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
Dealing With A Rat Infestation In Your Attic
Black Rats are small rodents that are common in almost all areas across the United States, and because of their smaller size they are considered to be less of a threat and a pest than Norway rats, their larger cousins. However, rats also carry a range of different diseases and can also pose a health risk to you and your family, so if you do find an infestation, it is worth dealing with is promptly. Rats are also good climbers, so finding them nesting in your attic is not uncommon.
Identifying That You Are Dealing With Rats Rather Than Other Pest Animal Species
The first step to dealing with an infestation is to ensure you are dealing with rats, as the sounds of scratching from the attic can sometimes be other animals such as rats, squirrels or even raccoons. The best way of identifying that it is rats you are dealing with is to check on any rat feces that you can find. These small pellets of poop should be significantly smaller than rat droppings, and will be around the size of a small grain of rice, and is black when fresh, turning brown and then grey after some time.
Precautions Before Carrying Out Rat Control Work
Going into a confined space where pest animals are present can be dangerous as there are often diseases that can be transmitted by rats. Wearing long sleeved clothing and gloves will help protect you from any nips from animals and also prevent direct contact with feces of urine. Another smart precaution is also to wear goggles and a breathing mask, as some diseases transmitted by rats can become airborne, and can then prove to be a dangerous problem if those airborne particles are then inhaled.
Laying Traps To Catch Rats
By far the most common and affordable way of dealing with a rat infestation in the attic is to lay traps to catch the little animals. The standard snap traps on a wooden base are cheap to buy and just as effective as more expensive options, and can be re-used, which is particularly useful if you have a larger rat infestation to deal with. When laying traps in the attic, make sure to lay them near the areas where you see the greatest buildup of rat feces, and also near any entry points they may be using to get in and out.
Removing Carcasses And Monitoring The Rat Problem
Once you have laid the traps, the next step is to monitor all of the traps over the next few days, to see how effective the traps are at dealing with the problem. With any rat carcass, you can simply bag it and place it in the garbage, or it can also be incinerated as well if you have the facility. Keep re-setting the traps and continue to monitor until you are no longer seeing any signs of rat activity and you are no longer catching any rats in your traps.
Repairs Required After A Rat Infestation
The key step to take after catching and dealing with all of the rats is to seal the attic, as they will often have several entry points to help them get in and out of the area. These should all be sealed using metal flashing or a suitable filler to prevent other rats from being able to get back into the area again. You should also try to remove any feces that you can, and if insulation is heavily soiled then that should also be replaced. One wise precaution is also to fumigate the attic after your repairs, to kill off any remaining bacteria or other particles that could be harmful to anyone going into the attic in the future.
