Fairfax County, Fairfax County Rat Control Situation:
Hi David, Came across your web page and thought i would ask you some rat advice. We bought our home 2 years ago and we renovated for 2 months, so no one lived here for those two months. When we moved in, maybe about a week into living here, our bedroom bathroom had a rat in the toilet. I was in there cleaning, heard water splashes in the toilet and bam a rat, after about 30 flushes it went back down and we never saw a rat around again. Today, I'm walking down my hallway, I hear splash in the hallway bathroom toilet and there I see the rat peaking its head out. I close the lid and again I flushed it about 20 times. Currently waiting for the boyfriend to get home from work to handle the rest. What is your advice? We have a 3 year old daughter who constantly is using the restroom on her own, and it makes me sad that I now feel like I have to a toilet check before we let her use it. Do we have a rat problem? Plumping problem? Thank you for your time and any advice.
Hi David, I live in Fairfax County VA. When my husband was alive we seemed to be able to control the rats (for periods of time) in our non-insulated crawl space in our ceiling. We used the rat zappers and would kill 4 or 5 in about a weeks time and have months with no scampering in and out. Now, they are back and just aren't going for the zapper (bait remains untouched). So, I read your website and will try to find trails and buy some snap traps. It is difficult crawling up there as the ceiling tiles are not that strong and I would have to remain on the beams or fall through. Before we would be able to lure and catch them close to the ceiling hatch access. No such luck now. I hear them scamper in on the living room ceiling, be quiet all day and scamper out same way coming from the opposite side of the house. In other words, they seems to run the length of the house. My husband used to try and find outside access but had no luck. I am 68 years old and some what hesitant on the ladder. I could not find wildlife removal agencies on this Island except through regular Wildlife Control type agencies and I'm not sure how knowledgeable they are. So, maybe you have some ideas or will happen to be vacationing in the area soon. Ha, ha. There are tons of macadamia nut orchards and avocado trees on this street, so, rat heaven. I would appreciate any suggestions you may have,
Hi, thanks for your helpful info on your website. Do you know how to detect where the rat urine is? Or should I spray everywhere?
Fairfax County Rat Control Tip of The Week
What Diseases Are Caused By Rat Urine?
Rats are undoubtedly one of the animals that transmit the greatest number of diseases worldwide. These rodents are a very unpleasant species for humans, not only because they spend a lot of time in the garbage, but also because of the risk they pose to humans.
How Can You Get Infected Through A Rat's Urine?
Unfortunately, there are many ways a person can get a disease, virus, or infection from a rodent. From the moment a rat enters your property, you are exposed to a number of dangers that can seriously affect your health.
It is possible to become infected through direct contact with an object or food contaminated with rat urine. Rats often leave a trail of urine so that other rats can follow it to the best food source. This is why there could be rat urine on your food or even in the water.
Another way to get infected is to inhale dust contaminated with rat urine. The most frequent way to get infected by rat urine is through a fresh wound; the infection will have better access to your body.
Hantavirus
It is considered to be a viral disease that seriously affects the body; it can cause hemorrhagic fever and affect the lungs. The disease is found in rodents of all types and is mainly transmitted through their urine. Some symptoms of the disease are:- Fever
- Muscular aches and chills
- Dizziness
- Gastrointestinal problems
Leptospirosis
This infection may be better known as Weil's disease. It is considered to be a risky illness because if it is not treated in time it could be fatal. It is transmitted to humans through the urine of a carrier animal, including rats. This infection has all the symptoms of a normal infection, such as fever, dizziness, and body pain, except this infection can affect multiple important organs.
