Rodents in Los Angeles: Why Rat Sightings Spike in the Fall

A wild brown rat foraging for food in fall foliage

Rodents in Los Angeles: Why Rat Sightings Spike in the Fall

In a bustling urban area like Los Angeles, CA, rats and mice are constantly searching for a place to hide during the fall. It’s in your best interest to prevent your home from becoming a haven for rodents.

Even with the relatively mild temperatures, several factors contribute to the increase in rat sightings during the fall. This guide from Dewey Pest and Termite Control helps reveal these reasons and provides tips on how to keep these pests out of your Los Angeles home.

1. Seasonal Migration

Much like other fall pests, rodents seek warm and insulated shelter from the cooler weather outside. Although Los Angeles does not experience the colder temperatures that other areas in the United States do, the temperature difference will still be enough to drive these pests toward ideal places of shelter indoors.

2. Urbanization

One of the leading factors in rat population growth in cities is urbanization. As the Los Angeles metropolitan area expands, more opportunities arise for food waste and structural habitats for rats and mice to turn into their home. If your home or neighboring areas have abundant entry points or plant life, you may be more susceptible to rodent infestations.

3. Outdoor Resources Scarcity

The changing weather leads to a general decline in natural food resources available outdoors, such as plants, nuts, and grains. As winter approaches, fewer of these resources become available, prompting rodents to venture indoors. When desperate times come for these pests, they invade indoor shelters in search of food, water, and shelter that’s becoming less available in the outside world.

4. Increase in Indoor Resources

A young brown rat pokes its head out of the lawn, seeing if the coast is clear to emerge.

As you stock up for the winter, your home becomes a potential treasure trove of food for rodents to feed on. If food isn’t securely stored, it can attract rats and mice into your home. Once rodents are in your home, they can find secluded areas to live in, such as in your walls or basement.

5. Reproduction and Population Growth

Another reason rodents are more present during the fall is their reproductive habits. Because many rodent species breed less during extreme summer heat, reproduction peaks in cooler months such as fall.

Rat litter sizes are around eight to nine on average, with adults capable of producing up to 12 litters per year. Their aggressive reproductive habits, which lead to large numbers of offspring, can make it difficult for homeowners and business owners across Los Angeles to keep these creatures out this fall.

Why Should I Worry About Rodents in Los Angeles, CA?

Rodents pose a great risk to the health and well-being of residents throughout Los Angeles. Rats and mice can carry diseases transmitted directly from bites or indirectly through contaminated food and water. Their presence also leads to extensive property damage, such as chewed electrical cords and holes chewed through your walls. In an urban area like Los Angeles, the large number of buildings presents more opportunities for rodents to find their necessities indoors.

How To Prevent Rodents in Los Angeles, CA

A rat sits trapped inside a metal cage.

Before the first leaf falls this autumn, you can set up a game plan to fight against potential rodent infestations. There are several practical ways to make your home less attractive to rodents and more comfortable for you and your loved ones.

Here are some preventive tips to use to help keep rodents outside this fall:

  • Inspect your home for common rodent signs.
  • Seal entry points.
  • Clean on a regular basis.
  • Keep food sealed away.
  • Clean up excess moisture and water.
  • Set up baited traps.
  • Trim overgrown vegetation from around your home’s foundation.

Why Professional Rat Control in Los Angeles Matters

While preventive measures can be taken on your own, no solution produces better results than professional rodent control in Los Angeles. The best rat and mouse control in Los Angeles employs top-tier experts in pest control to conduct thorough inspections of your property to diagnose the extent of your infestation.

With the right expertise, our trained technicians can identify hidden nesting areas and entry points that are easy to overlook. From there, they can develop a detailed and specialized treatment plan to yield the best results for your particular rodent issues.

Get Quality Los Angeles Rodent Control With Dewey Pest and Termite Control

Kick these pests out of your Los Angeles home when you call on Dewey Pest and Termite Control. Since 1929, our rodent control in Los Angeles, CA, has provided quality solutions for rat and mouse problems throughout the metropolitan area. From potential concerns and suspicions to confirmed infestations, we’re the pest control provider you can depend on.

Contact our team online or by phone to set up your first appointment for Los Angeles rodent control services today!

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