Jefferson County, Birmingham Rat Control Situation:
Hello David, I believe I have roof rats in my attric and I would like your help. Would you be able to come to my house this week to see what we have going on and let me know the cost? Besides the trapping, do you also do the clean up? I see a bunch of poop up there and don't want to get sick for it staying up there. Thanks you!
Beth, My partner Ben is the rat expert. He does perfect rat control work. Ben is available any day this week. He will do an inspection of the house and attic, and find out how the rats are getting in your home, and seal shut all the entry holes. He sets traps throughout the attic to trap and remove all the rats until they are all gone. The process usually takes 3 service visits, and the cost of the project usually ranges around the $300 - $400 range total, unless you require many repairs, in which case the price could be higher. If you want a free inspection and price quote, Ben can do that. If you accept, he sets the traps and starts the repairs right away. Ben also does attic cleanup and decontamination. He will be able to quote that after an attic inspection. Depending on how big the attic is, and how many droppings, the decon runs from $200 - $300. Ben will call you later today to set up an appointment time.
Thank you for responding so quickly. :) Thank you for your help! Ok, I'm in for the removal for sure! My house is about 1800 livable sq ft with a 2 car garage. I believe my attic is 2400 sq ft. How do you accept payment? Checks? Credit cards? I'd like a quote on the clean up too. I won't be able to do that this week, but I know it has to get done. It's just bad timing with money at the moment...but after my tax return come in we'll be back in business. My husband is available Tu-F morning from 9-10:30am. I'm available tomorrow any time after 3pm and evenings the rest of the week. When you have time, call me and we'll set it up. Thank you so much. If possible, I'd like to have something in motion by Thursday. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Birmingham Rat Control Tip of The Week
How Likely Is It That A Rat In The Attic Will Have A Nest Of Babies?
Rats are among the most common pest animal species that people may have to deal with around the home, and because they are quite small they can often be quite elusive little animals to deal with as well. They are quite good climbers when it comes to moving around a domestic property, so if you are worried about rats, they won?t necessarily be around ground level. Because the attic or roof space of most domestic properties is rarely used, it can often be the dark quiet place where rats can get a foothold and build a nest without being noticed by the people living beneath.
Do Rats Have A Mating Season?
Like most wild animals, rats in the wild do have a mating season, where they will normally copulate and impregnate female rats in the spring, and then the female will then give birth a few weeks later, and can then have a few litters over the summer. However, the reason for the mating season is that in rural areas there are limited food sources available during the winter months, so it is impractical for rats to mate during these months. However, over recent decades, a growing number of rats are actually giving birth throughout the year because food sources are also present throughout the year, so whatever time of the year you discover rats in the attic, you may find there are babies there too.
How Often Will Rats Give Birth?
Because of how quickly rats can go from mating to giving birth to a litter of baby rats, a female rat can often be back and ready to mate again within a few weeks from giving birth. This means that in some cases female rats can give birth to up to ten litters a year, so the population of rats from one breeding female can increase very quickly. It is also worth noting that a baby female will actually become sexually mature herself after around six weeks from birth, so the possibility for a rat population to expand very quickly where there is sufficient food is certainly there.
Dealing With Rats In The Attic
When it comes to dealing with a rat infestation, the first step is to identify where in the attic the rats are active, and while taking the appropriate precautions, look for areas where there is a buildup of rat droppings. You should then place several rat traps in these areas of the attic, along with a small amount of food as bait, and the next step is simply to watch and wait. You should remove any rat carcasses as they are caught in your traps, and then re-lay the trap with a new serving of bait, and you should then continue this process until you no longer see any signs of fresh rat activity, and when you are no longer catching any more rats. You will then need to carry out the appropriate repairs.
What To Do With A Nest Of Baby Rats
In some cases you may actually find a nest of baby rats in the attic, and if they are very young they will often be unable to look after themselves, and will ultimately die if they have to live without the support and feeding from their mother. Because of how common they are, baby rats are rarely suitable to be looked after by a wildlife rehabilitator, so in this case the most humane thing that you can do will be to kill those baby rats as humanely as possible.
