Lucas County, Toledo Rat Control Situation:
Hi David- Thank you very much for your site. It has been extremely helpful. I caught my first and I hope only rat tonight (I know that's doubtful) due to your trapping advice. That said, I need advice on how to deal with rats burrowing into dirt basements. I have a half basement with a dirt crawl space and a narrow dirt trench around the perimeter for drainage. We found a rat a week ago and saw it has burrowed two holes outside down into the basement. Obviously it opened it up after we filled it in. Short of getting a new foundation I have no clue what to do. The best advice I have found was to put hardware paper down but that would be difficult in the crawl space. I spoke with a professional trapper in Toledo OH and he said there wasn't much I could do about them getting in other than keeping the traps set. We have lived here 8 years and never have seen a rat before. Mice yes but we have worked hard to close up the holes but clearly this is a different ball game. We are in a rural area and there are no dumpsters and the neighbors are clean etc. So I do not think it's a matter of cleanliness. Any advice you could give would be more than appreciated. And again, thank you for your site!!
I have sent a picture of the droppings I found, is it from a rat? I have set 2 traps in my attic and rat poison in saucers some of which has been eaten, but still have the rat or rats. I don't know what to do next buy some more poison? as I've run out. I did not want to pay a pest control company as I think normally they just use poison anyway, but if I cant get rid of them will have to. Shall I put the traps where the droppings were seen. This is terrible I can hear it or them at night in the attic, and would appreciate your advice.
Hi David! Thanks for your site and all of the useful info. I searched for the following for days, and still have nothing. How long do diseases remain "alive" in rat feces ? I have evidence of rat nesting in my outdoor storage shed that I first noticed about 6 months ago. I plugged the point of entry with steel wool and have not seen any activity since. I plan to clean the disturbed area and discard the damaged things. My question is, considering the age of the feces, is it and the contaminated area still potentially toxic or just ugly dirty !?
Toledo Rat Control Tip of The Week
Non-lethal Ways To Get Rid Of Rats
If you are the type that considers rats as small cute-looking creatures, you might feel bad for wanting to kill them because they are causing a nuisance in your home. The fact is, your feelings do count. But at the same time, you can't afford to continue watching as these little creatures destroy your home and put your life at the risk of contracting diseases.
We understand how you feel, which is why we will be sharing non-lethal ways to get rid of the rats in your home. With this, you will be able to get rid of the rats without actually killing them.
1. Get A Cat
Cats and rats are natural enemies. If you have a cat in your home, rats will try as much as possible to do all they can to avoid your home. The sound and smell of the cat alone will trigger the sense of the rats and will make them stay as far away as they can. With this method, you will be able to get rid of the rats in your home without even having direct contact with them.
2. Trap And Release
This is another way to get rid of the rats in your home, the only issue with the use of this method is that cannot be used in a home where there are many rats. This is mainly because rats are smart and will end up figuring out that it's a trap after they see it capture one or two other rats. To trap and release a rat, all you need is a live trap and bait.
Also, you need to understand the fact that when you capture a rat and release it into another environment, its chances of survival are very slim.
3. Use Natural Rat Repellent
Just like other animals, rats are sensitive to some smells and they will do all they can to stay away from those areas. You can take advantage of this as well and use it to get rid of the rats in your home. A mixture of cayenne pepper and peppermint will help you get this done.
