Kings County, New York City Rat Control Situation:
Hi, I found your site very informative and helpful. I live in a ground floor duplex in New York City and we have had a rat problem in between our two floors since last August. The management company has sent an exterminator out several times-- to remove carcasses from the ceiling, place rodenticide in the ceiling, and fill any holes outside the apartment building. The problem is still going on almost a year later and we can't seem to figure out how they are getting in.
There is definitely less scratching and scurrying now compared to a few months ago, but the smell is consistently unbearable as something dies in the ceiling every few weeks to the point that I am ready to just move out. I have asked the management company to take a more proactive approach to the problem rather than reactive when I call and complain, perhaps gut the ceiling to expose the problem area, but they don't seem willing to do it. I can imagine there are a lot of droppings and urine in addition to at least 3-4 dead carcasses. Would the smell disappate if no more rats could get in (i.e. if we found and closed the access points), or is that something that will just continue to fester?
I am trying to make a case to the management that it is necessary for them to clean all the droppings and carcasses to restore the apartment to a sanitary environment. I noticed on your site you mentioned that rats can smell the droppings and urine of other rats, indicating the area is a safe habitat. I also think opening the ceiling might expose the access points. Apparently my unit is the only one of 47 in the building with a reported rat problem. Do you have any suggestions? Best regards, Alexandra
My response: Sounds like a very tough case. The entry holes into the building, or at least, the apartment, must be found and sealed! Check behind the oven, for example. The odor will disappear as soon as all rats are gone and any biomass dries up.
Thanks for the response! I got them to remove the entire ceiling and they said they removed some carcasses and closed a bunch of holes inside. I was on a business trip the past week and will see the result tonight. Fingers crossed the problem is resolved!
New York City Rat Control Tip of The Week
What To Do If A Rat Got Inside My House?
Rats are considered as one of the most dangerous household pests due to their destructive nature and their ability to carry diseases and other disease-causing organisms. If you happen to have a rat invasion in your home, you need to find a way to get them out without any further delay.
Rats are naturally sneaky and will always find a way to move around your home without being noticed. As a result of this, getting them out of your house might be quite difficult to do. To help make this easy for you, we will be sharing the simple steps you can take to handle the situation if rats get inside your house.
1. Locate All Their Entry Holes
Rats getting into your home means there are holes around your home big enough to allow their easy passage. Having realized this, the first thing you need to do is to find those holes and seal them up. By doing this, you will be preventing more rats from getting into your home.
2. Clean Your House
Even though rats do infest the cleanest of houses, it important for you to make sure your house is unattractive to rats by clearing all dirt and clutter in and around your home. To do this, take your time to clean your kitchen floor, clear out hidden places that you don't clean regularly, and vacuum the floor of your home to remove food particles. Also, when cleaning your home, you need to make sure your food is kept in a rat-proof container or cupboard.
3. Keep Their Natural Predators
When it comes to getting rats out of your home, one of the best ways to do this is to get their natural predators in your home. For instance, you can get a cat to help hunt them down and keep them away.
4. Trap And Remove
Although the use of lethal traps is an inhumane way to get rid of rats in your home, it is the most efficient method to use. To use this method, all you have to do is get traps from a local store and place them along the route of the rats.
Repeat this same process until you can remove all of the rats in your home.