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
Why Does Homeowners Insurance Not Usually Pay For Damage Caused By Rats?
Unlike harm caused by other pests (for example termites), home damage caused by rats and mice are commonly not covered under the arrangements of a standard homeowner's insurance policy. This is because it is a preventable misfortune that could have been avoided, using appropriate pest maintenance.
That being the situation, it's ideal to stop the issue from really developing once you recognize any indications of rodent infestations:- A single rat sighting (generally implies there are more)
- Rat droppings
- Hearing scurrying through the dividers
- Chewed through food boxes
- Chewed up wires
- Rodent homes
- Dirty or oily rat tracks on the floor or dividers
Harm to your home or different structures from insects, rodents (for instance, rats, mice, squirrels, and chipmunks) or flying creatures, is normally not covered by a standard homeowner's policy (albeit a window broken by a fledgling might be an exception). Animal invasions and harm from animal waste or secretions are generally excluded from a homeowner's policy. Should an opossum (or some other animal) enter your home, homeowner's insurance policies won't pay for expulsion, cleanup, or fixes to any harm it causes or leaves behind.
Remember that the homeowner's insurance policy does not provide coverage for harm done to your property, brought about by pets or other domestic animals, such as a pig, cow, or chicken. If your dog bites his way through a door, your insurance agency, no doubt, won't cover the cost of replacement.
Not only is a rodent infestation an indisputable hazard to your health - the spread of disease, aggravation of allergy symptoms, etc. - but mice or rats can chew up your electrical wiring and cause house fires. While a home fire may, by chance, be one thing you are covered for as regards to a rodent invasion, you will need to get to the root of the issue before such a dangerous event occurs!
