Maricopa County, Phoenix Rat Control Situation:
Good evening! we have a home in downtown Phoenix that is experiencing some rat problems. Three years ago I purchased our home. It had been vacant and the attic had been infested with rats. We were successful in eradication and repairing the points of entry. However, I'm concerned about the feces that's were left behind. I rarely access the attic but it is something I would like to resolve. I have read your website and found that you offer a decontamination and or feces removal services. I am interested in learning the cost range of your services. we are able to trap and get rid of them but our bigger concern is the amount of droppings and urine that seem to be everywhere. We have blown insulation and i feel like we might need to look at a complete removal of the insulation. If that is done we are capable of putting in new insulation but feel the removal might be a little out of our scope. Can you please call me so we can discuss the issues and make a plan of action to include getting ideas and prices. we would like to get this done pretty quickly so your quick response is greatly appreciated! thank you!!
I need some advice on how to get rid of rats that are in my dog kennels. I have 10 beagles and the rats are burrowing under the kennels and the dog houses. I have tried snap traps outside of the kennels but that only catches a few. I need a way to get rid of the rats for good without harming the dogs. The dogs keep digging holes trying to get to the rats which is causing a problem and if I use poison the dogs will eat the dead rats and that would not be a good thing. I need to find a way to fix this problem for good. Please give me some kind of solution to try, I am looking for anything. Thanks
My response: That's a tough case. I'd use snap traps enclosed in plastic boxes, like Snap-E trap in the Protecta box.
Phoenix Rat Control Tip of The Week
Dealing With A Rat Infestation In Your Attic
Black Rats are small rodents that are common in almost all areas across the United States, and because of their smaller size they are considered to be less of a threat and a pest than Norway rats, their larger cousins. However, rats also carry a range of different diseases and can also pose a health risk to you and your family, so if you do find an infestation, it is worth dealing with is promptly. Rats are also good climbers, so finding them nesting in your attic is not uncommon.
Identifying That You Are Dealing With Rats Rather Than Other Pest Animal Species
The first step to dealing with an infestation is to ensure you are dealing with rats, as the sounds of scratching from the attic can sometimes be other animals such as rats, squirrels or even raccoons. The best way of identifying that it is rats you are dealing with is to check on any rat feces that you can find. These small pellets of poop should be significantly smaller than rat droppings, and will be around the size of a small grain of rice, and is black when fresh, turning brown and then grey after some time.
Precautions Before Carrying Out Rat Control Work
Going into a confined space where pest animals are present can be dangerous as there are often diseases that can be transmitted by rats. Wearing long sleeved clothing and gloves will help protect you from any nips from animals and also prevent direct contact with feces of urine. Another smart precaution is also to wear goggles and a breathing mask, as some diseases transmitted by rats can become airborne, and can then prove to be a dangerous problem if those airborne particles are then inhaled.
Laying Traps To Catch Rats
By far the most common and affordable way of dealing with a rat infestation in the attic is to lay traps to catch the little animals. The standard snap traps on a wooden base are cheap to buy and just as effective as more expensive options, and can be re-used, which is particularly useful if you have a larger rat infestation to deal with. When laying traps in the attic, make sure to lay them near the areas where you see the greatest buildup of rat feces, and also near any entry points they may be using to get in and out.
Removing Carcasses And Monitoring The Rat Problem
Once you have laid the traps, the next step is to monitor all of the traps over the next few days, to see how effective the traps are at dealing with the problem. With any rat carcass, you can simply bag it and place it in the garbage, or it can also be incinerated as well if you have the facility. Keep re-setting the traps and continue to monitor until you are no longer seeing any signs of rat activity and you are no longer catching any rats in your traps.
Repairs Required After A Rat Infestation
The key step to take after catching and dealing with all of the rats is to seal the attic, as they will often have several entry points to help them get in and out of the area. These should all be sealed using metal flashing or a suitable filler to prevent other rats from being able to get back into the area again. You should also try to remove any feces that you can, and if insulation is heavily soiled then that should also be replaced. One wise precaution is also to fumigate the attic after your repairs, to kill off any remaining bacteria or other particles that could be harmful to anyone going into the attic in the future.
