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
Dealing With A Rat Infestation In Your Attic
Black Rats are small rodents that are common in almost all areas across the United States, and because of their smaller size they are considered to be less of a threat and a pest than Norway rats, their larger cousins. However, rats also carry a range of different diseases and can also pose a health risk to you and your family, so if you do find an infestation, it is worth dealing with is promptly. Rats are also good climbers, so finding them nesting in your attic is not uncommon.
Identifying That You Are Dealing With Rats Rather Than Other Pest Animal Species
The first step to dealing with an infestation is to ensure you are dealing with rats, as the sounds of scratching from the attic can sometimes be other animals such as rats, squirrels or even raccoons. The best way of identifying that it is rats you are dealing with is to check on any rat feces that you can find. These small pellets of poop should be significantly smaller than rat droppings, and will be around the size of a small grain of rice, and is black when fresh, turning brown and then grey after some time.
Precautions Before Carrying Out Rat Control Work
Going into a confined space where pest animals are present can be dangerous as there are often diseases that can be transmitted by rats. Wearing long sleeved clothing and gloves will help protect you from any nips from animals and also prevent direct contact with feces of urine. Another smart precaution is also to wear goggles and a breathing mask, as some diseases transmitted by rats can become airborne, and can then prove to be a dangerous problem if those airborne particles are then inhaled.
Laying Traps To Catch Rats
By far the most common and affordable way of dealing with a rat infestation in the attic is to lay traps to catch the little animals. The standard snap traps on a wooden base are cheap to buy and just as effective as more expensive options, and can be re-used, which is particularly useful if you have a larger rat infestation to deal with. When laying traps in the attic, make sure to lay them near the areas where you see the greatest buildup of rat feces, and also near any entry points they may be using to get in and out.
Removing Carcasses And Monitoring The Rat Problem
Once you have laid the traps, the next step is to monitor all of the traps over the next few days, to see how effective the traps are at dealing with the problem. With any rat carcass, you can simply bag it and place it in the garbage, or it can also be incinerated as well if you have the facility. Keep re-setting the traps and continue to monitor until you are no longer seeing any signs of rat activity and you are no longer catching any rats in your traps.
Repairs Required After A Rat Infestation
The key step to take after catching and dealing with all of the rats is to seal the attic, as they will often have several entry points to help them get in and out of the area. These should all be sealed using metal flashing or a suitable filler to prevent other rats from being able to get back into the area again. You should also try to remove any feces that you can, and if insulation is heavily soiled then that should also be replaced. One wise precaution is also to fumigate the attic after your repairs, to kill off any remaining bacteria or other particles that could be harmful to anyone going into the attic in the future.
