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
Different Types Of Rat Snap Traps
Spring traps for big rodents, such as rats or squirrels, are powerful enough to break the animal's neck or spine. They may break human fingers too, while a customary spring-based mousetrap is probably not going to break a human finger. Rat spring traps may not be sufficiently delicate to spring when a mouse takes the bait.
A rat cage trap is a metal enclosure box-shaped gadget that is planned principally to get rats without killing them. Food bait (not poisoned) is placed in the cage trap. When an animal gets into the cage and moves towards the bait, the component triggers and shuts the door. The animal is caught alive and without injury. The animal can be relocated somewhere else or killed subsequently.
Glue traps are non-poisonous sticky glue that are spread over card sheets and kept in places rats visit, which gets them stuck to it when they pass over it. The rat will die from dehydration and suffocation. A bait may likewise be set on the cardboard to attract the rats.
Another type of non-deadly trap is where the wires used in its construction are cut and framed into a funnel shape directed to the cage's body. This design is usually dome-shaped with the funnel at the crown. Rats are very adaptable and can push through the smaller opening into the confine, but can't escape because of the closures of the wires poking them in the face. The advantage of this design is that it can catch more than one rat in a setting.