Pulaski County, Little Rock Rat Control Situation:
David - Trying to rid the rats from house and attic. Caught 6 so far and I think I may be getting to the end. Ive blocked everything I could see on roof but can they scale a stucco chimney and get in that way even know there is a screen there? Ive been putting a piece of peanut on the victor traps is that the best bait? If I dont catch one in a while when is it safe to say we got em all ?Thanx Stephen
My response: Yup, peanut butter is good bait, you know they're gone when the noises stop.
Hi, I have a shop that I am going to try to seal up the small entrances the rats are using. My question is can I use plastic gloves only to pick up tools etc that the droppings are on, how do I clean the tools and what are the dangers of the droppings to me? Thank you sir.
Latex gloves are fine. Not much danger, just rinse off the tools with water, and wash your hands afterward.
Hi David I was looking on your website and I hired a professional to take care of my roof rat problem in Little Rock AR, and I was just reading on some of the things that you mentioned about getting rid of roof rats. I have watched and talked to the professional that inspected my house however, after he sealed, set the traps and inspected the whole house we haven't caught any rats but one prior to it being sealed. It has been about four nights from when the house has been sealed and still no rats that has been trapped in the traps that he set up. I still here walking from room to room it's not as much that my tenant and I hear. I need you to please refer me to someone that you know that can take care of my problem. I can't sleep in my house I shake every time I open my door. I'm crying every day to solve this problem. I feel like I'm losing my mind and I don't know what to do anymore. Please can you can help me please. I'm located in Hollywood, fl by my email. CAN YOU CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE EITHER BY MY EMAIL OR PHONE NUMBER I NEED HELP PLEASE! MY NAME IS CECE. Thank You David.
Little Rock Rat Control Tip of The Week
How Likely Is It That A Rat In The Attic Will Have A Nest Of Babies?
Rats are among the most common pest animal species that people may have to deal with around the home, and because they are quite small they can often be quite elusive little animals to deal with as well. They are quite good climbers when it comes to moving around a domestic property, so if you are worried about rats, they won?t necessarily be around ground level. Because the attic or roof space of most domestic properties is rarely used, it can often be the dark quiet place where rats can get a foothold and build a nest without being noticed by the people living beneath.
Do Rats Have A Mating Season?
Like most wild animals, rats in the wild do have a mating season, where they will normally copulate and impregnate female rats in the spring, and then the female will then give birth a few weeks later, and can then have a few litters over the summer. However, the reason for the mating season is that in rural areas there are limited food sources available during the winter months, so it is impractical for rats to mate during these months. However, over recent decades, a growing number of rats are actually giving birth throughout the year because food sources are also present throughout the year, so whatever time of the year you discover rats in the attic, you may find there are babies there too.
How Often Will Rats Give Birth?
Because of how quickly rats can go from mating to giving birth to a litter of baby rats, a female rat can often be back and ready to mate again within a few weeks from giving birth. This means that in some cases female rats can give birth to up to ten litters a year, so the population of rats from one breeding female can increase very quickly. It is also worth noting that a baby female will actually become sexually mature herself after around six weeks from birth, so the possibility for a rat population to expand very quickly where there is sufficient food is certainly there.
Dealing With Rats In The Attic
When it comes to dealing with a rat infestation, the first step is to identify where in the attic the rats are active, and while taking the appropriate precautions, look for areas where there is a buildup of rat droppings. You should then place several rat traps in these areas of the attic, along with a small amount of food as bait, and the next step is simply to watch and wait. You should remove any rat carcasses as they are caught in your traps, and then re-lay the trap with a new serving of bait, and you should then continue this process until you no longer see any signs of fresh rat activity, and when you are no longer catching any more rats. You will then need to carry out the appropriate repairs.
What To Do With A Nest Of Baby Rats
In some cases you may actually find a nest of baby rats in the attic, and if they are very young they will often be unable to look after themselves, and will ultimately die if they have to live without the support and feeding from their mother. Because of how common they are, baby rats are rarely suitable to be looked after by a wildlife rehabilitator, so in this case the most humane thing that you can do will be to kill those baby rats as humanely as possible.
