Baltimore City County, Baltimore Rat Control Situation:
Hi There. I just saw your website.... and i'm wondering if you wouldnt mind answering a couple questions for me. We live in Baltimore... We had a rat come in through our dryer vent (we've since had it replaced with one with a flap) and it made a little "home" in the laundry room. anyhow...that one was "caught" and disposed of. Being afraid there may be others in teh house....I put out some traps. My question is....one trap went off the other day...well i noticed it this morning...I didnt hear it or anything. Anyhow...the trap went off and the peanut butter was "flat" but showed no signs of "gnawing" or teeth in the PB that was remaining. The trap was set behind our hall stand and the stand may have been pushed into it by accident. Do you know if this would cause th rat trap to go off? or would the "trigger" have to be touched? Also, would there be "teeth" marks in the PB if it WAS a rat? Oh and the reason I wondered is that I found 4 droppings under the couch the other day (the other rat was disposed of about a week or so ago) and the droppings were brown. Do you know if the droppings woudl still be brown after a week as I wonder if it went under the couch and then back into the laundry room, which is just off the living room. And wonder if those droppings are "old". I have found NO other droppings to date. I'm guessing they would drop wherever they go vs just in a nest right? Thanks so much in advance!!!
Baltimore Rat Control Tip of The Week
How Deep Do Rats Dig Holes Or Burrow Under Houses?
Asides from being a very smart animal with a high sense of adaptability, rats are keen diggers. With their dexterous paws and strong teeth, they can chew through plastic, wood, and even aluminum. This clearly shows how much of a good digger these rodents are. Also, if you have holes around your house, these rodents might be responsible for creating them.
Maybe you have rats digging holes or burrows under your house and you have always wanted to know how deep these holes are. The fact is these excellent diggers can dig holes as long as 3 feet and as deep as 18 inches. This digging skill allows them to create deep burrows and holes under your home
Due to their smart nature, rats don't just dig burrows and holes blindly. They dig with plans and prepare for the worst-case scenario by creating one or two exit points apart from the entry hole, in case they are attacked by a predator. Therefore, if you see a rat hole or burrow around your house, you must look around to find its exit hole. Unlike the entry hole which is usually clean and free from dirt, rats usually use thatches of grass to conceal their exit holes. This simply means you have to look around carefully to find it.
While examining these holes and burrows, you need to be very careful and avoid moving too close to it. Snakes or any other harmful animal could also be inhibiting the hole. If you have to dig in the hole or make close contact, make sure you are well protected.