Harris County, Houston Rat Control Situation:
Dear Pest Control Agency, My name is Juan and I am working on my doctoral dissertation in Biology at Rice University, Houston, Texas. I have an undergraduate researcher who helps me with my research, and we both work in the laboratory of Prof. Michael. We have studied rats and mice in Europe, and we use the information to study a number of questions, including how rodent populations are connected between continents or within countries. One part of our work deals with the question of whether rats and mice in the US have developed resistance to rodent poisons, about which little is known. Our hope is that during pest control you will be able to obtain the tail tips (about 1 inch) of rats and mice that can be found at rodent infested sites. These could be collected from dead animals, and of course, we would send you everything you would need (scissors, tubes, gloves, prepaid shipping, etc.). If you decide to help us in our research, we would like to offer you a Domino's giftcard as a thank you for your efforts! We have received a large amount of support from a few pest control agencies so far. It would be wonderful if you would also consider helping us! Attached is a simple spreadsheet where a few details on the sampling are described. We do not need any specific information regarding locations where sampling was done, and no names of owners or of employees, etc. are needed. However, if you would like we would be more than happy to promote your company name in our research paper! Please feel free to contact us by email or phone if you have any other questions or concerns. Thank you so much for your consideration, and I hope to hear from you soon! Sincerely, Juan
Houston Rat Control Tip of The Week
Rat Damage In The Attic
Having rats in your attic is substantially more than only an irritation. These rodents can cause a lot of harm, mainly because they are generally social animals that live in groups. There is a chance of the rats in your attic putting your family in danger of getting a disease, and these animals will likewise cause physical damage to your attic.
Leaving Feces
The essential harm that rats will cause in an attic is leaving their waste products behind, especially excrement. Depending on the number of rats in the attic and how long they were there, there can be a significant measure of these waste products, requiring serious clean-up. In some cases, the urine may even drench into planks of flooring or other wood structures and compromise their integrity. At the very least, the urine and excrement will debase your attic, spreading illness and causing a foul smell. If you don't deal with this smell, it might attract more wildlife to the attic.
Chewing Wires, Pipes, Insulation, And More
Like mice, rats will bite on almost anything you have in your attic, regardless of whether it is a wire, funnel, or something else. Rats are famous for their gnawing behavior and will bite on anything in your attic. In the case of chewed wires, this can result in a serious fire hazard, especially if you don't know that the wire has been compromised. Rats may likewise damage your pipes and insulation from chewing. Without the insulation fit as a fiddle, your home won't manage temperature as effectively, making you spend more cash to run your cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. If you have anything stored in your attic, for example, books or old furnishings, you can expect these also to be damaged by rats. They will likely be chewed and may even end up covered in waste products.
