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Tag: Are raccoons rodents

  • Winter Pests in New York: How to Keep Rodents Out of Apartments

    Winter Pests in New York: How to Keep Rodents Out of Apartments

    The colder months in the Empire State – and with winter coming into the houses in New York there is the unwanted guest who often gets in unnoticed: rodents. Written by saynopest, in this article, we are going to discuss why rodents invite themselves into apartments in the winter, what overhead materials you will need to rodent proof your apartment, tips on how to keep the pets safe and prey secured, ecological role of rodents and a concise realistic action plan to keep the rodent out of your unit.

    Why rodents attack New York apartments during winter.

    When the mercury goes down, rodents are in search of warmth, places of shelter and food that is available inside the house and in New York the older densely built apartment stock provide the best possible housing to them. The city of New York and its surrounding areas have shared walls, shared basements, utility pipes and plenty of food waste, all combining to be the ultimate storm of rodents. 

    An example is one survey that reported rodent infestation in almost 35 per cent of households with many attributing the cold season as the cause. 

    Once rodents move into an apartment, they do not simply settle down but they reproduce fast, chew on the wires, gnash through the insulations and transmit diseases. 

    So residents of apartments in New York must be on their guard. It all depends on prevention, and the appropriate tools.

    What to learn of rodent proofing materials.

    A good rodent proofing materials kit is unrivaled as far as keeping rodents out is concerned – once a rat or a mouse has discovered how to get into the house, it becomes even more difficult to control. Below is a summary of what you will desire and why.

    Common materials to use

    Steel wool or copper mesh: These thick fibrous cotton wools prevent small holes which rodents cannot chew. According to the official rodent-control guide of New York City, it is recommended to stuff steel wool in the gaps and cover it with hard material afterwards. 

    Sheet metal or hardware cloth: In larger holes (e.g. around vents, plumbing penetrations) it is prudent to install metal flashing or heavy-duty hardware cloth which can be chewed by the rodents. 

    Construction grade sealant / polyurethane caulk: Sealing small cracks around the base, walls or door frames can be done with high quality polyurethane sealant (not normal household caulk which may fail over time). 

    Doors: Metal door sweeps and thresholds: Rodents are able to squeeze under any doors where the gap exceeds approximately 1/4 inch. That is prevented by a good metal door sweep. 

    Vented screens / chimney caps / vent covers: Check all vents, chimneys, exterior openings; putting mesh covers in place will keep rodents (and other pests) out. 

    Application of such materials – how to do it?

    Go everywhere the edges of your apartment and find out how many points of entry there are: around the pipes, vents, doors, windows, floor holes, ceiling, walls.

    • Plug holes with steel wool (or copper mesh) then cement over or caulk over it, so as to hold it permanently in place.
    • Install or replace door sweeps on exterior doors; be sure to check basement or ground-floor units particularly on accessibility.
    • Screen in the cover vents and chimney openings with metal mesh covers.
    • Check these points regularly (in particular, after plumbing or HVAC work) to make sure that everything has not loosened or been damaged.

    You make a powerful line of defense by concentrating on rodent proofing materials; a defense that will dramatically decrease the possibility of rodents intruding the first line in the first place.

    Treatment of Rodents using Pet Safe Pest Control

    Whereas, exclusion is the most effective method, in some instances rodents might already be in the walls, ceilings or the neighboring units.This is where pet safe pest control comes in- it is your priority to solve the problem and not to kill your furry family members or to pollute your house.

    What to look into regarding pets.

    Install tamper-proof bait boxes that are inaccessible to the pets. Install them in base boards, utility penetrations and places where rodents pass.

    The use of loose poison should be avoided, use snap-traps or mechanical traps. Mechanical traps are safe, efficient and less harmful to pets.

    Apply organic repellents where suitable (e.g., peppermint oil, ultrasonic deterrents) but: these can be used in addition with exclusion rather than in exclusion itself. 

    Keep it clean: keep food (as well as pet food) in closed containers, keep garbage under control and avoid crumbs, water spills or nesting materials. One of the important aspects of a pest-control plan is reduction of attractants. 

    When using professional services, request environmentally friendly or low toxin treatments and make sure that the treatments are safe to pets (and used as instructed on the label).

    You are ensuring that prevention is matched by safe mitigation by matching the conscientious pet safe pest control with the right .

    The unexpected ecological significance of rodents

    It might appear that it is counter-intuitive, but rodents like mice and rats have a purpose in the ecology – even in the city environment. They become targets of urban predators (owls, hawks, certain snakes), they are involved in the reuse of organic waste, they are a part of underground nutrient cycles as they burrow and cause the soil to stir. With that said, their role is too negative when they come into your living room in a New York apartment.

    Specialized measures concerning New York apartment residents.

    Check extensively: particularly in case you are renting an older/pre-war structure. Examine cracks around pipes, cracks around walls, utility shafts in common. 

    Install rodent proofing materials: steel wool/copper mesh and sealant, steel door sweeps, vents, basement and common areas.

    Keep clean at all times: package food/pet food, cleaning spills as soon as they occur, taking away trash every day, leaving no pet bowls/food neglected at night. 

    Use pet-safe methods of pest control: utilise mechanical traps, places that are safe to pets, taking into consideration environmentally friendly traps, & hire professionals when necessary.

    Keep an eye on the situation: scurrying sounds, droppings, or gnawing should be observed, the entry points should be monitored and the weak points that might have been gained over the years re-sealed.

    Seasonal Advice in Terminix and At Orkin NYC

    Terminix NYC Tips:

    • Close-up all entry points such as vents, pipes, door opening prior to winter.
    • Install rodent proof in the following form, steel wool, sheet metal and door sweeps.
    • Stuff rubbish and pile wood on the walls of the buildings and litter the vegetation.
    • Cleaning the house is done, and foodstuff should be kept in air tight containers.

