Montgomery County, Clarksville Rat Control Situation:
Thought I had a red squirrel in my 6 inch cottage attic space as I caught one before in a live trap on the roof. Never heard noise after that for a while. Now the noise is back. However I just read that red squirrels aren't nocturnal, is that true? It stirs in the night and sets my dog to barking.... but usually around 4:00 am though. Tonight about 2:00am I heard something in the kitchen and now there are feces on my kitchen counter and on the toaster over. They are black and look just like mouse droppings only very large. Do you think it may be a red squirrel or a rat? There are lots of red squirrels and mice in this remote area but I have never seen a rat.
I've been reading your site and really appreciate the info. If I don't have the stomach to handle this, or I don't trust my husband to do a thorough job, what should I expect to pay an exterminator? I live in Clarksville TN. The vermin are in a place in think is probably very difficult for humans to access.
I was reading your very informative article, and I'm having a problem locating the access panel for my new double wide mobile home. Which is really a pre-fab home with regular 6 inch walls. Is it possible that the crawl,space is accessible through the roof? I have looked very closely in both rooms, and closets. No luck. I've had a professional trapper come to my condo last week to set traps in the ceilings of my kitchen and 2nd floor bathroom. He sealed up any entry points outside. So far I've only caught one rat but I think I still hear scratchings at night. I haven't caught any for a whole week now. what should I do?
We recently started noting rat dropping in our house.. we live in a townhouse and most of the droppings were on stairs leading to first floor.. we immediately called pet control and they kept bait in the kitchen , 1st floor and attic..however rat is still coming in.. we are unable to locate the entry point and since sealed 2 places.. sides of dish washer and kitchen exhaust(lamp cover is open) ... we still see it coming.. place we live in is newly built townhouse.. 4 yrs old.. i cannot find a place in the ground floor as point of entry.
Clarksville Rat Control Tip of The Week
Norway Rat Biology
The Norway rat is typically nocturnal. It is a good swimmer; however, unlike the related black rat, it is a poor climber. Norway rats burrow well, and regularly uncover broad tunnel systems.
Rats are equipped for creating ultrasonic vocalizations, both as grown-ups and babies. They may likewise transmit short, high frequency, socially-prompted vocalization during interaction with different rats or animals. This call most takes after a trilling sound but is undetectable to human ears. Rats can discernibly be heard through calls sounding like squeaks when they are in trouble.
These rats are omnivores. This implies they can eat both plants and animals. As predators, rats are opportunistic.
The Norway rat can breed consistently if the conditions are reasonable, and a female can deliver up to twelve litters in a year. The gestation period is just 21 days, and litters can number up to fourteen, albeit smaller litters are common. In this way, the rat population can increase rapidly. Rats have a lifespan of around three years, yet regularly live less than one year.
Norway rats live in enormous hierarchical groups, either in tunnels or subsurface places, such as sewers and basements. When food is hard to come by, the rats lower in the social order are the first to die. If a large portion of a rat populace is eliminated from a zone, the rest will expand their reproductive rate, and rapidly reestablish the old populace level. This makes it imperative to have a plan to get rid of the entire rat population on your property if an infestation occurs.
