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 Won't The City Or County Animal Services Help Me With A Rat Infestation?
If you discover rats frequently in and around your home or see a lot of rat droppings, you may have a rat infestation. This clearly is awful news and for various reasons. Not only can rats bite on wires, wood, and even though dividers, causing immense damage to your home or business, but they also carry diseases. Despite general thinking, rats are not clean - they are perfect when kept as pets, however out in the wild, they can and will spread illnesses. What are your options with regards to a detected rat issue? Would it be advisable for you to contact the nearby animal control, deal with it yourself, or recruit an expert wildlife control service?
Will the city or county animal services help? The short answer is no. They are only liable for public spots. If your concern is with the surrounding area around your home, similar to a recreation center or abandoned public spaces that have become swarmed by rats, you may have a shot at getting them to help you out. However, if we're discussing your own property, which is private property that belongs to you, the local authorities have no business interfering. What's more, if they will, it is to advise you to deal with the infestation as it can spread, and depending on where you live, there may be local laws that can target you and force you to do something about it.
