Arlington County, Arlington Rat Control Situation:
Hello. I don't know if this is something you still do, but I need some expert advise so thought I'd give it a try! We are renting a house in Alexandria VA west of DC. I think it was built in the 60's, a ranch style home, and has been renovated but has much of the original doors, framework, etc. The guest bathroom in particular is not sealed off properly. It was an add-on and not done correctly, so the slab is cracked and eroding, as well as rotten wood with holes in it sealed with foam of all things! We have a beautiful courtyard and put out a couple bird feeders, but recently took them down when we noticed the sounds of critters in the attic. We've looked up there and so far the insulation looks almost new and other than a few cobwebs it's pretty clean up there. But there are a few droppings! I want to catch this early and eradicate the problem as quickly and humanely as possible for our safety and for the safety of our landlords house. It looks like you suggest sealing first, then traps, then clean-up. What do you think about the birdseed? Is it to blame? Or the wide open house? Can the rats be coming in from below the slab? My husband, ( this is his email btw) has heard them under the tub in the guest bathroom:// Any other tips? And are you by chance nearby in Arlington VA? Probably not, but just thought I'd check! Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Thank you for your time!
My response: The slab could be to blame. Perhaps there are multiple entries. I wouldn't know without seeing it, but I live in Orlando. Bird seed does attract rats, but really, the problem is that there are openings leading inside the house.
We have a roof rat problem. We've heard the little critter crawling around in our daughters upstairs bedroom (refinished attic /bedroom) for awhile now. My wife also saw the little guy in action on our neighbors bird feeder at about 3:30am this morning and then watched him head back up to our roof. That pretty much sealed the deal that we weren't dealing with squirrels... I can see a few potential issues. We don't have a way into the attic because of the way it was refinished. When previous owner did renovations, they didn't leave access point to portion of attic that is unfinished. There is also some flashing on roof that is pulled up and near where we hear the most noises. I was going to secure it, but don't want to trap anything in... Contact info is below. Give me a call on my cell, anytime, and I can go into more detail for you. Hopefully you can give me a rough estimate on the phone and then we can proceed from there. Definitely want to get this issue resolved. :)
Arlington Rat Control Tip of The Week
What Sounds Do Rats Make?
We all know that particular rat sound that irritates us so much. This may be the best sign that there is something strange going on at home. You must act immediately or these rodents could take over more and more territory in your home and even start multiplying, which would increase the chances of hearing these annoying sounds all over the house.
When it comes to rats, there are different types of sounds you might hear. These sounds are their only form of communication.
Are Rats' Sounds Different For Every Situation?
Rats' senses of hearing and smell are better developed. This allows them to perceive objects around them more easily, and decipher whether they pose a threat or not. Some of the sounds rats emit are:- The recognizable squeak: rats have a way of communicating that can be irritating to the human ear. This is a really high-pitched sound used to communicate with each other. These sounds are emitted during sexual reproduction and in threatening situations. These squeaks can be short, long, or intermittent, depending on the situation they are experiencing and their acuity will also depend on the level of threat.
- Another noise these rodents make is the grinding of their teeth. Rats only do this when they feel happy, as their tail moves and jumps.
- Finally, we can't forget a loud sound that might sound like teeth grinding; a chattering sound they make when they're angry, usually when they feel threatened and are about to attack.
Animals have a unique way of responding to different situations, whether it is joy, anger, fear, or pain. Rats are not an exception; they can make sounds for any type of situation. It is important to consider what sounds a rat makes when it is upset or threatened, this could avoid any type of accident, like a bite.
