Clark County, Las Vegas Rat Control Situation:
Hi David, I came across your informative site and was hoping you might be able to shed some advice on a situation. I have one single solitary mouse which I've had in my house for months! This thing will not go for any baited mouse trap, from a snap trap to a RatZapper. I've tried varieties of peanut butter for bait, bacon and anything else I found suggested online. This little SOB has eaten drywall and has gnawed clothes and so far I have been unsuccessful in capturing or killing the varmint. It won't eat the warfarin (blue) or the grain colored (beige) bait blocks. I've even tried the anti-freeze with no success. I really feel frosted and hate the idea of having to spend money on a professional to eliminate one lone mouse so I'm hoping you may be able to give me a suggestion I've overlooked. Thanks, Rob Lone mouse, huh? Have you tried sealing your house shut so that it can't get outside any more? Do that, and you'll have no problem catching it. House has been sealed for almost 5 months and checked AND CONFIRMED by two different contractors. I had even taken my house security camera system and set up the cameras in the house. One mouse and only one mouse. I guess it's something you can't help me with!
Las Vegas 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.