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
New York City's Rat Problem
The Norway Rat:
The majority of rats in New York City are Norway rats, otherwise known as brown rats. Brown rats typically weigh 1 pound and they can grow up to 16 inches long. A brown rat needs just 1 ounce of food and water every day to survive.
Agile Creatures:
Brown rats are known for their ability to climb through pipes and get through small spaces. Even though some of the largest brown rats can be up to 20 inches long and weigh more than 2 pounds, it's easy for them to fit through a hole that's the size of a quarter. Rats have some serious superpowers and are capable of falling up to five stories without any injury and leaping up to 4 feet for climbing.
Going Through Any Material:
Rats also have extremely strong jaw muscles and quality teeth. There are rats in New York that are capable of chewing through cinderblocks and sewer pipes.
Where Rats Live:
Most rats will rarely travel more than 600 feet away from the area that they were born. Most rats like to nest and burrow in soft ground as well as below ground to live in colonies. A rat colony is usually between 30 to 50 rats and the number of rats in a burrow or family is usually between 8 to 12. Rats stay close to their food source and they can often be found just a few hundred feet from where they go every day to be fed. Public garbage areas, alleyways, and more can be a hotbed for rats and NYC produces its own information portal on areas where rats are heavily concentrated.
Massive Population:
It's estimated that there are roughly 2,000,000 rats in New York City and this means that the rat population in New York City sits around 25% of the total number of humans.