New Castle County County, Wilmington Rat Control Situation:
Hi David, I rent an apartment in Wilmington DE and have consistent mouse problems. It started with a mouse in the beginning of the year- I set all types of traps (snapping, glue, poison) and it would only eat the peanut butter and not get caught. Finally it was caught, but again I have a mouse and all the different traps that are out are only feeding it. I know the only real way to stop them is to close off all points of access, but living in an old apartment building and having landlords who've stopped caring about all the mice problems makes it harder. My neighbors also have mice problems and I think they're traveling between apartments. I obviously cant secure every hole, but I can at least try with my place. Would stuffing the holes with mesh wire then covering it with caulking work? I'm not sure how to finish off the holes. Also if you have any insight on how to deal with these renter vs. landlord situations, I'm all ears. Thanks for listening, Dianna
Hello, Attached are 2 photos of what I think are from a wood rat. My family owns a large cabin in the middle of 260 wooded acres. The ground around the cabin has been cleared for years. In the past we only had mice to control, but now we have critters that we cannot control. We place rat/mice poison in 3 areas. They eat it all within 2 weeks. There is lots of poop right around the poison trays. Now the critter is eating part of the sofa and has knocked a lamp over. We have had flying squirrels and wood rats in the past. But they ate the poison and died. Not the case now. What do you suggest? We put moth balls under the cabin and the attic appears not to be an issue. We cannot find where they are coming in. VERY frustrating. Can you help?? Thank you. I have to forward the pictures from my computer.
Wilmington Rat Control Tip of The Week
Animals that rats kill
The fact that rats pose several health risks and safety hazards makes them one of the most detested pests in many households. These rodents cause a whole lot of nuisance by disrupting the peace of your home with their scurrying and scratchy sounds when allowed to multiply and breed in your house. These reasons usually prompt many homeowners to look for the best possible way to get rid of them.
While trying to get rid of them, you need to also understand the fact that these rodents are capable of killing other animals. You might be wondering how an animal of this size can kill other animals. The fact is that rats are very aggressive animals with special skills when it comes to attacking their prey.
Although, the chances of this happening depend on many factors. For instance, rats will only kill or attempt to kill other animals when they are starving or they want to take over an area initially occupied by other rodents.
The most common animals that rats do attack and kill is mice. These two rodents share the same ecological niche; hence they often interact with each other. In the process of relating with one another, the scavenging instinct of rats might set in, prompting them to hunt and kill mice.
Asides from mice, rats also come in contact with and may kill cats and dogs. Cases like this occur once in a while and to only cats and dogs that are small in size or already suffering from preexisting illnesses.
Having shared this, if you are keeping a cat or dog as a pet in your house, chances are that the rats in your home will kill your pets when they have the opportunity to. Since rats are omnivorous, there are no limits to what they can feed on.
