Fayette County, Lexington Rat Control Situation:
I live in a suburban area in a development and have never had a rat issue in 30 years until recently. A few months ago we noticed two things which had not previously occurred trash was been thrown around the back yard from trash cans as well as holes in the ground. (near the house) We have a large cat that goes outside as well as two basically indoor dogs. Finally about a week ago my wife saw a tail of a small animal that she could not identify. I borrowed a cage trap from a friend and the first two nights they were set the bait was taken but we did not catch anything finally on the third night we caught two rats in the one trap. Set two cages last night, bait was taken but no rats caught. I had filled in about 5 holes that were near my house with dirt yesterday and this morning one of the holes was open....I am getting all kinds of amateur advice(soak toilet tissue with gasoline place it in hole and cover it etc...) don't know what the hell to do. I do not believe the rats have gotten into the house (we have a crawl space). Have two daughters and mother in law with me.... Need any guidance you can provide.
Lexington Rat Control Tip of The Week
Are Rats Smart Animals?
Rats can be trained:
In studies on rats, it's been very easy to train these animals. Scientists have worked with rats to help teach them how to get through mazes, play fetch, train them to dismantle complex items to get a reward, and more.
Rats stick together:
Rats have high levels of emotional intelligence and they often communicate well with one another to warn each other of threats. In a borough of rats, each will work together to make sure that everyone can stay safe. With communications through their squeaks and noises as well as through pheromones it's possible for rats to continually relay information about the surrounding environment and work together to survive.
They have been shown to have personalities:
In observed behavior some rats are considered to be social, others are entertaining and some are fun-loving wanting to play with objects they find like toys. Each rat can have its own tendencies and display their own levels of intelligence.
Rats are social animals:
Rats live in groups and this makes them very social animals. Even though rats typically sleep 12-15 hours a day, they are social during the time that they are awake.
They can recognize each other and come when called:
Rats can be trained to recognize names, they can come when called and they can often tell more about rats and their behavior by watching them. Rats display recognition that goes far beyond what the average animal conveys.
Rats can smell and find their way into many spaces:
Rats have the power to make their way into many spaces. They are often some of the perfect creatures for making their way into your plumbing and they regularly travel through cracks and areas across the home to find food. They are tenacious creatures and they can be considered very smart when finding food.
