Contra Costa County, Richmond Rat Control Situation:
Hello!!! I was just at your website, and thought I would throw an email your way... I went into my garage tonight, and was throwing a load of laundry into the washer, and I heard scratching coming from the wall in the far right hand corner of the garage... I went over to inspect, and couldn't see anything, but the scratching continued... I tapped on the wall with a broom, and the scratching stopped... My question to you is this- if it were to be a mouse would I be able to hear them so clearly scratching? I know they don't weigh a whole lot... We did have a problem with squirrels in the attic a couple of months ago, but we got rid of them, and blocked the entry way that they made to enter the attic... We checked outside this evening after we heard the scratching, and cannot find any entry points in the eaves, soffits, etc... So I am under the impression that its not squirrels or something large like that (praying that its not)... I hope I have made sense... I am a nervous wreck right now at just the thought that their is something in my wall =( I hope to hear back from you soon... Joni
My response: Sometimes mice can make very loud noises, if they scratch directly on the drywall. But squirrels, opossums, raccoons, and rats also get in wall frequently.
Richmond Rat Control Tip of The Week
What Is The Natural Diet Of The Black Rat And Norway Rat?
Black Rat
The black rat (in many cases called the ship rat) has a smooth and incredibly long tail that is longer than its head and body. Romans were the ones who brought this species to Britain. The color of the black rat fluctuates from dark to grey-brown. When compared with brown rats, these creatures have little bodies and bigger ears and eyes. Black rats are amazing climbers. They are fit for running along phone wires, utilizing their tails to adjust while moving. The species is additionally called 'rooftop rat' due to building their homes high in rooftop spaces.
Diet
Black rats are viewed as omnivores and eat a wide scope of foods, including seeds, natural products, stems, leaves, fungi, and an assortment of invertebrates and vertebrates. They are generalists, and as a result, not picky on their food choice, which is demonstrated by their propensity to benefit from any meal given to cows, pigs, chickens, felines, and dogs.
Norway Rat
The main thing to know is that, regardless of the name, the Norway rat isn't really from Norway. It is believed that the name originated from a man named John Berkenhout, a British naturalist, who concluded that the brown rats had migrated to the UK from Norway. Present-day researchers think that this type of rat actually originates from China. They showed up in the British Isles most likely transported via ships and goods.
When they got to the UK, be that as it may, they immediately multiplied and set up for business there. That is the reason they are otherwise called the common rat, the road rat, the sewer rat, or the brown-colored rat.
Diet
Norway rats will eat pretty much anything. If they get inside, they'll search in your kitchen cupboards and pantries. Specifically, the rats are looking for meat and even fish; however, they will also feast cheerfully on dry dog food. When they discover the food, they will eat and eat, glutting themselves on what they find, and if they smell food, they'll chew through plastic, lead pipes, wood, and anything else to get there.
