Brevard County, Melbourne Rat Control Situation:
David, I have trapped 3 roof rats in the attic and have heard more this morning chewing and romping about. I have sealed all entries I to the house with exception to drain stacks on roof. I can see feces in gutters but cannot see anywhere where they could be getting into the attic. I have been working with an exterminator for two months and he's out of ideas so I was wondering what advise you may put forward. Sure would like to get rid of them for good prior to breeding season. I am in Dallas Tx area. Last December our dog caught o e in yard, this summer I caught one in shed, and I caught one in attic and pro has caught two ... But like I said there appears to be more. We have a two story stucco house in Melbourne FL. Over the past 3 years I have caught at least 30 mice in our attic, all the while searching diligently and unsuccessfully for the entry point(s). I found a few possible places and have closed them off but still catch one or two a week. I am completely stumped on this. They are only in the attic as far as I know. We do have a dryer flap-vent in a below grade window well but that leads to the basement and we don't see them there. Is there any new "scientific" way to identify entry points? Advice appreciated pls -- Matt
Melbourne Rat Control Tip of The Week
Why Are Cage Traps Only Occasionally A Good Option For Rats And Why Do Relocated Rats Rarely Survive?
When it comes to getting rid of rats, homeowners are usually faced with the dilemma of how to get them out without actually killing them. This usually makes them consider every possible option just to achieve their aims. To make this possible, several devices have been designed to trap rats in homes. But when considering a humane way to get rid of these pests, cage traps are one of the best devices to use.
The use of cage traps helps to capture rats without actually getting them killed. Unlike the use of other devices such as lethal traps, cage traps help to capture the rats in the most humane way. Using a cage trap doesn't automatically guarantee the fact that the rats you are getting out of your home will be in good health when they are being captured. In most cases, before the homeowners get to even remember to check the cage, the rats are already dehydrated, exhausted, or too weak to survive.
To avoid this and keep the rats in good health, you need to try as much as possible to check on the cage trap constantly and make sure the traps are placed away from sunlight coming from windows and other openings in your home.
After catching a rat, the next thing to do is to relocate the rat. But in most cases, these rats never survive. Rats that are relocated have very slim chances of survival and will not make it past a few days.
Relocated rats find it very difficult to feed on available food in a new environment and might die as a result of starvation. Also, relocating them to an environment they are not familiar with comes with the need to urgently find shelter. In the process of finding shelter with no already established route, a vast majority of them become prey to other animals.