Reproductive Cycle of Rats

Rats belong to mammalian family. They reproduce very quickly. In fact, they attain sexual maturity at five weeks of age. They do not have a breeding season, although extreme variations in temperature can affect mating. Sexually mature females come into heat all year round, every 4-6 days unless and until they get pregnant. Females attain menopause at about 18 months of age, their menstrual cycle becomes irregular until it stops completely however, she still cannot be considered infertile before 2 years of age. Rats do not recognize incest, therefore, first relatives such as brother and sister and even mother and son should be separated before mating to avoid inbreeding depression.

The mating process follows invagination and ejaculation. Behavioural signs are shown by female rats she may first dart forward or spin her head then she may brace her leg stiffly, lift her head and tail and vibrate her ears. This display represent that she is ready for mating. The male rat will recognize it and then copulate the female. Male rats are often more willing for mating compared to females.

When mounting he will grasp her scuff with his teeth. During this process, mounting will occur many times but most of it is a foreplay. This process can go on anywhere from 2 - 24 hours even though there is a chance that a female got pregnant with only one mounting.

The gestation period of females is usually 20 days but it can vary from 21 to 25 days. The female's body will get thicker and her abdomen will enlarge after the two weeks of pregnancy. As the birth approaches, the pups start moving inside her womb. The mother's need is simple. It includes a healthy and nutritious diet, a little bit of exercise and extra nesting material a few days before the expected event take place. After the parturition, all females come into heat within 24 hours. This is known as 'postpartum estrus' . Therefore, there are chances that she again can become pregnant.

The birth process usually lasts for 2 - 3 hours. The first sign of delivery is the blood discharge followed by strong contractions at the forelimbs of the female. These contractions stimulate the female to stretch out and exert pressure to her abdomen. The mother will actually sit up and pull the baby out of her womb once she sees the head and she will immediately begin feeding the baby with her milk. Once, the responsible mother has successfully nurtured her babies, she is ready for mating again.

With their reproductive cycle, rats tend to multiply fast so infestation is likely possible when you have them in your home. The rat population in your home should be controlled and extinguished and this can only be properly done by animal control experts. The best part is that wildlife control companies like Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control exist to provide all the services that you will need regarding your rat problem at home.

Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control will ensure that they will not only resolve your problem at the moment but they will also make sure any future re-entry of these pets will be prevented. Your home will also be a healthy and safe place for your family because Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control will  also provide cleaning and clearing methods after all the rats in your home are exterminated. Check out their website here.

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Dangers of Being Exposed to Mouse Droppings

Mice have been a bane to society since the early sixth century when mice caused the first ever recorded  bubonic plague in history. This plague was the first of its kind, it occurred in the Byzantine Empire killing more than 25 million people. This was named the Plague of Justinian after the emperor Justinian who had been infected but survived miraculously through extensive supportive treatment. Since then mice have been the source of many pandemics across Europe, China and the Indian subcontinent. The danger may seem like it has passed as these events happened about a century ago but the rising population density in cities has given these pests a way and means to infiltrate our homes, mice can be the cause of the next pandemic which we may face.

Infestation

Mice infestations are the main cause of all rodent borne diseases and the cause of infestations are the root to all problems. Mice, like all living organisms, need food to eat, water to drink and a place to stay. The main causes of infestation occur when an area has food, water and shelter and the mice can find a way to get inside.  Mice seek out a warm and safe place to spend the nights, and so attics are perfect. These disease-ridden critters are nocturnal, and can often be heard scampering up the walls and in the attic at night. They chew on electrical wires, contaminate food, and spread diseases.

Dangers Of Mouse Droppings

If you have a mouse infestation at your residence or place of work, coming in contact with mouse droppings is very possible. Just touching the droppings can cause a vast number of diseases. Mouse droppings are small and could be easily mistaken for the regular debris that find their way onto the floors of our homes. Many homeowners aren’t tipped off to the fact that they share their residence with an infestation of mice until more than droppings are found, often near food. Mouse droppings are more than an indication that your home’s defenses have been breached; droppings mean that there is a potential for illness, no matter how miniscule.

Some of these diseases are:

1)  Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a deadly disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings, or saliva and although rare it has been recorded to be fatal if not treated immediately.

