Living in large apartment communities in the southeastern United States means that garbage can very easily accumulate on stairs and outside apartment doors, especially during the summer months. Not only do these pose a tripping hazard, but they are also breeding grounds for vermin like rats and rodents. I originally come from London, England, where there is a common saying that wherever you are in London, you are never more than 20 feet away from a rat! You can search for the best rat extermination services via online sources.

That's a pretty shocking statement, but I bet the same applies to communities in the greater Atlanta area as well. This is where I currently live, having crossed the pond several years ago to experience life in the new world. If I ever thought insects and rodents were big at home, nothing could have prepared me for the insects and rodents that I saw my freshman year outside of Atlanta!

There are several things you can do as a caring member of your community complex to ensure rats are kept at bay, and most of the valuable advice is based on prevention. First, find out. Read about what attracts rodents to your apartments. Most of the tips are common sense, like making sure you don't leave trash in stairwells. You can contact your apartment manager for clearly labeled signs informing the community when trash will be picked up so that it does not accumulate.

Make sure maintenance personnel are aware of cracks in the walls of your property and especially look for gaps in kitchen bricks, as the smell of food will attract parasites and rats into your home. Leaving food on counters at night can also attract rats and mice. We live in the age of pizza delivery and fast food in our homes and these cardboard containers are a more common sight of trash on our streets.