McLennan County, Waco Rat Control Situation:
Hi David,We are struggling with mice in our garage. We've caught 2 on plain sticky traps (both actually caught on the same trap), did a thorough clean out, left about 5 other various styles of traps around the garage and there was no sign anything for about a week and a half. I had some suspicions (although, I didn't see any droppings) so I put another plain flat sticky trap near the area where we caught the other two and a few days later...bam...another one. Now I'm a little freaked out that there is some sort of colony living in the garage walls and/or garage attic. When we were putting stuff back on the garage shelves after the deep clean we thought we heard a scratching or scuffling sound but couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Can you give me an estimate on the cost of having your team come out and track down the source? It should all be relatively easy access.
Hello my name is Henry from Waco TX. We have been hearing cracking noises in the ceiling at night. Mainly in the master bedroom bathroom. I don't know why. Could it be a water source. I will set traps in the attic. I was thinking of cutting a hole in the drywall placing posion there. It says that rodent will not smell. Please any advice will help.
I have found two burrow holes on either side of my front door. One smells of urine and the other I watched a chipmunk disappear into. I am not entirely sure if they are in the house now, but I know that they were and those entry points have been sealed. So a few questions....... What do I do to eliminate the burrows at front door? How to get rid of that horrid urine stench? Do chipmunks share tunnels with rats? If they are going under the deck should I set traps? I have a lot of vine coverage in the back yard, what should I replace that with? Do the rats dislike a certain type of mulch/woodchips? I am in the process of removing the vine coverage, but what else should I do? Thank you for any suggestions and guidance!!!
Love your site. Just curious why you don't talk about crawlspaces and only attics? I assume it's the same concept, but I never saw anything about it mentioned.
Waco 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.