2) Mouse Bite Fever

Mouse-bite fever (RBF) is a systemic bacterial illness caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis, a bacteria that can be acquired through the bite or saliva of a rodent or the ingestion of food or water contaminated with mouse feces.

3) Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

Salmonella poisoning occurs by ingesting rodent droppings and it causes a typhoid-like disease in mice and in humans.  The disease is characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting and nausea, and generally lasts up to 7 days. Unfortunately, in immunocompromised people, such as the elderly, young, or people with depressed immune systems, Salmonella infections are often fatal if they are not treated with antibiotics.

Rodent control in and around the home remains the primary strategy for preventing diseases. It is important to call a pest control company when you have rodent problems and DIY methods don’t seem to work. Hiring professional services from pest control companies like Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is still the best option. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control will not only make sure that your rodent problems are solved but will also ensure that you will be saving money in the long run because you will never have to call a pest control company ever again.

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Different Kinds Of Nuisance Birds in Canada

Birds can be very beautiful and they enhance the beauty of any place. Their enchanting sight and sound can liven up and bring joy to anyone. However, they can also be a downright nuisance with messy nesting material, their droppings and the noise their newly hatched chicks make. While birds are ecologically important creatures that frequently eat insects, many species are also nuisances in urban environments. Prone to nesting in, on, and around hospitals, office buildings, apartment complexes, and other structures, birds can create serious problems that may eventually necessitate some form of pest control.

Types of Nuisance Birds in Canada

These 6 types of birds found in Canada are commonly classified as nuisance pests: house sparrows, starlings, pigeons, woodpeckers, gulls and Canadian geese.

Also known as European sparrows, house sparrows are invasive pests that regularly bully native birds. They can destroy gardens, damage crops and are a source of parasites, fleas and mites. Starlings cause serious problems for livestock and the associated industry, while pigeons congregate in large numbers and produce excessive amounts of hazardous waste.

Mostly a noise nuisance, woodpeckers are also capable of causing structural damage to siding and exteriors. Gulls, like pigeons, cause problems via fecal contamination, while Canadian geese populations can grow nearly unrestricted, destroy many plants, and also leave behind potentially harmful droppings.

Flocks of water birds, especially Canadian geese and gulls, are an increasing problem on school grounds, especially athletic fields. In addition to creating a nuisance, these species may damage turf, deteriorate pond environments, and create potential health hazards including slippery footing for athletes due to copious fecal droppings.

A wide range of other situations may result in birds becoming pests at schools. Roosting turkey vultures can become a nuisance with their distinctive sights and smells. Gulls may harass young children for food. Swallows may nest on the sides of school buildings, creating a problem with droppings and mites left behind after they move on. Contacting a wildlife control professional is the best option in these situations.

Monitoring and Inspection

Monitoring for bird problems consists largely of logging and responding to complaints, and regular inspections of building exteriors including roofs. Early nesting efforts at problem sites, especially ventilation features, can be discouraged, removed, and, if possible, prevented from reoccurring by exclusion with netting or spikes. These services can be provided to you by animal control experts.

Control Measures

Nonchemical Control Measures

Most bird management procedures fall in this category. The most practical method associated with buildings is to look for areas that can become common nesting areas and develop exclusion methods to prevent the birds from nesting on your property. A wide range of approaches are available from common building materials to bird netting, spikes, and specialized products including electric tracks. Exclusion of geese and gulls from ponds is also possible using posts and wire or line. A wildlife control company like Skedaddle offer wildlife removal strategies that are humane, safe and reliable.

Sanitation/Cultural Control Measures

Habitat modification and exclusion from structures are generally the most effective ways of controlling nuisance bird populations. Wildlife Technicians locate where birds are roosting, nesting, and landing. Once they find the nests they will clear, clean and repair the infested area. Part of Skedaddle’s wildlife control process involves clearing and cleaning any contaminated material, like odorous droppings or carcasses that can pose serious health risks.

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Why Hiring a Wildlife Control professional can save you money in the long run?

Who are Wildlife Control professionals?

These are the professionals who are employed for controlling pests inhabiting our homes. Generally, they work in association with a company. The company provides these people with training, tools and technology to deal with animal control. They have a great knowledge about the science of pest control and pest management. Wildlife control professionals will assess the magnitude of the infestation and from there create a plan to effectively yet safely remove the pests. They are largely used for animal control services which include animals such as raccoons, skunks, bats, birds etc.

