Category: Rat abatement (Page 2 of 2)

Information for developers on rat abatements for demolition. Rodent abatements are now required by Seattle, Shoreline, and Kirkland.

3 Things You Need to Know About ContraPest: The Birth Control for Rats

March 23, 2022 / parkerecopest

Eliminating a local rodent infestation is undoubtedly no easy job! Why? These tiny little critters breed fast, and although rat bait works to reduce rodent numbers immediately, it doesn’t address the long-term problem.

It’s time to talk about birth control for rats, and yes, that’s a thing!

We get it! It can be pretty tricky to get rid of rats and mice. And these days, more homeowners are interested in learning about long-term rodent control options.

So, how do we help you get rid of your rat infestation? Let’s talk about ContraPest—the birth control for rats making headlines.

#1. Will, the ContraPest Rat Birth Control, Reduce the Rodent Population…Yes!

ContraPest rat birth control is a sweet liquid formulation designed to reduce the rodent population over time. It contains two ingredients, 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) and triptolide, which eliminate immature ovarian follicles, prevent sperm maturation and reduce sperm motility.

To ensure its safety and efficacy, the Parker Eco Pest Control team conducted a seven-month trial on a test site. The results were astonishing! ContraPest was able to reduce the rodent population by up to 91%.

#2. Let’s Talk About the Rebound Effect

Poison and traps are a great way to get rid of rats fast, but it also comes with their fair share of drawbacks.

Rat poison addresses the acute problem, and it relies solely upon rats consuming rat bait to meet their defeat. So, initially, it may reduce the rat infestation problem, but it won’t do much over time.

So, why is rat bait not effective in the long run? Well, the answer is simple, rats multiply quickly.

So, let’s look at an example…

A local colony contains 100 rats. Of that 100 rats, 90 consumed rat bait, leaving 10 adult rats active. Remember, rats multiply quickly! A female rat can begin mating at five weeks of age. And, female rats, on average, can have up to 6 litters a year, each consisting of 12 to 15 pups—now that’s a lot of rats.

So, within a few weeks, the rodent population within that colony increases. And, this is what we refer to as the rebound effect!

So, how does ContraPest address this issue?

As mentioned above, the ContraPest formulation takes a preventative approach. By inhibiting different stages of the estrus cycle and sperm maturation, ContraPest prevents rats from producing pups.

It is a long-term solution that allows homeowners to keep their local rodent numbers in check!

#3. This Birth Control for Rats Reduced Bait Aversion

Rats are pretty shy creatures; when introduced to a new food source, they only try or take a little to determine its safety.

Rats are also intelligent little creatures. If they associate a food source with a negative experience, their chances of going back for seconds decrease immensely. This is what we describe as bait aversion, and it’s one of the reasons why rat poison isn’t necessarily the best method of rodent control.

So, what makes natural rat birth control so effective? First, this method of natural rodent control takes a more proactive approach rather a reactive one.

The ContraPest fertility control is a sweet liquid formulation that attracts rats and keeps them interested in the product. And, gradual consumption of the ContraPest rat birth control formulation can reduce the fertility of both male and female rats.

This sweet formulation causes no direct ill-effects to the rats, i.e., death. And that’s great because we actively prevent bait aversion and thus continue the process of reducing the local rodent population.

Rodent Control in Seattle Just Got Easier!

Rodent control is now easier than ever before! Our Parker Eco Pest Control team ensures home, and business owners across Seattle get access to the ContraPest rodent fertility formulation.

So, talk to us today to learn more about how ContraPest rat birth control can benefit you.

Man looking for a rodent in crawl space insulation

A Fool’s Proof Guide to Dealing with Crawl Space Pests in Seattle

September 22, 2021 / parkerecopest

Dirt crawl spaces in Seattle are the perfect breeding grown for a range of pests! Cheeky rodents, cockroaches are just some of the common Seattle pests that can invade your crawl space. At Parker Eco Pest Control, we see many homeowners struggle to keep rats out of a crawl space! In fact, providing adequate rodent control and crawl space repair is one of our most requested services. So, in this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about dealing with crawl space pests in Seattle.

Help! How Do I Keep Rats Out of My Crawl Space?

Rats dwelling in your crawl space can leave quite a mess behind! Feces, urine, and damaged insulation are just some of the problems you may face. There are a few things you can do when it comes to keeping rats out and away from a crawl space!

Remove damaged insulation: Insulation can retain urine, and it’s a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. In the long run, urine-damaged insulation can lead to increased humidity, odor, and mold growth, all of which can affect your health and well-being.

Rodent control is key: There are many different ways you can choose to control the rodent population around your home. Talk to us today to learn more about how we handle rats and mice naturally and effectively.

