Monroe County, Rochester Rat Control Situation:
Hey Dave, we live in what we estimate to be in the area of a 100 yr. old one level house that is sitting on columns. The crawl space is similar to your web pica, very small. Rats & mice have been a concern since we moved in !8 yrs ago. All along I've been using sticks of poison. They take the sticks & seem to disappear. I don't know how they're getting in or out or if they are dying under there, and the process continues. I've tried using a snap trap but it seems the peanut butter dries up & is useless. Some company gave us an estimate of $10,000 to seal the cp but couldn't guarantee the rats wouldn't return. Maybe I haven't done enough inspection for entry/exit. Any advice ? Thanks, Mike
Dear Sir/Madam, Would you please recommend me an experienced company good at killing rats and mice? I noticed the problem more than one year ago. June last year, I hired EcoFirst to eliminate the rats and mice, and at that time, I signed a Contract with the company for one year. A half year later, that company was bought by Terminix, and it took over the job. So far, more than one year has passed, and they have come to my house several times, but the problem has NOT been solved at all, and it becomes more serious. June last year, the rats (mice?) were found in the Garage. Now, the rats (mice?) comes to my kitchen. This was noticed one month ago. I'm not sure whether it is rats or mice. We have not caught any so far. What should I do? Do you have any suggestion? Thank you very much. Regards, Paul
Rochester Rat Control Tip of The Week
Rats And Black Pepper
Rats eat almost anything. In their search for food, they can gnaw on plastic, wood, and even electrical wiring. A rat presence in your home can cause a lot of economic damage.
When this expense is added to the health problems rats' body fluids can cause, the best thing a person can do is getting them out of the house as soon as possible. The most common extermination way is using traps or rodenticides. However, there are more natural methods such as the use of peppers that cause unpleasant odors and tastes for the rodent and quickly drive them away.
Odors That Repel
Using repellents with unpleasant odors for rats is a way to keep them away from you in a friendly way. The advantage of not having to deal with the rodent's carcass can be worth the effort of constantly using these temporary methods. Rodents use their sense of smell to socialize as well as to survive. An odor such as ammonia often drives them away because it is very similar to the urine of large animals that could devour them. Spicy odors are perceived as dangerous chemicals that are also often avoided at all costs.
Black Pepper
Spicy food odors are unbearable for rats, thanks to their high capsaicin content. These natural compounds give the food its spicy effect, but they are also often very irritating to the mucous membranes and lungs of rodents. If ingested, they can cause a burning sensation in the taste buds and olfactory glands. Pepper is known to be able to scare away rats temporarily although this is not scientifically proven.
For all those people who are afraid of having to deal with poisons or homemade traps, finding new and less harmful options is a headache; however, homemade repellents like black pepper avoid harming other animals and humans, being a perfect choice. In any case, even if they are harmless odors, it is advisable to seek the advice and follow the instructions of a professional in the field.
