Tarrant County, Fort Worth Rat Control Situation:
I have been caring for a rat since 2004 when she was displaced as an infant during hurricane here in Texas. I actually had two but had the other released. I kept the this one due to her having neurological brain damage from falling out of her nest as a baby and she was also blind so she could not care for herself. I recently had to leave town, let my neighbor care for her. I was gone for a week.
On my way back I stopped and bought her a new toy to play with and a new water bottle because hers was getting kinda green and I couldn't clean it all out. Anyway I got back on a Sunday night and found that she was not moving. The lady said she had been acting like that for a couple of days. I picked her up she was almost dead. She could not stand up she just lay there with a little movement not much. I tried to give her water she drank a tiny bit but no more. I later tried to soak her monkey biscuits in water to feed some to her with water mixed in a syringe, again she took a tiny bit and that's all. About an hour later I juiced an apple and mashed a banana she likes apples and bananas and I thought something sweet would help her she had a little that's all. It was awful she was just lying there in my hand cold and limp could barely keep her eyes open. I live in B.F.E with nothing around so I had to wait it out till the next day to get her to a vet. I put her in my room in a small box with heat because she felt cool. I'm not dumb I knew she wasn't going to be ok and she never made it through the night.
The next day I checked her cage for anything to explaine what might have happened, she had water, her cage was still pretty clean from when I cleaned and changed everything which I thought was odd. there was very little evidence of food from the week except her untouched food that was probably given to her that day or the day before. Did this lady starve her to death, was it the water, a spider bite I wish I knew. I miss her and feel terrible for her. I just wish I new what had happened. I had been told that she may not live that long due to her problems but I just don't think that's what killed her. What is your opinion please some input.
Hi David, I am in a bad rat place in Fort Worth, Texas- it's so bad we now have maggots in our house L. Myhusband has used your website for a reference for a couple of years, but wejust don't have the time or expertise to really fix our ratproblem. We really need a reputable company that will be able to find thepoint of entry into our house (now), and I would like to verify with you (theauthority) that Tru Tech is the company to use. Thanks in advance, Kindra
Fort Worth Rat Control Tip of The Week
Dealing With A Rat Infestation In Your Attic
Black Rats are small rodents that are common in almost all areas across the United States, and because of their smaller size they are considered to be less of a threat and a pest than Norway rats, their larger cousins. However, rats also carry a range of different diseases and can also pose a health risk to you and your family, so if you do find an infestation, it is worth dealing with is promptly. Rats are also good climbers, so finding them nesting in your attic is not uncommon.
Identifying That You Are Dealing With Rats Rather Than Other Pest Animal Species
The first step to dealing with an infestation is to ensure you are dealing with rats, as the sounds of scratching from the attic can sometimes be other animals such as rats, squirrels or even raccoons. The best way of identifying that it is rats you are dealing with is to check on any rat feces that you can find. These small pellets of poop should be significantly smaller than rat droppings, and will be around the size of a small grain of rice, and is black when fresh, turning brown and then grey after some time.
Precautions Before Carrying Out Rat Control Work
Going into a confined space where pest animals are present can be dangerous as there are often diseases that can be transmitted by rats. Wearing long sleeved clothing and gloves will help protect you from any nips from animals and also prevent direct contact with feces of urine. Another smart precaution is also to wear goggles and a breathing mask, as some diseases transmitted by rats can become airborne, and can then prove to be a dangerous problem if those airborne particles are then inhaled.
Laying Traps To Catch Rats
By far the most common and affordable way of dealing with a rat infestation in the attic is to lay traps to catch the little animals. The standard snap traps on a wooden base are cheap to buy and just as effective as more expensive options, and can be re-used, which is particularly useful if you have a larger rat infestation to deal with. When laying traps in the attic, make sure to lay them near the areas where you see the greatest buildup of rat feces, and also near any entry points they may be using to get in and out.
Removing Carcasses And Monitoring The Rat Problem
Once you have laid the traps, the next step is to monitor all of the traps over the next few days, to see how effective the traps are at dealing with the problem. With any rat carcass, you can simply bag it and place it in the garbage, or it can also be incinerated as well if you have the facility. Keep re-setting the traps and continue to monitor until you are no longer seeing any signs of rat activity and you are no longer catching any rats in your traps.
Repairs Required After A Rat Infestation
The key step to take after catching and dealing with all of the rats is to seal the attic, as they will often have several entry points to help them get in and out of the area. These should all be sealed using metal flashing or a suitable filler to prevent other rats from being able to get back into the area again. You should also try to remove any feces that you can, and if insulation is heavily soiled then that should also be replaced. One wise precaution is also to fumigate the attic after your repairs, to kill off any remaining bacteria or other particles that could be harmful to anyone going into the attic in the future.
