Boston Named Second Rattiest City in America

According to Data from the Census Bureau, Rat Population in Boston Continuing to Rise

Rats, it seems, are running rampant in the Boston Metro area. According to data collected by the Census Bureau’s 2015 American Housing Survey, 16.9% of people surveyed reported rat or mouse activity, ranking the city of Boston as the second most rat-infested city in America.

Rat complaints increased close to 50 percent over the last year, with close to 3,100 complaints in 2016 as compared to 2,100 in 2015. And according to city data, no area has been spared. The old infrastructure found in places like Boston leads to idea rat and mouse habitats; outdated sewer systems, subway tracks, parks, and dated stone-stacked home foundations.

Flimsy trash barrels, or garbage placed in simple plastic bags, pet food left out and unattended, are easy targets for rats or mice seeking sustenance. Once rodents have been attracted to your home, they can gain access indoors with a hole the size of a quarter, and for mice, a hole the size of a dime.

“They [rats] enter homes by exploiting weak areas of a structure,” Catseye Pest Control wildlife Expert Paul Dube says. “Spaces under garages or doors, or areas where A/C or heating lines meet the home, unsealed gaps in foundations, those are all major points of entry for rodents.”

Other common entry points can be found here.

Steps To Prevent Rodent Infestations

• Keep trash barrels tightly sealed and away from your house

• Do not leave trash in plastic bags, out in the open

• Clean up food debris

• Keep plastic containers off of the garage floor

• Do not leave pet food outdoors

• Keep stacks of wood at least 15 feet from your home

• Seal holes around piles and vents

• Seal holes in foundation

• Replace worn weather strips on windows and doors

Stop Rat and Mouse Infestations for Good

With Cat-Guard, no entryways go overlooked, and the rodents stay outside where they belong. Catseye’s certified Cat-Guard technicians use premium metal to seal the area where the exterior of your home or business meets its foundation to ensure no intruders make their way in. We also seal corner posts, holes in the foundation, and gaps in siding, J-channels, and window trim. Every Cat-Guard system is customized for each individual job based upon recommendations made from the results of your free inspection.

Contact us today and take advantage of our free home inspection to ensure your home is safe and secure from rats and mice.