Milwaukee County, Milwaukee Rat Control Situation:
We live in a middle row home in Milwaukee WI. The homes on both sides of us are empty. One since 2007, and the other last year. My yard is bordered to an old factory that up until last year was also empty for a loooong time. To top it off the empty grass lot that bordered the propertys has recently been turned into a 'community' garden by the local non demonational religous group. We got our home last year in the fall. This summer we put up a small garden box. We keep our yard very clean, have our garbage in sealed cans, and don't leave our dog's ( jack fussier/pug mix) water dish filled unless we are out with him. Needless to say we are extreemly carefull. The only thing we do have is bird feeders. We have a family of cardinals that live in our lilac tree. Well yesterday when I let our dog out I noticed a hole from under our garden box. Naturally I thought it was from one of our local chipmunks that run from the community gardens wall across the yards. I filled it back up thought nothing of it and went on my way. This morning when I went to let our dog out I almost died !!! To my absloute horror there was a full grown RAT running around my yard and back down the hole. I go on the porch and it sticks its head out the hole and watches me as I get a huge shovel to fill the hole with steel mesh rocks and dirt. Needless to say I'm freeked out at the fact of:: 1. There are rats....where there is one you know there are more 2. It was out during the day 3. It wasn't afraid....hell it was almost following me like a dog to see what I was doing !!! I don't want me or my animals injured. Yes I have cats also (main coon/osicats larger than my dog who stay indoors) I have delt with rats when I lived in NYC.....sewer rats in the streets, not in my home. They were aggressive , I wached them kill a puppy. We killed them.I know how to keep them out of a house, how to protect the garbage cans, but with this I'm at a loss. What can I do to keep them out of my yard ???
Milwaukee Rat Control Tip of The Week
Reasons Why Rats Die Inside Attics And Houses
They Get Thirsty:
Rats often get thirsty when they have ingested any type of poison or when they cannot find their way out of a house. When rats go in search of water, they go towards an area where they will be closest to the outside world. When they have difficulty getting out of the home, they may find themselves in the attic close by their water source that they desperately need but unable to access a way out of the home.
They Get Poisoned On The Way Back To The Nest:
Rats will often travel throughout the home after they've been poisoned. Because poison often takes a bit of time to take effect, a rat might make its way up to the attic to stay warm and then die on its way back from the attic.
They Bleed Out:
Rats that have been affected by spring traps and other means for capturing may bleed out if they sustained serious injuries. This can happen quite quickly especially if the rat has made its way up to the attic to try and escape. This often becomes the final resting space for rats and this can eventually lead to foul odors.
They Get Stuck In Glue Traps:
Glue traps can be another cause for a rat to get stuck in an attic area. When a rat gets stuck in a glue trap it's possible that it will simply die in the area which can lead to people finding the rat or the rat causing a series of issues with smells and rotting. Glue traps are commonly placed in attics because this can be an easy place as it is out of sight for pets, toddlers, and home/business owners.
