It’s Been a Busy Year.
ABC likes to give our customers predictions every year to help our neighbors make good home service scheduling decisions. 2015 was an interesting year in terms of rodent populations in Central Texas. ABC saw a 9% in rodent-related appointments in 2015, and we have a couple of thoughts on why this may be.
The Biggest Reason We’re Getting More Calls? Rain.
Austin saw an enormous amount of rain last year. May of 2015 was Texas’s and Austin’s single wettest month in recorded history. You may remember that weekend — there was a lot of flooding and dangerous road conditions. Several homeowners south of Austin, in Wimberly, saw their homes destroyed.
ABIA saw its highest rain totals ever recorded in a single day: 13 inches. Flooding was an issue one multiple occasions betweenMay and November of last year.
How does Rain affect Rodents?
Rats and mice are actually excellent swimmers, but that doesn’t mean they can handle heavy flooding. These animals spend the warmer season living near Austin’s many creeks and rivers, and when those waterways flood, these animals will seek higher ground.
El Niño is in full swing for the rest of 2016. We saw similar rain events during the last El Niño season of 2007 and just as many rodents problems. If you live near a creek or a pond, your home may become the rodents’ safe haven.
New Construction Can Increase Rodent Problems
Austin is growing. We are seeing new homes and businesses pop up in every part of the city, which is great for the economy, but not so great when it comes to rats and mice.
If you’ve noticed rodent problems in your neighborhood, look around. Are old houses being torn down? Are new buildings going up? It isn’t so much that rats want to take up residence in construction sites. It is that the construction itself disrupts the habitat those rodents already reside in.
When old houses, which are more prone to rodent issues, are torn down, Roof Rats are driven out and will seek shelter somewhere else nearby. Roof Rats will climb out onto rooftops to enter neighboring buildings via tree branches. Other species, like Norway Rats, will seek refuge in basements, sheds, wood piles and composting bins.
Some Structures Are More Vulnerable to Rodents than Others.
Certain types of buildings in Austin make for easier rodent access. For example, barrel tile roofs are more accessible for Roof Rats to climb.
New houses are being built all over town, and old ones are getting new foundations. One trend we see is that many homes with rodent issues are pier and beam structures. This is because the foundation opens up access to the house more easily than other types of foundations.
ABC also services commercial customers with rodent problems. In some corridors, like the downtown area, kitchens are connected by plumbing. With all of the construction going on downtown, it is no surprise to us that rats and mice are an issue that Austin business owners face.
Rodent Population Predictions for 2016.
1. Rain will be an issue again.
Lots of rain is in the forecast. Austin is predicted to have more continuous rainfall this spring, so we expect rodent infestations to continue to spike. If you live near a creek and are concerned, give us a call. We will rodent-proof your home and seal off any entry points. We also do a free inspection for pest control.
2. More problems for buildings downtown.
We will get lots of commercial rodent control calls this year. With the Dell Medical School still underway, several highway projects, and countless new buildings going up downtown, we know that rodents in the area will be looking for new shelter on neighboring commercial property.
3. More residential construction will lead to migrating rodent populations.
Every city has growing pains, and Austin is no different. We expect a lot of residential calls related to new construction. We will continue to do our best so that the Austin communities we work with have minimal infestation issues over the next 11 months.
Got a rat problem?
Let ABC handle you rodent problems. Whether the cause is rain, construction, or vulnerabilities in your home, we will solve the issue.
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