Guilford County, Greensboro Rat Control Situation:
I am having a problem with Nordic Rats in my chicken coop. Over the last year, I have caught 7 skunks (live trap), 1 possum (live trap), 10 rats (1 in live trap, and 9 in rat traps), 4 robins and one chicken (my own dumb animal). The rats are getting into the coop and eating the chicken food. So at night I cover the food box and turn on the night camera. A photo of last nights problem and a previous one are attached. I have many photos of them, even sequential ones of them digging a tunnel into the coop. What you see in the photo are two sticky pads (total 11" wide) with him (12" body) in front of the hole he made into the chicken coop at the corner. I have put gopher gassers in the holes twice, but unsure how successful I have been. They have dug tunnels all around and under the completely wired coop. They even have chewed through the wire. I have concreted in many of the tunnels, but they dig around them. I set 9 rat traps at night, with apple and peanut butter. Usually they ignore them for the first night or two, then they all get set off, sometimes I get lucky and get one, but usually, they are just sprung. The apple is tied on and the peanut butter is under the flapper. I am almost at my wits end on how to eliminate them. I have tried one exterminator and told him to pack it up after a month of absolutely nothing. They filled his traps with soil from their excavation. They have even filled my live trap with soil during their excavation. So I am looking for someone that is ready to meet the challenge and help me solve the problem.
Greensboro Rat Control Tip of The Week
What To Do With A Rat After It Is Caught
After successfully catching a rat, people are often faced with the issue of what to do next. There is more to removing rats in your home than just catching it. If you have caught a rat in your home, there are certain things you will have to consider before going ahead with any activity.
The first thing you will have to consider if you caught a live rat is whether to relocate the rat to somewhere far away from your home or kill it. Secondly, you will have to figure out the best way to handle the rat without having any close contact with it, so as not to put your health at risk. Lastly, you will have to make plans on how to thoroughly disinfect your home.
If you are sensitive to animals, the best way to handle this situation is to choose the humane way by relocating the rat somewhere far away from your home after catching it. But at the same time, you need to understand the fact that the rat might not survive in the new environment you intend to introduce it to. Rats are habitual and are usually accustomed to living in the environment they grow up in. When you relocate any rat you caught, it will find it difficult to feed in the new environment. In most cases, these rats don't usually survive more than a few days.
On the other hand, if you have decided to kill the rat after trapping it, it is best to kill it fast and quickly. The best way to do this is to use either a blunt object that is firm and heavy or use a fire weapon.
While doing all of these, you need to protect yourself as much as you can to avoid getting in contact with diseases and pathogens. To do this, wear a pair of gloves while handling the rat and dispose of them immediately after use.