    In order to exclude in the long run, professional preventative checks ought to be conducted at the beginning of the cold season.

    Orkin NYC Tips:

    • Close windows and doors, utility lines, etc. with cracks and openings.
    • Bec pet safe on handling pests: It is secure to apply traps and tamper resistant bait stations.
    • Store food and pet food in a proper way; brush off food crumbs as soon as possible.
    • Maintain the external premises such as basements, garbage and storage clean.

    Also use the same strategy as Orkin which is to Inspect, Protect, Fortify, and Monitor rodent control on a periodical basis.

    Conclusion

    New York is experiencing winter, and even snow and shorter days are not the only changes experienced in winter because it increases the number of rodents seeking shelter in our homes. And you can always be one step ahead with the right strategy at your disposal. Using a combination of the appropriate rodent proofing products, careful maintenance of your living environment and considerate solutions to pet safe pest management, you do provide yourself with the best opportunity to maintain your apartment rodent-free.

  • Are Raccoons Rodents? Understanding Their True Nature

    Are Raccoons Rodents? Understanding Their True Nature

    Raccoons are great animals and a subject matter of many misconceptions among various people and particularly in regard to their classification as rodents. The purpose of this blog is to find the answer to a question: Are raccoons rodents? Elucidate their biology and reveal key differences between the raccoon and the real rodent. To American homeowners and pest control experts, it is significant to know the way of life of the raccoon, particularly in the context of dealing with harmful urban wildlife in a safe manner. Take your time to learn more about facts about raccoons, their habits at night, and the major physical characteristics as presented to you by saynopest.

    Understanding What are Raccoons

    Are-raccoons-rodents

    Raccoons are medium-sized mammals and are found in North America, and are mostly characterised by their heavily ringed tails and their traditional masks of the face. A raccoon weighs between ten to thirty-five pounds and proceeds to be sixteen to twenty-eight inches long, which is quite huge as compared to the size of the normal rodent, including rats or mice. These animals have been able to survive in any circumstances, whether it is forests and marshlands or in cities and suburbs, and that is what demonstrates their intelligent and clever nature and flexibility.

    Are Raccoons Rodents?

    The other most unclear myth in pest control is the perception that raccoons are rodents. In answering the question Are raccoons rodents the answer of the question is simply no, that they are not rodents. Raccoons belong to the family Procyonidae, which comprises the relatives of such creatures as the ringtail and the coat, but not the mouse and the rat. The actual rodents belong to the order Rodentia, and they are distinguish by the distinctive features of the dental structure and gnawing during their lives.

    Raccoons are confuse with rodents due to their scavenging behaviours and the propensity of invading garbage pits – rodent behaviours, also. However, millions of years ago raccoons split from rodents, and instead of them have roots common to carnivorous mammals such as bears and mustelids. Therefore, they might exhibit rodent behaviours in urban areas; however, the question Are raccoons rodents will have a resounding no.

    Are Raccoons Nocturnal?

    Another question that contributes to the knowledge about these animals is the secondary one, i.e., Are raccoons nocturnal? Indeed, the raccoons are observe to have a nocturnal lifestyle indeed they are most active during the nighttime, and when the sun is setting. They possess a special surface on their eyes that is known as tapetum lucidum and causes a reflection of light, which improves their sight during the night, hence they can see in the dark. Raccoons forage, hunt/consume during the majority of the time at night when fewer predators are present and more food resources are available to them.

    Interestingly, occasionally the animal cannot found at night, like in an urban environment or when there is a shortage of food. Nevertheless, the question of whether Are raccoons nocturnal will provide an answer YES, they are actually programmed to work in the dark and will effectively survive in the darkness.

    Key Differences Between Raccoons and Rodents

    are-raccoons-nocturnal

    The following are apparent disparities that justify why the term are raccoons rodents is the incorrect assumption that people commonly make.

    Physical characteristics

    This species has a characteristic facial mask and a ringed tail. The raccoons are bodied and have front paws that are dexterous and used to manipulate it finely. Mice and rats usually possess a morphology of body, tail structure, and their paws do not suit handling the same type of objects.

    Diet and behaviour

    The raccoon is an opportunistic omnivore which has a wide variety of feeds, such as aquatic food items, eggs, and human debris. Common contenders of rodents include seeds, grains and stored plant material, but other species will be scavengers in general. The raccoons also demonstrate significant problem-solving skills as well as readiness to approach new items in their environment.

    Teeth structure comparison

    Among the most significant anatomical differences is the one that deals with teeth. Rodents are equipped with only one pair of incisors that are continuously growing in either jaw, and no canine teeth, as they are adapted to always gnash their teeth. On the other hand, the raccoons possess incisors, canines and grinding teeth. The same dental composition is an indication of varying evolutionary ancestries and diets, and one of the obvious reasons that raccoons and rodents are not a correct expression.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, the answer to the question Are raccoons rodents is unanimously no. Raccoons are an adaptive tree mammal of a completely different family from rodents. Their wit, their nightly nature, and distinct physique make them astonishing and problematical wildlife of the cities.

    Among the homeowners that surround the United States, these are the major differences that have to identified in order to achieve effective pest as well as wildlife management. Although rodents and raccoons may have some similar habits, such as vulture love, their differences are biological and fundamental to the full extent.

    Educating people about wildlife at saynopest, such as by answering such questions as: Are raccoons rodents, will enable informed decision-making by the readers. It is time to remember that the next time a masked guest comes knocking at your back-door, he is not a rodent, he is a survival tale.