Clarke County, Athens-Clarke Rat Control Situation:
Dave, I just wanted to thank you so much for the great site on dealing with rats in the attic, as well as listing pest control companies that deal with rat issues. I thought I had mice in the attic, but I now think it's rats. I set two mouse snap traps almost three days ago. Early this morning, I was awakened by the sound of plastic banging in the attic. My only thought is that I've caught something, but I don't think it's a mouse. A mouse would have died instantly. Anyway, I do have a few questions for you. First, do you think the mouse trap killed the rat, or will kill it, or is it just injured? Second, any tips on safely climbing in the attic to prevent getting bit by a rat? I noticed your pics on your site about having to get into tight spaces. I would worry about encountering a rat by doing that. One last question, any tips on accessing tight areas for a tall guy? I'm 6'3" and I wasn't able to get close to the soffit area in one area of my home. The particular area has a cathedral ceiling and the roof gets closer to the rafters as you get closer to the soffit area. I attempted to move down in a particular area where I've heard noise, but my legs began cramping really bad.
Athens-Clarke Rat Control Tip of The Week
What To Do If A Rat Bites You
Recognize A Rat Bite:
They are usually a small and single puncture wound with the chance for a small number of cuts. They also bleed and can cause painful swelling. If the bite gets infected, you may also start to see the signs of pus.
Recognizing Rat-bite Fever:
Rat-bite fever can include joint pain, fever and chills, muscle pain, vomiting, headaches, and more. These can be common in people of many ages so if your children get bit or another family member is bit, you will need to recognize these signs as well.
Rat Bites And Treatment:
If you have received a rat bite, there's an easy treatment option such as washing the area with warm water and soap. Drying your area with a clean towel and using antibiotic ointment can be important as well. Then, cover the area with a clean bandage. Even if the bite you have seems minor, you will need to see a doctor as soon as you can to get a tetanus shot. A rat bite can give you an increased chance of developing tetanus.
Treatment Period:
You will need to treat the area for 7-10 days with antibiotics to make sure that you do not develop an infection. Taking an antibiotic for this amount of time will make sure that the infection will have a lesser chance to develop and cause you ongoing symptoms or issues.
If You Are Infected:
Go to a doctor and take a full course of antibiotics as prescribed. If you do not finish your medication, you could be putting yourself at risk and this can lead to ongoing problems even after you have received your first few rounds.