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
Why Does Homeowners Insurance Not Usually Pay For Damage Caused By Rats?
Unlike harm caused by other pests (for example termites), home damage caused by rats and mice are commonly not covered under the arrangements of a standard homeowner's insurance policy. This is because it is a preventable misfortune that could have been avoided, using appropriate pest maintenance.
That being the situation, it's ideal to stop the issue from really developing once you recognize any indications of rodent infestations:- A single rat sighting (generally implies there are more)
- Rat droppings
- Hearing scurrying through the dividers
- Chewed through food boxes
- Chewed up wires
- Rodent homes
- Dirty or oily rat tracks on the floor or dividers
Harm to your home or different structures from insects, rodents (for instance, rats, mice, squirrels, and chipmunks) or flying creatures, is normally not covered by a standard homeowner's policy (albeit a window broken by a fledgling might be an exception). Animal invasions and harm from animal waste or secretions are generally excluded from a homeowner's policy. Should an opossum (or some other animal) enter your home, homeowner's insurance policies won't pay for expulsion, cleanup, or fixes to any harm it causes or leaves behind.
Remember that the homeowner's insurance policy does not provide coverage for harm done to your property, brought about by pets or other domestic animals, such as a pig, cow, or chicken. If your dog bites his way through a door, your insurance agency, no doubt, won't cover the cost of replacement.
Not only is a rodent infestation an indisputable hazard to your health - the spread of disease, aggravation of allergy symptoms, etc. - but mice or rats can chew up your electrical wiring and cause house fires. While a home fire may, by chance, be one thing you are covered for as regards to a rodent invasion, you will need to get to the root of the issue before such a dangerous event occurs!
