Cobb County, Marietta Rat Control Situation:
Hello David, I just happened upon your website and found it to be the most informative site of any I've seen regarding rat infestation. Everything you said makes sense to me. My problem involves rats in my crawl space (under my house) over that past 5 years. It continues to be an absolute nightmare. In 2008, they did so much damage that it was necessary to do a complete restoration ($3,500) and since then, I've had no insulation under my house for fear that they will start nesting in it again. For over two years now, it's been a constant problem and no one has been able to get it under control. I'm on a regular maintenance program with a pest control company (Alpha Ecological) and they told me I have the worst infestation of any customer they've ever dealt with! It seems the rats are mostly burrowing in from a distance and coming up under the vapor barrier. (I have an adjoining neighbor who's backyard is a mess and my pest control guy found evidence of rat holes and bird feeders, but the neighbor is doing nothing to combat the situation because he said he's never seen a rat.) There is a bait station in my crawl space now, and it sounds like that should be removed. I also have three traps set up down there. But I'm wondering if I need to take more drastic measures like cementing the crawl space which would cost a fortune, and I'm not sure how effective that would be? It's so depressing, my real estate person won't even list my house until this problem is resolved. I don't really want to move, but am so depressed over hearing the relentless activity, it's makin' me crazy. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. I left a message with the wildlife person in my area that was listed on your site. (Alpharetta GA/Cobb County) Thanks so much for your time and offering your knowledge!
Marietta Rat Control Tip of The Week
How Do I Inspect My Home For Rat Entry Holes?
Rats can be tough to manage when they get access to a property. Their population will increase quickly and they will cause a great deal of harm to pretty much everything chewable insight. Truly, they lead to a major issue for homeowners, yet their activities can be controlled and they can be removed if managed properly.
It is of the most extreme significance while dealing with a rat infestation to identify their entry points and block them. Otherwise, they will return every time you try and expel them. Investigating a house for rat passage openings can be cumbersome as the list of spots to check is seemingly endless, especially when the house is big.
Attics, space vents, dividers, kitchens, cupboards, soffit vents, pipes, roofs, rooftop vents, etc. are some of the spots to assess. The following will help you in doing an exhaustive investigation of your home.
1. Have Fundamental Information On Rat Science
Information on their nature, habitat, appearance, diets, and behavior will help you figure out where their entry points are likely going to be in your home.
2. Information On The Architectural Plan Of The House
This also is significant. Finding out about the house's plan would help identify those shrouded spots where openings may exist in parts of the house, and these gaps might serve as rats' openings.
Having watched every one of these, property holders must check everywhere, including foundations, vents, rooftops, soffits, and so on. Anyplace there is a gap, regardless of how little it is, is a potential entry point. It may surprise you that rats can enter through holes as small as a quarter of an inch.
