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
Will Rats Come Out When It's Light?
Rats are living beings with a negative phototropism. Daylight often affects them, leading them to be most active when it's dark out. Most rodents are characterized by going out during evenings when there is dim light or at night.
This habit of being active at night is very useful when combined with the instinct of going unnoticed. Rats that live in underground places like sewers can suffer retinal damage when they surface in broad daylight. The discomfort to their vision does not allow them to carry out the necessary daily survival activities.
Light is an abiotic environmental factor that can have a major impact on animal behavior and physiology. Rats adapt better to darkness because it can be very comfortable. It is believed that rats have dichromatic color vision and light is often a very important environmental signal for regulating circadian cycles and reproduction cycles.
Fear Of Light Or Fear Of Death?
Rats are one of the most successful invasive species in the world, they can adapt to almost any environment. These animals perceive light as dangerous. The light rays can make rodents feel somewhat exposed to predators or even vulnerable to people who will want to exterminate them no matter what it costs.
A Messy And Damp Place Is Ideal
Abandoned buildings, homes with cracks in the walls, or sewers, often have an abundance of dark places. A home with little light is ideal for living; it is perfect for rats to make their nests without having to expose their small offspring to being eaten by other animals.
Professional exterminators often use this information about the light phobia of rats in their preventive or extermination plans. The ultimate goal is to prevent these rodents from making their dens in or near people's homes.
