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
How Can I Scare A Rat Away From My Property?
Scaring off rats from your property can seem like a simple task, but you must not forget that these rodents can completely take over a territory they feel safe in; wherever they can get food and shelter, they will stay.
If you want to scare away all rats, you must fix the problem from its roots. This means making a complete inspection to evaluate which are the potential hiding places for them and how many rats there could be on your property. Once you have answers to these questions, you can pick the method that suits your situation the best.
How To Avoid The Presence Of Rats On Your Property?
While there are many reasons why a rat may decide to enter your home, the most common cause of this may be a lack of hygiene; not regularly doing deep cleaning in potentially exposed areas. Another reason these rodents may be attracted to your property is the presence of accumulated garbage or improper food packaging.
Natural Solutions To Keep Rats Away
There are many ways to scare rats away. You can use classic methods, placing rat traps and poison at specific points on your property, or hiring a pest extermination agency. Another option, -and the healthiest one for both the rats and your family-, is based on using natural remedies to scare off rodents.- Mint: It has a strong smell, ideal for scaring away rats. You can simply make a mint tea and use it to aromatize different areas of your house, specifically access points to the property.
- Hot Sauce: Spreading hot sauce in some areas of your home could also keep rats away. However, you should be careful where you apply it in case you have pets or small children.
- Onion: Placing containers filled with onion pieces in areas of your property can also be a good way to repel rats.
The rats' incredible sense of smell can be your best chance to scare them away from your property. Regardless of the option you choose, it is essential to maintain proper hygiene in every space in your home.
