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
How Do I Inspect My Home For Rat Entry Holes?
Rats can be tough to manage when they get access to a property. Their population will increase quickly and they will cause a great deal of harm to pretty much everything chewable insight. Truly, they lead to a major issue for homeowners, yet their activities can be controlled and they can be removed if managed properly.
It is of the most extreme significance while dealing with a rat infestation to identify their entry points and block them. Otherwise, they will return every time you try and expel them. Investigating a house for rat passage openings can be cumbersome as the list of spots to check is seemingly endless, especially when the house is big.
Attics, space vents, dividers, kitchens, cupboards, soffit vents, pipes, roofs, rooftop vents, etc. are some of the spots to assess. The following will help you in doing an exhaustive investigation of your home.
1. Have Fundamental Information On Rat Science
Information on their nature, habitat, appearance, diets, and behavior will help you figure out where their entry points are likely going to be in your home.
2. Information On The Architectural Plan Of The House
This also is significant. Finding out about the house's plan would help identify those shrouded spots where openings may exist in parts of the house, and these gaps might serve as rats' openings.
Having watched every one of these, property holders must check everywhere, including foundations, vents, rooftops, soffits, and so on. Anyplace there is a gap, regardless of how little it is, is a potential entry point. It may surprise you that rats can enter through holes as small as a quarter of an inch.
