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
Norway Rat Biology
The Norway rat is typically nocturnal. It is a good swimmer; however, unlike the related black rat, it is a poor climber. Norway rats burrow well, and regularly uncover broad tunnel systems.
Rats are equipped for creating ultrasonic vocalizations, both as grown-ups and babies. They may likewise transmit short, high frequency, socially-prompted vocalization during interaction with different rats or animals. This call most takes after a trilling sound but is undetectable to human ears. Rats can discernibly be heard through calls sounding like squeaks when they are in trouble.
These rats are omnivores. This implies they can eat both plants and animals. As predators, rats are opportunistic.
The Norway rat can breed consistently if the conditions are reasonable, and a female can deliver up to twelve litters in a year. The gestation period is just 21 days, and litters can number up to fourteen, albeit smaller litters are common. In this way, the rat population can increase rapidly. Rats have a lifespan of around three years, yet regularly live less than one year.
Norway rats live in enormous hierarchical groups, either in tunnels or subsurface places, such as sewers and basements. When food is hard to come by, the rats lower in the social order are the first to die. If a large portion of a rat populace is eliminated from a zone, the rest will expand their reproductive rate, and rapidly reestablish the old populace level. This makes it imperative to have a plan to get rid of the entire rat population on your property if an infestation occurs.
