Leon County, Tallahassee Rat Control Situation:
Aloha David, We are just moving to Tallahassee but own a home in Honolulu. I am writing you because there are no rodent removal companies on Oahu and I don't have anyone I can get help or advice from. We recently discovered rodent droppings in our atticat the Honolulu home. After checking the roof, eaves, etc., we found the potential entry point into the attic. It is an existing vent opening that a contractor used for installation of a hot water heater pipe that was fed into the attic. (see photo) We sealed the opening with galvanized sheeting, screwed in place, caulked and painted. The opening was sealed off September 14,2012. Subsequently, we set snap and electronic traps in the attic. The morning after the first traps were set, we caught one rat in the rat zapper. None in the snap traps. The fifth day we caught another rat in the zapper. After several days of no more trappings, we completely vacuumed the attic space with a hepa vacuum. Feeling like there were no more rats in the attic, We removed the traps. We have been checking the attic everyday since the last rat was killed, on September 21,2012 and there have been no droppings... ...until this morning when my husband checked the attic. He found one rodent pellet on a beam about a foot from the attic access panel and several more maybe six feet or so from the opening. My question is twofold: 1) is it possible for a roof rat(s) to live in an attic space for an extended period of time without access to water (over 3 weeks), and 2) wouldn't we see more than 3 rat turds if there is current activity in the attic? I really would appreciate any advice or insights you can provide. I am so fearful of rodents and will have to return to Honolulu in less than a week to take care of the house while my husband returns to work here in Florida. If you feel so inclined, you can also reach me on my cell phone. Mahalo, Frances
Tallahassee Rat Control Tip of The Week
Steps To Make A Rat Trap
Catching a rat is a pretty easy job if you have the right tools. Without a doubt, rat traps are one of the oldest and simplest methods that could be used when catching these nasty rodents.
Homemade traps are very effective for catching rats, and making them is really simple. There are infinite options. Below, we will explain all the steps to make a rat trap.
But before doing that, here are some points that you should take into account:- Evaluate your materials: depending on the materials you have, you can make different types of traps. This time, we will make a homemade trap whose main materials are a plastic bottle, newspaper, cardboard, and rat glue.
- Define specific points: there are places in your home that can be very attractive to rats, especially those that provide food or shelter: the kitchen, dining room, or holes in the walls.
- Building the trap is really simple: you can cover the surface on which you will place the trap with newspaper, and you can place a piece of cardboard on which you will put rat glue, leaving a space in the middle to place the bait, -which could be a piece of cheese-. This bait will attract the rat and it will get stuck.
Sounds pretty easy, right? But...
What Happens If The Rat Evades Your Traps?
You may be dealing with a rat that has learned to survive in the most dangerous environments, so they will completely avoid all those things that could be a threat. In this case, you must add poison to the list of materials.
If you use the same technique, it is likely the rats will evade it again. So change the strategy; you can keep the traps with rat glue but poison the food this time.
It is important to note that poisons may have a delay in taking effect, so it is important to locate the rat after it ingested the poison. If not, it might die in places that are difficult to access.
