Rats Come Out of Hiding Due to Non-Availability of Urban Trash

People all over the world have altered their behavior in order to slow the spread of the novel Coronavirus. Major population hubs in the United States have either been in lockdown or devoid of any significant commercial activity. It has been over three months now and we still don’t know when and how the world will move past the pandemic. Lack of commercial community has led to, among various other consequences, an increase in rodent activity in major US cities including Los Angeles. 

Rats Are Now Coming Out of Hiding 

Rats in cities have always been dependent on the urban ecosystem for food, water, and shelter. Now that restaurants, diners, eateries, bakeshops, fast food joints, etc. are either closed or have downsized their operations due to the ongoing pandemic, there is little or no urban trash for rats to live on. Earlier, it was easy for them to feast on leftover food in the backyard of a restaurant or a dumpster. Now, it isn’t. 

Put simply, their lives have changed drastically since there is no street garbage, leftover food, etc. 

This is the reason why hungry rats are now scurrying out of their usual hiding places and venturing forth in broad daylight in huge numbers. Such incidents have been reported from different places in the US and elsewhere in the world. 

Most news reports about rats swarming streets and resorting to cannibalism started pouring in from March this year when the pandemic first hit the US. 

No wonder, in many areas, people who have never had a rat problem in the past, are suddenly forced to cope with hungry critters. 

The CDC Has Issued A Warning Already 

Taking note of the fact that rats in many US cities are resorting to cannibalism due to the non-availability of urban trash, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in May this year had warned of ‘unusual and aggressive’ behavior in American rats. 

What If Hungry Rats Are Around Your Home? 

If hungry rats get a whiff of food in your house, there is a good chance they will look for ways to get in. 

Once inside a house, rats will put in serious efforts to locate food sources and identify travel/escape routes.

Should LA Residents Be Worried?

The growing number and scale of rat infestations in Los Angeles have earned it the 2nd place in the list of rattiest cities in the US. 

Surpassing New York City, Washington DC, and Oakland (San Fransisco), Los Angeles is just behind Chicago in this list. 

So, yes, residents in LA should be worried if they have not conducted rodent-proofing of their buildings, apartment, or homes. 

Rat-proofing is an effective counter-measure against a potential rat infestation even if your neighbors have a rat problem and aren’t serious about tackling it. 

Rats May Invade New Areas 

It is possible that rat populations have shifted during the pandemic. So, areas where rat problems were previously unheard of, may complain of rat problems in the future. 

When rats come out of hiding, they often run into neighboring streets, parks, and residential colonies. So, even if a handful of rats make it to a large apartment building where they find all three things they need – food, water, and shelter – they will most likely grow in number and do so at a rapid pace. 

With time, rats may invade adjoining properties as well if the building they first made their home isn’t inspected and treated by rodent control specialists. There is a reason why experts advise people to fix a rat problem as early as possible. It can grow worse in no time. 

Final Words 

Now is a good time to improve your home hygiene and take steps necessary to keep rats out. 

You can start by eliminating unattended food sources such as pet food around your property. Be sure that outdoor bins are secure, with tight-fitting lids. If there is any garbage on your property, have it removed as soon as possible. 

Put simply, you don’t want to hang a welcome sign outside your home for rats at a time when they are eagerly looking for an alternative to an empty restaurant dumpster. 

Rats can squeeze under a hole the size of a nickel. So, it’d be wise to inspect your home to identify potential entryways. Generally, it is difficult for homeowners to identify and seal such entryways. This is where we can help with our rat-proofing services in the Los Angeles area.