Anne Arundel County, Annapolis Rat Control Situation:
Interresting site very helpful info. I had stored furniture in a storage facility and and went into remove yesterday .. And found rats had been nesting I there. I removed a table and chairs and two couches .. Which had rat dropping on. I didn't see much urine but I'm sure it's there. I'm concerned and extremely grossed out because I HATE rodents more than anything In this world. And I have a four month old baby. I want to throw the couches away, my boyfriend and friends tell my I'm exaggerating but by your site I think not. Can you tell me is it still safe to use the couches , their made with slip covers for easy clean up. What type of cleaning should I do to use again or shall I toss them.
Hi David, Great site-very resourceful. We have a night time visitor in our attic. We called a pest control company and they have put traps in our attic and sealed his entery hole. With that said I have a few questions: Its been over a week and he has yet to be caught! We still hear him at night. is that normal? Further, we have a small half inch open gap going around the entire perimeter of our roof. We recently replaced our roof and gutters and I think there was some miscommunication between the contractors. I just have to lift the roof shingles and I can see the opening. With that said, I was thinking of going up and stuffing the perimeter of the house with steel wool. Will that keepp rats out or will they push through and end up in our attic? I was only thinking steel wool 'cause "chicken wire" would be a more labour intensive project. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Annapolis 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.
