Monterey County, Salinas Rat Control Situation:
Roof rats in apartment walls - Hi! I saw your page and hope this is still a valid email. I live in an apartment and do not have rats inside yet but do have them in my walls. The property manager called pest control who put traps with peanut butter on the roof but that is it! I called the county complaint line but they said it will be 7-10 days til they can come. What else can I do or get the manager to do? The noise is becoming more frequent and in more walls. I asked them to cut into walls but they won't yet. Thanks, Lindsay
Hello David, I have visited your site after searching for an answer to my problems. I think I have a rat living in my ceiling. Its driving me crazy, it makes so much noise especially in the evenings and it even wakes me up in the middle of the night. I live in a council flat on the top floor and the rat lives in the attic. The problem is that there is no human access to the attic at all, I have called the council and they said as there's no acces to the attic they cannot do anything. Only if the rat comes into the flat. It's outrageous! I stood outside one day and have noticed that on the top of the roof there is a very small gap, which I don't know what it's for but I think the rat is using this passage to come in or out, or perhaps the pipes. Anyway, how can I get rid of it without being able to put any poison or traps in the attic? Please help! Thanks you, Adriana
Salinas Rat Control Tip of The Week
What To Do With A Rat After It Is Caught
After successfully catching a rat, people are often faced with the issue of what to do next. There is more to removing rats in your home than just catching it. If you have caught a rat in your home, there are certain things you will have to consider before going ahead with any activity.
The first thing you will have to consider if you caught a live rat is whether to relocate the rat to somewhere far away from your home or kill it. Secondly, you will have to figure out the best way to handle the rat without having any close contact with it, so as not to put your health at risk. Lastly, you will have to make plans on how to thoroughly disinfect your home.
If you are sensitive to animals, the best way to handle this situation is to choose the humane way by relocating the rat somewhere far away from your home after catching it. But at the same time, you need to understand the fact that the rat might not survive in the new environment you intend to introduce it to. Rats are habitual and are usually accustomed to living in the environment they grow up in. When you relocate any rat you caught, it will find it difficult to feed in the new environment. In most cases, these rats don't usually survive more than a few days.
On the other hand, if you have decided to kill the rat after trapping it, it is best to kill it fast and quickly. The best way to do this is to use either a blunt object that is firm and heavy or use a fire weapon.
While doing all of these, you need to protect yourself as much as you can to avoid getting in contact with diseases and pathogens. To do this, wear a pair of gloves while handling the rat and dispose of them immediately after use.