Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor Rat Control Situation:
I came accross your article about killing rats or rodents in the attic. I had a very bad squirrel infestation in my attic, and I had to get professional help. They did just what you recommended by putting cages in two places on or near the roof that were accessable to the attic. It did work for a long time. About eight years in fact. Had no problem after that until now. This problem just started, and I am not sure what is running up there. So far I have not seen any evidence . I never considered rats, but if it is that, I will start leaving a bunch of heavy duty snap traps right away. There is no way however that with the size of my attic, that I am ever going to find their entrance and exit points. I may have to resort to the professional again . Thanks for your info. I hope It might do the trick.
Aloha David! Am I glad to find you! Read your site a few minutes and saw your invite to e-mail you and here I am. Our great hunter cat just brought a baby rat to the front door and when I opened it, I THINK he carried the little creature in. happened so fast, I'm not sure it was in his mouth, but I'm pretty sure and worried about it if he did. He must have been ready to play with it some more, dropped it in the room as he came in, and now I don't know what to do. We share a house, and this room is our bedroom / living room with lots of nooks and crannies, dressers, couch and places to hide..... and die. It was stil very young, so maybe not weaned yet? Can babies survive without a momma rat? It had about a 3-4" long body and a 4-5" tail maybe. It was playing dead by the door and suddenly Kitty Kun, picked it up and ran in with it. (I think) Don't know if it was injured, but I'm also worried about fleas fleeing if the rat dies. What to do? Thanks so much, am especially worried about germs and fleas. With warm aloha, Gail
Ann Arbor Rat Control Tip of The Week
Will Rats Come Out When It's Light?
Rats are living beings with a negative phototropism. Daylight often affects them, leading them to be most active when it's dark out. Most rodents are characterized by going out during evenings when there is dim light or at night.
This habit of being active at night is very useful when combined with the instinct of going unnoticed. Rats that live in underground places like sewers can suffer retinal damage when they surface in broad daylight. The discomfort to their vision does not allow them to carry out the necessary daily survival activities.
Light is an abiotic environmental factor that can have a major impact on animal behavior and physiology. Rats adapt better to darkness because it can be very comfortable. It is believed that rats have dichromatic color vision and light is often a very important environmental signal for regulating circadian cycles and reproduction cycles.
Fear Of Light Or Fear Of Death?
Rats are one of the most successful invasive species in the world, they can adapt to almost any environment. These animals perceive light as dangerous. The light rays can make rodents feel somewhat exposed to predators or even vulnerable to people who will want to exterminate them no matter what it costs.
A Messy And Damp Place Is Ideal
Abandoned buildings, homes with cracks in the walls, or sewers, often have an abundance of dark places. A home with little light is ideal for living; it is perfect for rats to make their nests without having to expose their small offspring to being eaten by other animals.
Professional exterminators often use this information about the light phobia of rats in their preventive or extermination plans. The ultimate goal is to prevent these rodents from making their dens in or near people's homes.
