DC County, Washington DC Rat Control Situation:
I am a double heart transplant/cancer patient and not in good health. I have discovered a huge hole on the outside of my home, which is allowing critters in my attic. I do not know what they are, but possibly roof rats. Their presence could very well kill me, since I have no immune system to help me fight bacteria. I would like to know the cost of removal & repair of the area which they have ruined on the side of my home. I am a senior citizen who can no longer work and have little disposable income to pay much, since my medical bills are so high. Is it possible to get an estimate for this & also a time frame from when it can be done? I spend a lot of time in the hospital and just finished a 3 month stay, which included another cancer surgery. I live in Washington DC. My phone does not ring in properly, in fact, gets poor reception, same as my Internet service, but they blame it on my area. So please use my email when possible. I would appreciate a reply ASAP. Thank you very much. J Hill
My response: The presence of rats won't kill you.
Washington DC Rat Control Tip of The Week
Different Types Of Rat Snap Traps
Spring traps for big rodents, such as rats or squirrels, are powerful enough to break the animal's neck or spine. They may break human fingers too, while a customary spring-based mousetrap is probably not going to break a human finger. Rat spring traps may not be sufficiently delicate to spring when a mouse takes the bait.
A rat cage trap is a metal enclosure box-shaped gadget that is planned principally to get rats without killing them. Food bait (not poisoned) is placed in the cage trap. When an animal gets into the cage and moves towards the bait, the component triggers and shuts the door. The animal is caught alive and without injury. The animal can be relocated somewhere else or killed subsequently.
Glue traps are non-poisonous sticky glue that are spread over card sheets and kept in places rats visit, which gets them stuck to it when they pass over it. The rat will die from dehydration and suffocation. A bait may likewise be set on the cardboard to attract the rats.
Another type of non-deadly trap is where the wires used in its construction are cut and framed into a funnel shape directed to the cage's body. This design is usually dome-shaped with the funnel at the crown. Rats are very adaptable and can push through the smaller opening into the confine, but can't escape because of the closures of the wires poking them in the face. The advantage of this design is that it can catch more than one rat in a setting.