Hinds County, Jackson Rat Control Situation:
Had a rat tear off the insulation glued to the underside of my hood. He stuffed it in the heater box and other not so convenient places. Fortunately he didn't chew on a wiring harness, but it still cost me $600 in repairs. Are there any deterrents that will keep them away from the engine compartment?
I wonder if you could help please. I have some sort of critter living in my outside shed (also heard noises in the attic & cavity wall) I have put out trays of poison (one of which has been eaten) however the remaining tray now keeps being covered up with things lying about in the shed (ie, 3" plastic toy, paint scrapers etc & it's a locked shed, so it's not a human !!)) Have you any idea what could be doing this as we also cannot find any evidence of rats/mice (droppings etc) Any help or assistance you could offer would be greatly appreciated.
Jackson Rat Control Tip of The Week
Are Mice or Rats Easier to Trap?
Intelligence:
Mice can often be much easier to trap because they are naturally curious creatures. It often takes just one or two days to capture a mouse after setting up a mousetrap. If you're having difficulty trapping a mouse you could consider moving it to a different location. Rats can be extremely intelligent and they communicate with each other meaning that any new objects will often bring about suspicion.
Reproduction:
Rats often reproduce at a much faster rate and this can make it difficult to control a rat problem if it's been going on for a long time. Most mice have around eight litters per year with around 5 to 6 pups in each litter. Rats can have between 6 to 12 pups in their litter.
Diet:
Rats can often be ravenous eaters and often require meat or a more substantial food source in order to remain satisfied. This can often make rats very difficult to trap because they can be so fussy about their food.
Size:
Rats have a definite size advantage over mice and this often means using much larger traps and some extra measures when it comes to keeping them in a trap. Because of the extra costs of these larger traps and the need to be more careful with where you set them, the requirements to trap a rat can be considerably higher than what it takes to trap the average mouse. Most rats can reach a length of between 7-10 inches and weigh up to a pound whereas the typical house mouse maxes out around 8 inches including its tail.
Tracking:
It's often easier to track rats because they leave larger footprints and they can cause a bit more destruction with their added size and strength. This can make finding rats throughout your home a bit easier.