Managing Rodents in a Dirt Crawl Space

diagram of how to manage rodents in a crawl space, seattle home

When it comes to crawling space rodent control in Seattle, we have your back at Parker Eco Pest Control. Managing rodents like mice and rats within a dirt crawl space will require skilled pest control professionals and time. At Parker Eco Pest Control, we deal with the problem using a 3 visit plan approach.

So, how do we do it?

Remove those cheeky pests! Of course, it comes without saying that as part of the pest control protocol, we must remove as many rodents as we can from the crawl space. This may involve setting various mouse traps and baits to decrease the rodent population gradually. Don’t worry; we have organic pest control options too!
Seal those entry points! Mice and rats can find many ways to invade your home. A skilled pest controller will examine the exterior of your home and crawl space to determine potential entry points and openings. The aim here is to seal any cracks or holes, which decreases the risk of a population of rodents from establishing.
Rodenticides and rat baits for better control: In some cases, we may recommend placing rodenticides throughout your crawl space to control the rat and mice population.

We Have Options for Pest Control Crawl Space Barriers

Installing galvanized steel mesh along the foundation of your home and sealing off your joists will prevent rodents from damaging crawl space insulation. Buried galvanized steel mesh can also prevent rodents from entering the living area of your home.

Got Rodent Damaged Insulation? Talk to Us About Crawl Space Repair

Rodents can not only leave behind feces and urine, but they can also damage the insulation of your crawl space. In the long run, this can lead to many problems, including poor insulation, further pest problems, and more!

When it comes to cleaning up, sanitizing, and re-insulating a crawl space, our Parker Eco Pest Control team is here to help. Our highly trained team of professional pest controllers works one-on-one with homeowners to sanitize, re-insulate, and repair crawl spaces throughout Seattle.

What’s Included in Our Rodent Crawl Space Clean Up?

We understand that repairing and cleaning a rodent-infested crawl space in Seattle can sound costly! But, it doesn’t have to be. At Parker Eco Pest Control, we offer homeowners several service levels to cater to their needs and budget.

Refresh:

This option is perfect for crawl spaces with minor rodent damages. Refreshing your crawl space will include:

Vacuuming rodent dropping and sanitizing the area with an industrial fogger
We can replace the vapor barrier
Our team can remove sections of contaminated insulation and replace insulation as needed.
As part of our protocol, we install permanent rodent barriers and rodent-proof insulation.

Remove:

This option is perfect for crawl spaces with moderate rodent damages. In particular, it’s a great option for homeowners who lack a permanent rodent barrier within their crawl space. This option is similar to our refresh selection which includes

Vacuuming rodent dropping and sanitizing the area with an industrial fogger
We can replace the vapor barrier.
Our team can remove sections of contaminated insulation and replace insulation as needed.
We provide an air gap sealing service that can cut your energy bill by 15%. Air gap sealing will also stop drafts and heat loss.
As part of our protocol, we install permanent rodent barriers and rodent-proof insulation.

Replace

This option is perfect for crawl spaces with significant rodent damages, including damaged insulation. The replace option includes everything listed above.

Vacuuming rodent dropping and sanitizing the area with an industrial fogger
We can replace the vapor barrier.
All insulation is removed and replaced with new rodent-proof insulation. We even insulate HVAC ducts and water lines to prevent heat loss.
We provide an air gap sealing service that can cut your energy bill by 15%. Air gap sealing will also stop drafts and heat loss.
As part of our protocol, we install permanent rodent barriers and rodent-proof insulation.

Getting rid of rats from your crawl space doesn’t have to be a difficult task! Talk to us today to learn more about crawl space repair and pest control services in Seattle.

Cleaning a Seattle crawl space with a vacuum

Dealing with Rodent Damaged Insulation in Seattle

September 14, 2021 / parkerecopest

Rats in the attic or crawl space are common problems Seattle homeowners know all too well. And as the cold Seattle winter sets in, these pesky critters are in search of a warm cozy place to nest. Don’t let rodents ruin your home. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about rodent damaged insulation and effective pest-control

Replace Vs. Refresh your Rodent Damaged Insulation

In the wild, rodents, be it mice or rats, will seek soft fibers for their nests. And unfortunately, insulation found within our crawl spaces, walls, and attics appear to be their favorite nesting material. As a result, rats and mice can damage the insulation in your home by either collecting insulation fibers for a nest elsewhere or directly making a nest within the insulation itself.

Effective Rodent Control: Crawl Space and Attic Hygiene

Effective rodent control in your Seattle home is essential when it comes to preventing the spread of disease. The feces and urine produced by rodents accumulate over time, leading to an increased risk of spreading zoonotic diseases. According to the CDC rat infestation guide, rats and mice in Washington spread diseases (viral and bacterial) directly and indirectly. Some of these zoonotic diseases include:

Leptospirosis: which spreads through urine and waterways.
Hantavirus: is a virus that spreads through rodent urine and feces.
Salmonella: A bacteria that spread via the fecal-oral route.
Rat-Bite Fever: A bacterial disease that spreads through bites and scratches caused by rats. It can also spread through the oral-fecal route (i.e., consuming food or water contaminated by rats).