Economical benefits:

Hiring wildlife control professionals offers many economical benefits. It is a well known fact that proper planning yields better results than jumping into the problem with two feet. These professionals implement specific animal control strategies. Without having the proper knowledge of wildlife control methods, you may blindly buy detererents and traps from the hardware store, but these solutions are not permanent and may cause more home damage.

These professionals use specialized equipment and techniques to control the source of the wildlife infestation. Hiring a reputable wildlife control professional will save you money by having properly trained technicians quickly troubleshoot the problem and implement a resolution. This efficiency of service will help save you money in costly home repairs.

Most wildlife control companies offer a warranty in case an animal infestation reoccurs. Be sure to hire a firm that provide preventative measures and stands behind them. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control offers a lifetime guarantee on workmanship and materials.

Other benefits

When you have a pest control issue, you are dealing with the living pest as well as the parasites they carry, droppings and damage. A local pest management company will tackle all aspects of wildlife removal and remediation.

A DIY approach to pest control management can be frustrating and time consuming. Instead of spending a lot of time, money, and effort on attempts that could very well fail, Leave the hard work to a professional and hire a local wildlife control service.

Not only do you not have to worry about creepy critters scampering around your home, but by using humane methods, a local pest control company will ease your worries about your children, pets and other family members being exposed to harmful materials.

We can see that the problem of animal infestation has only one solution, which is to hire wildlife control professionals. This will give us peace of mind, no labour and of course save a great deal of money.

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The Rundown on Cellulose Insulation

Year after year, many homeowners are bothered by nuisance wildlife invading their homes. With the loss of habitats due to land development, wildlife animals have adapted their behaviour from the wild to the urban communities where humans live.

Because of this, it is not uncommon to experience wildlife infestation especially because most houses are not structurally sealed to keep wildlife out. Any small nook or crevice can give access to mice and squirrels that will soon find a comfortable haven in your attic. Torn shingles and loose siding invite dexterous raccoons in and it won't take long for them to create their own den inside your home.

Any wildlife inside your home is bad news. Not only to they pose a health risk to the human tenants in the house by bringing in zoonotic diseases that can endanger your health, they can also be physically destructive. One common physical damage to homes that we have encountered many times in the past is contaminated and damaged insulation.

There are many ways that wildlife animals can compromise your insulation. Rats and mice, for example, can tunnel through insulation, build nests and in effect, allow the passing of air and odour issues. Raccoons can trample the material thereby reducing its effectiveness.

Contaminated and damaged insulation can cause energy wastage and unnecessary health, structural and aesthetic issues. If you are facing this problem, it is best to address it immediately.

One of the services offered by Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is replacing your insulation, especially those that were damaged by nuisance wildlife. The process starts with the removal of any contamination brought about by your resident critters and making sure that your attic is clean and free from any dangers that these animals have brought inside your home. Skedaddle’s wildlife technicians will then analyze your current situation and recommend strategies on how to best solve your problem.

Skedaddle then uses cellulose insulation during replacement. Here’s why:

1. Cellulose insulation is environmentally-friendly. The cellulose insulation we use to replace your contaminated insulation contains 87% recycled content and is the greenest insulation product on the market today. Cellulose insulation is better at keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter because it’s scientific structure blocks air much better than its fibreglass predecessor, effectively saving energy and money.
2. It is health-conscious. Our insulation strategy begins with the careful removal of contaminated insulation. A powerful and accurate blower system minimizes traffic through the home and quickly covers each nook and crevice with fresh insulation for your attic. Cellulose insulation does not introduce harmful pollutants or chemicals into your home. As an added bonus, cellulose insulation is also mold, mildew, pest and fire resistant!
3. It is cost-efficient. If your home’s insulation has been damaged by wildlife, the safest course of action might include removing and replacing your insulation. However, it shouldn’t have to mean bad news for your bank account. In fact, our cellulose insulation can decrease your energy bills by up to 60% in two years depending on the severity of the prior situation.

Moving on from damaged insulation caused by nuisance wildlife can be troublesome but with great alternatives such as the insulation strategy provided by skilled and expert technicians from Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, you can rest assured that you are getting the best value for the service they provide. Rid yourself of the worry of contaminated and damaged insulation and call Skedaddle today!

