Nueces County, Corpus Christi Rat Control Situation:
I was wondering what enzme-based cleaner you use to fog for urine. We are in the throes of cleanup & I was wondering what you use. We have a lake cottage in Corpus Christi TX, had the pest-control folks out to seal the perimeter, but it wasn't a very good job. So, I'm back at it myself. With foam, hardware cloth, flashing, and mortar in my toolkit. For the interior, we removed the ceiling and insulation to exposed the rafters and disposed of all of the material. So far, I've used odo-ban as a disinfectant, but I want to get at the remnants with an enzyme-based cleaner. We usually use the stuff from the pet store, but I'm not sure if that's adequate for this effort. I then plan on sealing the stains with Zinsser's Perma-guard to seal any remnants in the wood. Thoughts?
Hi david my name is Christine and we have a rental property that has a mouse or rat problem. I removed a large screen tv and there was a ton of feces urine and a live mouse. I have a feeling there's more because it smells really bad. How can we sterilize the floors and other areas ourselves? If you have any suggestions please let me know. Thank you
David, I appreciate your web site very much. You look delighted at getting these crummy critters to die! I found a small critter hole when I was spraying for insects the other day. We have been so careful to seal up everything but they made a tiny space in an outside corner that goes under the house by the kitchen sink. I have put some de tour rodent repellent at the entrance and have set 4 traps outside in some landscape bait stations. The problem is that I feed the birds, I love the birds. So the feed is in a large locked deck box right where they have made their entrance to the foundation. They have not got into the box but have chewed on the outside. And we live in The Woodlands, Texas. Yes, woods everywhere and critters too. We have it all here hawks, owls, birds, coyotes, bobcats, deer. The question is this... Is this best handled by a pro or can I handle this myself if I just get active and stay consistent?
Corpus Christi 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.
