As the weather continues to cool down, pack rats and their other rodent buddies will begin the process of abandoning their summer homes and finding out where they are going to spend the winter. This means exiting the prickly pear and cholla cacti that have served them so well during the warm season, and re-establishing a winter midden (that is what we call a pack rat nest).
Here’s what to look for to prevent pack rats from making a home in or near your home:
- Droppings on patios, the attic and in the garage. Pack rat droppings are rounded at both ends and look like gigantic pieces of black rice.
- Chewing damage to the corners of the garage or where sections of wood siding come together. This would indicate that the little critters are trying to make a home of yours.
- Suspicious piles of insulation, string, cactus and the sort, showing up in cabinets, storage rooms or even inside the engine compartment of cars. This is the beginning of a pack rat setting up housekeeping.
- Conenose beetles showing up either inside the home or around it. These bugs will frequently co-habitate with pack rats and when the rats leave, they need to find a new place to feed. Don’t let their next meal be you!
If you see these signs, or anything similar, including odd sounds in your walls or attic, give University Termite and Pest Control a call. Because when the question of “for whom the rat packs?” is asked, make sure it is not for thee.
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