Marion County, Indianapolis Rat Control Situation:
Hello David, I have been reading the information that you have on line about squirrels in the attic. We have something in our attic and cannot figure out what it is, nor have we been able to trap it, nor has it been caught in a rat trap. I hear this creature or creatures ??? during the day, as well as at night. There does not seem to be a particular favorite time that they move around. Perhaps the morning is very quiet, and there is more activity in the afternoon and evening. My bedroom is quite a distance from the area that we hear this creature in, so I would not hear it at night even if it is moving around a lot at night.
I mostly have heard scratching in the walls, and at one point did hear a big thud. The odd thing about this creature is this. We set a live trap with peanut butter in it, and what ever it is carried large pieces of insulation inside the trap to cover the peanut butter. Like really large- maybe a 6 X 6 inch piece. We feel the trap was not set properly because it did not shut. Next day we put meat in it, thinking it may be an animal that would want meat like an opossum. All this time our rat traps have remained in place but this creature DAILY overs all the traps with insulation....without getting caught. We have not seen anything enter or leave. We found one area that is gapping between he house and fascia but only maybe a 3" opening. We do know for sure that there is enter way at the garage floor. We will put foam insulation in those areas this weekend to hopefully stop rats or whatever it is up there from entering and will continue our trapping efforts. We live north of Indianapolis IN in the country on one acre. Our house is 7 years old; made of brick.
By my description, do you have any idea what we might be dealing with, and any suggestions on how to catch this creature? I appreciate all the info your web site; I just cant find anything that remotely sounds like what we have going on with this creature attempting to bury the traps with insulation. Many thanks for any advice. Jill
Why don't you have a wildlife expert inspect the house and attic in order to determine what the animal is? It could be raccoons or opossums, not necessarily rats. The feces and tracks in the attic, and the nature of the entry holes should tell you what animal you're dealing with.
Indianapolis Rat Control Tip of The Week
What To Do If A Rat Bites You
Recognize A Rat Bite:
They are usually a small and single puncture wound with the chance for a small number of cuts. They also bleed and can cause painful swelling. If the bite gets infected, you may also start to see the signs of pus.
Recognizing Rat-bite Fever:
Rat-bite fever can include joint pain, fever and chills, muscle pain, vomiting, headaches, and more. These can be common in people of many ages so if your children get bit or another family member is bit, you will need to recognize these signs as well.
Rat Bites And Treatment:
If you have received a rat bite, there's an easy treatment option such as washing the area with warm water and soap. Drying your area with a clean towel and using antibiotic ointment can be important as well. Then, cover the area with a clean bandage. Even if the bite you have seems minor, you will need to see a doctor as soon as you can to get a tetanus shot. A rat bite can give you an increased chance of developing tetanus.
Treatment Period:
You will need to treat the area for 7-10 days with antibiotics to make sure that you do not develop an infection. Taking an antibiotic for this amount of time will make sure that the infection will have a lesser chance to develop and cause you ongoing symptoms or issues.
If You Are Infected:
Go to a doctor and take a full course of antibiotics as prescribed. If you do not finish your medication, you could be putting yourself at risk and this can lead to ongoing problems even after you have received your first few rounds.
