Orange County, Orlando Rat Control Situation:
hi david, i came across your site... guess why? There's a rat between my unit (main level condo) and the upper unit. it runs up and down the chimney, across my ceiling in a soffit in a space about 4' wide x 12' long x 2' high. my handyman set 2 rat traps yesterday via removal of a can light ( also took photos of the feces to verify not squirrel). they both went off withing 20 minutes of setting but the creep didn't get caught even though there was a huge scuttle that sounded like the tasmanian devil. to find out, the handyman set the traps on top the 2x4. argh. it was quiet all night and just as soon as we thought it was scared away, the noise started up this morning. local exterminators want to drop pellets after an 'exterior inspection' for $300 - $400. (the squirrel catcher assessed the roof and grounds yesterday and yes there are a few places and probably more.) people who have poisoned rats that haven't been able to get outside say not to use poison because the animal stench is hideous and lasts up to 6 weeks. at the moment, the varmit is banging around up there, i guess walking around the traps. any suggestions? it's driving us crazy, esp when it gets aggitated or perhaps fending off a competitor - it literally sounds like a bar room brawl. thanks - gaylene
AAARGHH!!! Never use poison! It only makes the problem worse! You need to seal the entry holes and trap and remove the rats.
so i've seen what i think is a mouse in my son's room. It was a little bigger than the palm of my hand and grey. i live in a three story apartment complex in Winter Park and hear them in my walls at night. I had made a couple of holes at the bottom of each of my two bedrooms and the living room for my cable wire. I wanted to know how to get rid of them, which traps work best, how long does it take to get rid of them and how do i know if i got them all? any help would be greatly appriciated. thanks.
It's more likely a juvenile rat than a mouse in central FL. You need to have either the building sealed shut, or the inside areas leading into your apartment. Give me a call, and I can come inspect the apartment for free.
Orlando Rat Control Tip of The Week
Are rats comfortable in cold weather?
As winter arrives, the cold increases, and the consequences of this change in weather are vast. Animals like rats will look to survive during these times. The principal necessity for them to be comfortable in these temperatures include refuge and food.
People's homes are perfect for rats to shelter from the cold. They are designed to give the security and benefits needed for a warm environment. As the cold increases, the rat's muscles start tensing, lowering their immune system to the point of making them more likely to get sick.
People and rats living in the same house are a bad combination
The danger of getting diseases is caused by the accumulation of feces that promotes bacteria development all over the house.
These microorganisms produce very dangerous diseases and infections, among them, the best known for its severity is leptospirosis that is caused by ingesting food contaminated with rodents' urine and feces.
The structural damage that living with rats can cause
Damages caused by rats are attributed by the capacity of their jaws to gnaw. They gnaw on materials like wood, plastic or even cables that, despite being hard, these are not an impediment for their teeth. During colder temperatures, their metabolism needs more energy to stay warm.
Among the activities to obtain this energy are eating and gnawing. On many occasions, this can cause dangerous accidents, such as fires thanks to short circuits caused by bitten cables. Economic losses can range from a pair of shoes to the entire house.
Living together with rodents is harmful for your health and bank account. You should know that when winter arrives, the rain and cold will make them find refuge, so you have to take preventative measures as a defense weapon against this urban plague.
