Montgomery County, Dayton Rat Control Situation:
Thanks for your excellent web page -- But here's the problem we are having: some sort of squirrelish-looking, rat-tailed tree rat variety has already taken over our attic en masse. I have no idea how they are getting in. They first appeared when we were removing large, dangerous trees from our yard. One attraction may have been the bird seed in our storage room, which they chewed open the bags and made a feast of it all around. They pitter-patter all night, literally re-arranging the attic and storage room -- and sounding as if they are trying to claw through the ceiling. The number of them is truly terrifying when I enter the storage room. They haven't gotten into our house yet -- they seem content with the remnants of seeds thus far. How do we get rid of them?
David, I found your page while searching for how to get rid of rats in the walls. We hear them crawling around the ceiling and walls. We have seen them in our garage which is honestly full of junk. Last night, I went out there and saw one for the first time and it ran over all kinds of stuff and disappeared into a small hole in the wall. I put an electric rat trap by the opening. I have gone to the attics and see a few droppings in one but nothing like I saw in the garage. I have no idea how to get these bastards out of my walls and ceilings. I have tried putting my cat out in the garage but he hasn't caught one yet. Any help you can offer is appreciated.
Hello David, I just bought a house and the second night I was sleeping, heard attic noises and am sure it was a rat or mice, scratching. I got so shook up I couldn't sleep all night. Is there someone you could recommend to help me? I live in Dayton OH. Thank you!
Hi David! Iam going crazy with this! I have something chewing and spitting out little bites from my mats I have in my basement. I have a daycare down there, I have an exterminator for mice and water bugs once a month. But there is gnawing at my mats! With no droppings. I know during the course of chewing there should be droppings. And there is quiet a few sections if knawing. I was wondering what it could be?? Please help me! Thank you!!!
Dayton 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.
