Denver County, Denver Rat Control Situation:
Wanted to first thank you for the information on your site. A couple of days ago we started to house sit for someone for a couple of weeks. We noticed some evidence of mice the first night we were here and set some traps. Within 15 minutes we caught a mouse behind the stove. We hoped that was the end of it but had our doubts. Sure enough the next morning we heard some running around below the floor boards of the attic which we were sleeping in. We had eight traps set throughout the house but for a couple of days there was no signs or catchings other than a little pitter patter in the morning under the floor boards in the attic. Well just tonight we came back from a day long excursion and sure enough we had another mouse in the trap. We had our concerns though that we may have killed the parents to an unknown number of little mice. Sure enough a few hours later we are hearing little squeeks coming from beneath the floor of the attic. We are not sure how young these little kid mice are but we are curious about what your experiences is in the responses little mice would have when their parents no longer are available to them. We figure the younger they are the more dependent they are on their parents for survival, but what does that mean? We suppose if they are very young they won't survive very long and it may be difficult to get to them before or after their demise. If they are older though, hunger may overcome them and they will start to work their way out of the safe envirenment they have been accostomed to. How long could this process take and even if they do come out would they be up to feasting on the traps? Looking forward to your response Thanks
My response: Jeez, I have no clue. There are probably several adults. The young may starve then die. They'll be so small that they won't cause an odor. You need to seal your house shut to stop the mouse problem entirely.
Denver Rat Control Tip of The Week
Reasons Why Rats Die Inside Attics And Houses
They Get Thirsty:
Rats often get thirsty when they have ingested any type of poison or when they cannot find their way out of a house. When rats go in search of water, they go towards an area where they will be closest to the outside world. When they have difficulty getting out of the home, they may find themselves in the attic close by their water source that they desperately need but unable to access a way out of the home.
They Get Poisoned On The Way Back To The Nest:
Rats will often travel throughout the home after they've been poisoned. Because poison often takes a bit of time to take effect, a rat might make its way up to the attic to stay warm and then die on its way back from the attic.
They Bleed Out:
Rats that have been affected by spring traps and other means for capturing may bleed out if they sustained serious injuries. This can happen quite quickly especially if the rat has made its way up to the attic to try and escape. This often becomes the final resting space for rats and this can eventually lead to foul odors.
They Get Stuck In Glue Traps:
Glue traps can be another cause for a rat to get stuck in an attic area. When a rat gets stuck in a glue trap it's possible that it will simply die in the area which can lead to people finding the rat or the rat causing a series of issues with smells and rotting. Glue traps are commonly placed in attics because this can be an easy place as it is out of sight for pets, toddlers, and home/business owners.
