Wake County, Raleigh Rat Control Situation:
How can I tell if I have rats or mice hanging out in my walls/attic? We haven't found any signs of anything getting into the main part of the house, but every once in a while we hear them scurrying around in one spot. We only hear them in the evening, and we haven't heard them very often (tonight is the first time I have noticed them in two weeks, but I'm also not home every evening). First we thought it was mice, but I am starting to worry that they might be rodents nesting for the winter. I checked outside and couldn't find any visible entry points, nor any footprints on the roof. I also looked under the roof overhang on that side of the house and there are no holes there. I can't tell if I am hearing squirrel chirping or mouse squeaking--it's almost a squeak-like chirp (real helpful, I know). If we can't find any holes for them to get in, it makes me think mice, but if we haven't seen any signs of them in the house and only hear them in one spot, it makes me think squirrels. Whatever it is has had access to this spot for quite some time, so if they are rats, I think we need to act ASAP, as per the damage reports I've seen on websites. Any and all advice you have to diagnose what we are dealing with would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for your help! - Kristin
My response: Sounds like mouse or rat activity to me. Squirrels are active in the daytime, and people usually hear a lot of morning noise. If you inspect the attic, you can tell by the droppings left behind.
Raleigh Rat Control Tip of The Week
Symptoms Of A Sick Rat
In most cases, a sick rat will not show any obvious symptoms at the early stage of an illness. But if the rat in question is a domesticated rat, you might notice some physical changes in the rat if you are very observant. Here are some of the common symptoms that you might notice in a sick rat:- Restlessness and irregular breathing
- Eye and nasal discharge and continuous sneezing
- Rapid reduction in body weight
- Body exhaustion and excessive sleeping
- Lack of appetite and crouching behavior
If you notice any of these in a rat, it is an indication that the rat is sick and it needs urgent medical attention. After noticing any of these symptoms, the first thing you need to do is to avoid any form of contact with the rat. Rats are carriers of diseases, so it is best to avoid touching it.
Although, not every sickness of a rat is a result of viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection. Their sickness could also be as a result of physical injuries such as a sprained bone, a broken tail or toenails, or a bite wound from another rat or animal.
Just like other animals, rats are also affected by diseases. If you wish to keep the rat alive, the best thing you can do is to seek medical attention. Rats are very sensitive animals and will not do well when administered the wrong medication. Having shared this, you need to avoid the use of medication that is not prescribed by a veterinary doctor.
