Polk County, Lakeland Rat Control Situation:
I'm having trouble with a rat(s?) that is constantly chewing through the wires under my hood. The car is parked outside. After the last two times, my mechanic sprayed some red stuff over everything and that has provided me with some temporary relief. I have some traps w/ poison set around now, but I still need to protect my car in the meantime. What can I do? What is the "hot spray" that you refer to on your website? I will be moving and I've been told by the homeowner of the new home that he has seen rats in the garage... I also found mouse traps under the sink... We will be replacing the carpet before moving and at that time we will try to seal any holes. He said they were kangaroo or desert rats... I'm terrified as I have a phobia about this, I need advice on how to permanently get rid of any rodents in my new home. I've used moth balls and sonar devices, I've never seen rodents were I live, we also put poison in between the walls. Is this okay? Please help!
David, My son-in-law and daughter has for the last month trying to catch a rat in their attic. This is a very smart rat, we do not want to poison the rat for we do not want it to die in the attic. We are at whits end trying to catch this rat. We have tried glue trap, electronic trap, bucket of water trap, home defense trap, wooden mouse and rat trap. He is so smart he knows how to side step all the traps.Some one has seen the rat, it is a small size rat, He roams through the garage and attic. and he chews on card boxes and eats whatever food he finds.We wonder if you can help us catch this rat, with your expertise. He or she is a nuisance and we may have more rats, if it is a she. We sincerely thank you if you can help us or try to help us. Gratefully yours, May
Lakeland Rat Control Tip of The Week
Norway Rat Biology
The Norway rat is typically nocturnal. It is a good swimmer; however, unlike the related black rat, it is a poor climber. Norway rats burrow well, and regularly uncover broad tunnel systems.
Rats are equipped for creating ultrasonic vocalizations, both as grown-ups and babies. They may likewise transmit short, high frequency, socially-prompted vocalization during interaction with different rats or animals. This call most takes after a trilling sound but is undetectable to human ears. Rats can discernibly be heard through calls sounding like squeaks when they are in trouble.
These rats are omnivores. This implies they can eat both plants and animals. As predators, rats are opportunistic.
The Norway rat can breed consistently if the conditions are reasonable, and a female can deliver up to twelve litters in a year. The gestation period is just 21 days, and litters can number up to fourteen, albeit smaller litters are common. In this way, the rat population can increase rapidly. Rats have a lifespan of around three years, yet regularly live less than one year.
Norway rats live in enormous hierarchical groups, either in tunnels or subsurface places, such as sewers and basements. When food is hard to come by, the rats lower in the social order are the first to die. If a large portion of a rat populace is eliminated from a zone, the rest will expand their reproductive rate, and rapidly reestablish the old populace level. This makes it imperative to have a plan to get rid of the entire rat population on your property if an infestation occurs.