Hamilton County, Cincinnati Rat Control Situation:
Thanks for your helpful information on your website. In our situation, we have some sort of rodent(s) between the ceiling of the first floor of the house and the floorboards of the upstairs. At night, we definitely hear scurrying above us when we're in bed on the first floor. Because that space is not connected to the attic, nor is it a drop ceiling, it's impossible for us to access without cutting holes in our ceiling. We have tried to do a very thorough check around the exterior of the home, but we're not sure where they might be coming in. Thus, we have no idea where to set traps. Every time I call out our Terminix guy, he just puts out a little rat bait in a few random areas around the exterior of the house (we don't have pets or small children) and says we'll hope for the best. So far, no luck, as we still hear them almost nightly. We have absolutely no signs of rodents on the interior of the house, such as in the kitchen, so we're assuming that they must be traveling through the wall space and outside to get food. Is that a reasonable assumption? We have also checked the attic (which is above the second floor) and there's no sign of them there. Do you have any suggestions for what type of service we might be able to call who could actually help us with this problem since Terminix doesn't seem to have any answers? Thanks so much for any help you may be able to give us.
Hi David, I have a rat in my apartment!! I liv e in Cincinnati OH. I noticed the rat early last Sunday morning after Ieft a pizza box on the floor. I heard the rat trying to get in the box. First, I tried glue boards, which failed. Then I tried 2 black cat brand snap traps & the rat just ate the bait w/o tripping the trap. I am now using the Victor wooden rat trap w/ the yellow, plastic plate where the bait goes. The rat keeps licking the peanut butter off w/o tripping the trap. An exterminator came & reset the traps, but still nothing. Maintenance came & put steel wool in the two holes they found. This rat is smart & keeps eating the bait w/o tripping the trap. The exterminator said it's definitely a rat b/c of the droppings he saw, which were only by the sliding glass door to the patio. There are no signs of the rat any where else. I'm running out of patience! I'm terrified to say the least & I haven't had a restful sleep in more than 7 days. Please help! Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Cincinnati Rat Control Tip of The Week
Do Rats Pose A Threat To Dogs, Cats, Or Other Pets?
Toxoplasmosis:
There is a parasite that mice and rats can become infected with that causes health conditions in dogs and cats. Toxoplasmosis can cause diarrhea and severe flu in many dogs and it can also change digestive tract functions in cats. This will often be presented as an early infection that leads to a severe flu that can make it difficult for your pet to enjoy a good quality of life. This sickness can also be spread to humans just as easily as it could be spread along to animals.
Roundworms:
Rats often carry roundworms that can be passed on to other animals in your home. There's a variety of medications that can be delivered to treat infections like roundworms. This can also be passed along to humans and if you're experiencing ongoing headaches, digestive issues, fever, or rashes it could be possible that you have been infected.
They Multiply Quickly:
The threat that rats can pose multiplies quickly because they can have an average of 84 babies throughout the course of the year. Working to manage a rat problem can be crucial in the earliest stages before it becomes worse. Without ongoing management of your rat problem, you may end up in a situation where it becomes more difficult to handle the population you are faced with.
Anxiety:
Rats may also cause anxiety in many of your pets. Hearing the ongoing noises in the walls, knowing that they're rather close by and even feeling threatened by rats can be problematic especially for the family pet. Rather than having the ongoing stress that rats can pose for your dog or cat, it may be wise to consider the option of getting a professional exterminator to manage the rat population in your home.