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
How To Identify Rat Feces And Where Is It Found?
Dark Brown In Color:
You can recognize the look of rat droppings for their dark brown color. Unlike other animals that have darker feces, rats have a darker brown that does not border upon black.
The Shape:
The shape is often spindle and tapered to be less conspicuous. Most rats have a spindle shape for their feces and the pieces will be no larger than a grain of rice.
The Volume:
Each rat can produce up to 40 droppings in a single evening and this can mean that you are likely to find a series of piles across your home especially if you are facing a larger rat population. As you continue to identify the look of rat feces across your home, you are going to notice piles and likely find rats nearby.
Keep An Eye Out For Rub Marks:
Rub marks are another common sign that you have rats in your home. Rats naturally have grease or dirt on their body and because of their poor eyesight they often leave a series of smudges across your home. The darker marks show areas where the rats are regularly moving throughout your home and potentially entering into areas like the walls. If you started to notice various areas where there could be marks and feces, this offers an excellent chance that you could have a rat inside your home.
Be Careful While Cleaning:
Rats carry a series of diseases and it's very important that you are able to clean up any feces that you find to prevent the chance that a family pet will get into it or that you could be exposed to potential diseases.
