestation.

Successful Completion of Treatment

Once there are two consecutive weeks of inspection without any signs of rats on the premises, the treatment is complete. This means that there will be no rats in any of the traps, no new or reopened entry points, and no new traces of rats (i.e. new droppings, noise in house, dirt trails, etc.)

Continued Rodent & Pest Control Maintenance

While it appears sealing entry points can be done without an exterminator, it is highly advised to reach out to one of our specialists to ensure safety to your family. Signing up for the All N One Rodent Control & Maintenance Package allows our specialists to make regular visits to your home and keeps it protected all year-round.

Prevent future rat infestations by:

• Fixing plumbing leaks
• Sealing containers (e.g. garbage cans, pet food)
• Blocking potential access points (e.g. closing windows and doors)
• Trimming tree branches away from home
• Removing possible water and food sources

Over the Counter Rat Control Solutions and Limitations

With all of the “at home” methods to get rid of pests, controlling rats may seem like a simple job. However, many of the products used can be ineffective, unsafe, or cause even more issues.

Some of the most common over-the-counter rat control products are:

Setting traps

• Glue traps: These traps do not kill rats and mice. Instead, they catch and trap the rodents from escaping. One main issue with these is that the rat will still be alive until you either release it, kill it, or let it die on its own; which can take days or longer. If trapped, rodents typically make a lot of noise which can be very bothersome. Also, trying to remove dead rats from your home is unsafe if not done properly.
• Snap traps: These rat traps are effective in catching and killing rats, but also are unsafe around children and pets. Snap traps can only catch one rat at a time, which means buying more and more rat traps. Since rats live in large colonies, it is unlikely that a few trapped rats indicate the rat infestation is solved.

Poison baits

These can be effective but also have many limitations when it comes to the efficiency of getting rid of rats. Poison slowly kills the rats, and when they do die it is uncertain where inside your home they will be. Many rats live behind walls or in unreachable places. If they die in those places, getting rid of the rats would be even more difficult. Poison can also be unsafe around children and pets.

Rat repellents

These can be helpful in keeping rats away from your home as a preventative measure but will not make your home “rodent proof.” If you notice rats around the outside of your home, a rat repellent can help ensure that the rats do not become a bigger issue.