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Pros and Cons of Having Raccoons as Pets

Many of us new homeowners and animal lovers would normally be thrilled to have the company of the very common wildlife visitor around our home, the seemingly adorable wildlife bandit -- the raccoon. While these furry animals may look harmless and innocent, don’t be deceived by their looks. There is a reason why wild animals are meant for the wild and this masked creature is one of them.

One of the many wildlife animals that we come across with in man-made buildings and houses are the raccoons. These masked furry animals are actually intelligent creatures. This paired with very manipulative paws that can open almost anything make a very destructive combination.

Why are raccoons dangerous? 

Raccoons have been known to topple over and open garbage bags and bins, leaving a huge mess after their foraging. They can open containers and unlock doors and windows. They are also probable carriers of rabies, which can be lethal for you and your pets.

So, what can you do to help evacuate these animals without hurting them and exposing yourself to risk? Prevention is what you should focus on if you aren’t infested with these wild animals yet. Here are some tips you can take to avoid or at least, minimize the probabilities of raccoons making your home their home.

1. Never leave sources of food out in your yard. Make sure your outdoor grills are clean and do not have any food residues. Do not feed your pets outside as well, or if you have no way around it, make sure their food bowls are taken in at night.
2. Secure your garbage bins so they are not easily toppled over and are not easily opened.
3. Check any openings to your house and seal them completely.

However, if you have already seen a raccoon wandering regularly on your property and are not sure if there is a whole litter of raccoon kits somewhere you can proceed with these wildlife control steps:

1. Locate their den inside or around your house. If there are already kits inside, you will have to remove them from the den site by hand. Eliminate all sources of food in your property that can be easily accessed by the mother raccoon. This way, you won’t be attracting other raccoons in the neighbourhood to your house.
2. You can also try to expose them to as much disturbance and noise as possible, so they will be forced to find a more peaceful environment, which in this case, isn’t your home anymore.
3. Once they move out, seal all openings to your home securely and tightly.

If you’re ever unsure of what to do and are inexperienced, the safest and easiest way is calling for professional help from our animal control experts like Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control. You pay for service, time, effort and health saved for wildlife control, which makes the choice worth every cent.

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How Wildlife Can Compromise Your Home Insulation

Wildlife infestation is a problem for every home and business owner. Wherever nuisance animals build their dens on your property, they leave behind a trail of droppings, urine and other damages. Because of these property and health risks, animal control has been considered the best solution.

Wildlife inside your home can cause a wide range of damage to your furniture, fixtures, foundations, venting systems and home insulation. Probably the most vulnerable part to wildlife animals is your home insulation, as it can easily be torn up and holes tunneled through.

What is home insulation? One of the most important areas to insulate are your walls and attic to either keep the heat and air conditioning in. There are various types of insulation systems available depending on the climate of your area. The second form of insulation is the one that envelops your wiring. It prevents any form of direct contact with the electrical wires, to avoid electrocution, short circuits, and any risk of fire.

Both of them are very important and must be kept in a good, working order. Otherwise, problems will occur. Wild animals inside your home are no joking matter as access to these insulation materials can compromise your family’s safety.

Squirrels and rats are a problem because of their excessive chewing. They don’t only chew wood and wiring, but will also not hesitate to chew your home insulation. Animals will leave their fecal matter and urinate on your insulation material, which will leave it in a devastated and inefficient state, aside from the fact that animal urine leaves a foul smell that can linger all over your home or business establishment.

Wildlife animals are also known for nesting in your attic. They will gather dry materials which can be used to build their nests, and your home insulation is no exception. In a short matter of time, your attic’s chewed wiring could be in contact with flammable nesting material. This could prove to be very lethal as your wiring will now be exposed and there is high risk of fire.

Raccoons also cause damage to these insulation materials as they trample and compact the material, reducing the insulating effectiveness and therefore, resulting in significant energy loss. Mice tunnel through insulation and leave holes, which will allow significant air leakage.

To avoid headaches about property damage and your family’s safety, it is best that you call for wildlife control services like Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control.

Skedaddle’s Wildlife Technicians will help you evacuate these nuisance wildlife from your home and can keep them out for good through the process called exclusion. Exclusion is one of the most effective ways to keep the animals out, securing your property and health from risks the little critters bring with them. On top of that, Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control also offers an insulation service that is environmentally and health-conscious and at the same time, cost-efficient! What can get better than that? Call Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control today!

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