Do You Need to Replace Insulation After a Rodent Infestation?

replacing rodent damaged insulation in crawl space, Washington

Rats have damaged the insulation in your beautiful Seattle home. What do you do? Replace, refresh, or remove? We completely understand that removing and replacing insulation from your crawl space and attic is time-consuming and extremely expensive.

If the damage to the insulation is minimal, then our team at Park Eco Pest Control will choose to refresh the existing insulation material. Now, refreshing existing insulation simply entails that only sections (damaged) insulation are replaced. We only ever completely replace insulation from a crawl space or attic when the damage caused by rodents is extensive due to long-term uncontrolled rodent destruction, or if you’d like to increase the energy efficiency of your home.

How to Keep Rodents Out of Insulation in Seattle

Keeping rodents out of your crawl space, attic, and insulation will require some time and effort. And since these pesky critters pose a risk to human health, we recommend reaching out to a professional pest control service in Seattle for an initial first clean.

When it comes to cleaning and refreshing your damaged insulation, our team at Parker Eco Pest Control will:

Locate and seal up any holes, burrows, vents, and gaps that allow rats and mice to enter your crawl space.
Do some dirty work and safely remove all dead rats and mice from your crawl space or attic. We will even humanely remove any active nest sites present in your attic or crawl space.
Our Seattle pest-control team will most importantly remove and dispose of all rat feces and droppings present in the attic or crawl space.
Sanitize and disinfect the entire area with an eco-friendly, enzyme-based product that actually eats the organic material left by feces and urine. It leaves behind water and CO2 as an odorless, harmless bi-product.
Replace the vapor barrier in your crawl space if it’s damaged.
Finally, depending on the degree of damage and contamination, we will either refresh or replace the insulation.

Attic and Crawl Space Cleaning by Parker Eco Pest Control

Winter is on its way, and so are the rats! Getting a good rodent control regime is crucial in preventing rats and mice from damaging your insulation. Parker Eco Pest Control provides excellent and professional pest control services all the way from Seattle through to Marysville. So, talk to us today about rodent pest control and crawl space cleaning in Seattle.

Rat abatement for demolitions: city requirements and FAQs

January 14, 2019 / Wesley Parker

As rodent populations worsen in King and Snohomish counties, more and more cities are passing rat abatement laws for construction projects. Seattle, Kirkland and Shoreline have passed rules requiring developers to control or eradicate the rodent population when “clearing, grading or demolishing” on a jobsite.

Why do Seattle rat abatement rules exist?

Buildings slated for demolition can be ideal habitats for rodents. Older structures are often full of holes for easy entry. Vacant places have nesting material like insulation, clothing, or furniture. The ideal spot for a rat is close enough to humans that they have access to food (like our garbage) but far enough away that they can nest and breed without being disturbed. That empty house on the block is the perfect hideaway!

When a vacant structure is demolished the rodents explode out into the surrounding neighborhood. Add in the increasing density of King and Snohomish counties and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

How developers comply with the law

If your project will include “clearing, grading or demolition” you must have a pest control professional with a license from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) inspect the property. If evidence of rodent activity is found (droppings, nesting, skeletons, old bait boxes, etc.) you must start an abatement plan at least 15 days prior to beginning work. The plan should extend up to the planned date of demolition. If the inspection reveals no evidence of rodent activity then you’re home free! Just have the pest control company write up a declaration.

Rodent abatement paperwork for Shoreline, Kirkland and Seattle — Paperwork for a rodent abatement plan must be written up by a pest control professional and submitted to the city by the developer

How much do rat abatement plans cost?

Parker Eco Pest Control charges $200 for an inspection. If no activity is found, that’s all you pay.

If we do find evidence of an infestation, the fee is usually $399 (the $200 inspection fee + $199 abatement fee). That can vary with the size of your project. After the plan is complete, we write up the paperwork proving that your property meets the city requirements. You hand the paperwork into the city and proceed with demolition.

What a rodent abatement plan looks like

A lot of pest control companies simply show up and drop bait boxes, then collect a large fee. Parker Eco Pest Control actually conducts an inspection. It’s not uncommon for us to clear a structure as rodent-free during this inspection. We would rather be honest with you and build a long-term relationship than collect a quick buck.

If the inspection uncovers evidence of an infestation we’ll develop a plan for dealing with the problem. This usually requires several visits to monitor activity up until demolition.

We conduct an exterior inspection
to see where they are getting into the structure.
We seal up any holes greater than
¼ inch with sealants, foam or other materials.
We remove anything that might be
attracting them to the property.
We place traps in appropriate
places.

Have questions about rat abatement before demolitions? Get in touch! Call 800-ECO-1698 or email Info@ParkerEcoPestControl.com.