Lee County, Fort Myers Rat Control Situation:
We have a call in to Wildlife Control here in Fort Myers and am awaiting their call back (I guess that is you?) In the meantime, I hope you can offer us some tips on what we can do while we wait. Our garage (and attic) is a mess and I am sure it has attracted the mice. In fact, the garage is the first place we noticed the mice. But, in the last week and a half, we have noticed the noises in our ceiling (or the floor to our second story)...apparently, there is a hole from that space into our pantry, because they have helped themselves nightly to our pantry. Upon closer inspection of the garage, we noticed someone left a gapping hole in our dry wall behind the heater (about 10 x 12). In addition, they did not seal where the pipes go up into attic very well. We just had an addition placed on our home last year so my husband is going to talk with the builder to see if he will seal these holes, otherwise, I am hoping this is a service that is available from animal control in Cape Coral. I did try to set up a trap without success....they ate the bait, but it didn't snap. While we wait for the animal control, can we try to block off where we believe the mice are coming into the pantry? I really would like to put an end to that right away. We were going to get wood and cover the openings as well as seal any smaller holes we can reach with the expanding foam. I was going to get some peppermint oil and put all over pantry...i'd much rather smell peppermint than know mice are running around in there! Then, I want to sanitize the pantry and get rid of any food they came in contact with. I don't want to jeopardize or complicate the process of eliminating our infestation, but would REALLY like them out of my house! I would appreciate your assistance, Thank you, Dina
Fort Myers Rat Control Tip of The Week
Why Won't The City Or County Animal Services Help Me With A Rat Infestation?
If you discover rats frequently in and around your home or see a lot of rat droppings, you may have a rat infestation. This clearly is awful news and for various reasons. Not only can rats bite on wires, wood, and even though dividers, causing immense damage to your home or business, but they also carry diseases. Despite general thinking, rats are not clean - they are perfect when kept as pets, however out in the wild, they can and will spread illnesses. What are your options with regards to a detected rat issue? Would it be advisable for you to contact the nearby animal control, deal with it yourself, or recruit an expert wildlife control service?
Will the city or county animal services help? The short answer is no. They are only liable for public spots. If your concern is with the surrounding area around your home, similar to a recreation center or abandoned public spaces that have become swarmed by rats, you may have a shot at getting them to help you out. However, if we're discussing your own property, which is private property that belongs to you, the local authorities have no business interfering. What's more, if they will, it is to advise you to deal with the infestation as it can spread, and depending on where you live, there may be local laws that can target you and force you to do something about it.