Fulton County, Atlanta Rat Control Situation:
Hello, I ran across your article rats in the Attic online earlier today. I have some type of critter that moved in a couple of weeks ago. I thought it was a squirrel until I read your article that said squirrels are diurnal in nature. The thing in my attic is most active around 11pm, I can hear it move around a little bit and chewing on something-it sounds like a handsaw operating, and then again about 6am when it chews much more often and much louder. Is this symptomatic of a squirrel or could it be something else? You say rats live in the attic at night, but I don't even want to say the word rat. I live in Southeast Atlanta Georgia, so I'm not sure it's a flying squirrel, and it's definitely not big enough to be a raccoon or a opossum. Any help you could offer me would be very much appreciated. Thank you!
My response: Sounds like rat activity to me. Maybe you should have a wildlife expert come out and inspect your attic. You've got to find out how the rats are getting in, and seal those areas shut with steel.
Hi, I have a rat in my mini van and I can't get rid of it. I have tried traps - they didn't work. Poison - I think this rat thrives on it . I‘ve clean the van of any food and as it is a newish van there isn't anyway to get in. Help! Minnie
David, I live in Atlanta, not near you in Orlando, but I was looking over your photos of the rats. What are you using for bait on the snap traps or does it vary? Specifically dealing with roof rats and have you used traps outside? I'm fairly sure that I have most of the roof rats (sealed all points and it's been a while) but I feel like making sure by setting a few traps. Any hints would be greatly appreciated.
I bait the traps with a thin spread of peanut butter. But the location of the traps is 10x as important as the bait. Set the traps in areas of high rat activity.
Atlanta Rat Control Tip of The Week
What Attracts Rats To Your Property?
Being a homeowner, you definitely don't want rats to infest your home and make it their nesting place. If you are concerned about this, you need to know certain things that can attract rats to your property and do all you can to keep those things away from your property.
In order to help you prevent a rat infestation, right here we will be sharing all the things that are capable of attracting rats to your property. By knowing these, you will be able to keep your property safe from rats.
1. Food Substances
Unlike other household pests, rats are not picky eaters. They tend to eat all kinds of food, provided they are placed where they can easily access them. The moment a single rat gets to know that your house has an abundant supply of food, it will invite others and your property will soon become a nesting place for rats. To avoid this, the best thing you can do is store your food properly and dispose of leftovers when you no longer have plans to eat them.
2. Pet Waste And Trash
Just as mentioned earlier, rats will feed on anything they have access to and this includes your pet's food. When you have pet food around at all times, rats will find their way into your home.
This also applies to having trash around your property. When rats want to hunt for food, the first place they visit is trash cans because they feel that your leftovers might be disposed of there. The longer you keep trash in and around your property, the more likely rats will be attracted to your property.
3. Dripping Pipes
Rats are thirsty animals and are always in search of clean water to drink. If you have dripping pipes or sprinklers around your home, this will tend to attract rats to your property.
