Collin County, Plano Rat Control Situation:
Hello David: I have two Scottish Terriers who have been barking more than usual (scary picture isn't it) and obsessed with sniffing, following a trail etc. and I thought it might be mice which we had about three years ago and got rid of them via Wildlife Control's traps and advice (re patching everywhere and plugging holes etc.). It is an exceptionally hot place to live in the summer months, we live in an arid region north of Dallas, near Plano TX. Rats (to me) are entirely the stuff of nightmares and I am going away in August and the dogs are going into a kennel for the month of August. All I could think was about was that without the dogs on-site, they could start invading the kitchen and then the rest of the house and I am sick with worry and fear which I think has become unbearable partially because my husband died here from pancreatic cancer and we had moved here to enjoy hot summers in our retirement. I quickly read through several areas of your website and you say not to hire a pest control company. Would that apply to Wildlife Control or are they diversified enough to cover rodents? I was talking to the service agent (John) who we met with the mouse invasion and he was saying there are a lot of rats in Plano. He has put traps out in the basement sized for the small black rats that you mention would be in an attic normally and who knows if they are although I haven't heard anything. Aren't the huge Norwegian rats normally found around wharfs, ships and water in general? Is that just a myth? He will also come in mid month and remove any dead rat bodies. Do you have any advice to help me cover this problem? Finding a reliable handyman here is also a problem we were ‘just lucky' last time and as far as we could see very effective with patching up holes, large and small. I hope you will have time to reply, I'm taking meds now for my anxiety and one panic attack. Not the way I would like to live.
Can a rat climb up a wall and get to then soffit and chew a hole in the vent screen. I am buying a house were there was a rats in the attic and there were a lot of holes in the screens.
Plano Rat Control Tip of The Week
Are Rats Able to Swim, or Do They Drown?
Though rats are not the most desired animals to have around your home, you will be amazed by the incredible survival instincts these rodents have. One of these survival instincts is their ability to survive in water. Rats are excellent swimmers, with their legs, tail, and rhythmic body movements, they can wade in the water for up to three days without drowning
These special skills allow them to be able to survive in water if by circumstance they find themselves stuck in a bucket of water, bathtub, or toilet. In cases where the water body is not restricted by a container or an object, rats use their swimming skills to find their way to dry land close by.
If you happen to find a rat stuck in water, the best thing you can do is to remove it and relocate it somewhere far away from your home or anywhere you are. Refusing to do this and expecting it to drown will only cost you your time because the rat will try as much as possible to survive.
Rats do drown in water, but that will only happen after 3 days when the rat has exhausted all of its energy swimming with no way out. Only a few rodents have this special kind of survival instinct, this clearly shows how smart and intelligent rats are.
Nevertheless, you shouldn't allow rats to run around your house and make your home their nesting place. If you find rats in the water around your home, you need to get them removed and relocated somewhere safe and far from your home to prevent further reentry. Rats are a menace to your health, so you need to look for the best way to get rid of them quickly.
