Norfolk County, Norfolk Rat Control Situation:
Will removing the food source remove the mice? I found a black mouse today...man, those things are fast. And every animal I've ever seen is stupid; this one tried to run by and ran face-first into a box, immediately letting out a startled squeak as it crashed. Idiot. They all go full-potato around me. Anyway, turns out I had a 20lb bag of bird seed which is now a 2lb bag of bird seed. I've now put that and the grass seed outside. As there's a mouse here now, I'm going to re-check my food storage to ensure it's all inaccessible. Will removing the food remove the mice? Nothing to eat here. If they can't find food, will they go away?
Dear David, I have to say that I have found your site very informative. We have had mice this past very cold winter and caught 3-4 of them with snap traps. The last one was probably March or April. This week I noticed a sewer smell in the stairwell of the basement; I caught all the mice in the basement. I am having a hard time determining which wall right or left it is coming from. It is about 5 steps down the 12 steps. That area would probably be height of the first floor. Do you suggest I try cutting a hole in the wall. My husband suggested using a drill hole to determine which wall, easier to patch. I am not sure if I should call someone or just start to cut the wall myself. Any advice would be welcome. Thank you!
Hi I have them now because I am remodeling I am in the process of sealing all open areas but I still feel they will be under my trailer, can you give tips in helping controlling them I am willing to do what it takes to get rid of them. Please advise what is a nuisance controller and how do I find one for a reasonable price.
The rats are in the floor (First floor ceiling) and 2nd story joist space and in the attic that has no access and are waking me up. I'm afraid they are going to short a wire a burn the house down. What about electric traps . And if they're OK where do you put them. Thanks Doug in Tacoma WA PS I'm building then out and placing snap traps too. Peanut butter on cotton balls. I feed the birds and the neighbors have chickens and don't pick up their rotting fruit. So eliminating food would be impossible. I would quit feeding the birds if thought it would help.
Norfolk Rat Control Tip of The Week
How Do Rats Fit In Small Holes, Do They Have Bones?
Rats Can Truly Fit In Small Holes:
A rat needs a space of just about a half an inch to get into an area. Rats have been known to climb through pipes, through areas in the ceiling, and more. Rats can do quite a lot with very little space and this will lead to the chance that they could end up in your home.
Rats Have Joints And Cartilage Like We Do:
The joints and cartilage that rats have can be very similar to the systems that we have. Rats can often work at strengthening their cartilage and joints when they scurry through small spaces. They strengthen their abilities by dashing through small spaces and this ensures that as long as they stay healthy, they can make it through small spaces.
As They Gain Weight They Face Challenges:
As a rat gains weight from staying close to its food source this can lead to the chance that it can no longer fit through holes roughly the size of a quarter. This can make the process of getting into these areas much more challenging. As a rat improves the size of its abdomen, it often loses its ability to fit through tight spaces.
Rats Sense If They Can Fit With Their Whiskers:
Rats are able to fit through areas because their bodies are extremely flexible and cylindrical. The shape of a rat is designed for burrowing and fitting into tight spaces. Rats are able to determine if their body can fit into an area by using their whiskers. This makes every judgment on going through a tight space much easier.
Rats Don't Have Softer Bones:
The skeleton of a rat is just the same as many other rodents. They have hard bones that don't bend and this will often limit the size of the spaces that they can crawl through.
