Pima County, Tucson Rat Control Situation:
David, Can you please help me with some advise and maybe a referral for a local professional in Tucson AZ? I live in a mobile home and hear rats in the walls and ceiling at different time including during the night. I had a professional general contractor put very fine metal chicken wire called "hardware cloth" all around the bottom of my mobile from the edge to the ground attached to the stackered white bricks with screw drilled into them. There might be some very small gaps in different places, but no sign of rats getting in like black marks from their fur, rat droppings or urine stains any where outside. I even put screening around the the very small roof vents. I also previously had a friend come by who is in the pest control business and he looked all around the outside and just could not find where the rats are coming in at. I was using Decon for about 7 or 8 months, but now switched to a very strong blocks of rat poison from a local Do-it-Yourself Pest Control store. I always put the poison out under a small hole under the very fine metal hardware cloth in two different places and then block the hole off with a brick. I bought a 9 pound bucket for $39 and they already ate about 2 1/2 to nearly 3 pounds of it and I am still hearing them. *** Why is the strong blocks of poison not working, do they get amunity to it? Last year I even brought Rid-Ex Plus that turns your whole house wiring into a sound they do not like. It worked for a while, but not does not seem to affect them at all. It comes on for 3 minutes and then shuts of for 3 minutes (so they do not get use to the sound waves) and keeps repeating the cycle 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
How in the rats world are they still getting in my walls and ceilings voids? Can the rats be possibly tunneling or travleing through the underground the sewer pipes? *** Why is the strong poison not working? Do the rats get amunity to it after eating it for awhile? *** If there are dozens of them, would I not at least see one outside once in awhile or some signs of them? Where is there food supply? A few doors down are a few fruit trees, but would they not move closer to them? A tree right next to my place has these really small berries, could that be what they are eating? Should I move out for a while and not use any air conditioning, so the walls will get to hot for them to live in? I am at wits end and really need your advise and/or a professional to probably come out and help me get rid of these rats.
Tucson Rat Control Tip of The Week
Do Rats Pose A Threat To Dogs, Cats, Or Other Pets?
Toxoplasmosis:
There is a parasite that mice and rats can become infected with that causes health conditions in dogs and cats. Toxoplasmosis can cause diarrhea and severe flu in many dogs and it can also change digestive tract functions in cats. This will often be presented as an early infection that leads to a severe flu that can make it difficult for your pet to enjoy a good quality of life. This sickness can also be spread to humans just as easily as it could be spread along to animals.
Roundworms:
Rats often carry roundworms that can be passed on to other animals in your home. There's a variety of medications that can be delivered to treat infections like roundworms. This can also be passed along to humans and if you're experiencing ongoing headaches, digestive issues, fever, or rashes it could be possible that you have been infected.
They Multiply Quickly:
The threat that rats can pose multiplies quickly because they can have an average of 84 babies throughout the course of the year. Working to manage a rat problem can be crucial in the earliest stages before it becomes worse. Without ongoing management of your rat problem, you may end up in a situation where it becomes more difficult to handle the population you are faced with.
Anxiety:
Rats may also cause anxiety in many of your pets. Hearing the ongoing noises in the walls, knowing that they're rather close by and even feeling threatened by rats can be problematic especially for the family pet. Rather than having the ongoing stress that rats can pose for your dog or cat, it may be wise to consider the option of getting a professional exterminator to manage the rat population in your home.
