Forsyth County, Winston Salem Rat Control Situation:
I have a question about roof rats. I have heard they carry all kinds of diseases including bubonic plague and typhus. If you have them in your home do you need to evacuate your home until it is determined they are all gone and all holes and points of entry have been covered?
Hi David, I honestly don't know where to start. I have this annoying sound of a critter (of size sounds like) in my wall and it is terrifying me. I can not say if it's just at night or only during the day..I here activity both day and night. Somedays there is NO noise at all for days, then it starts over. I feel as if it's entering and leaving. I had an exterminator to come out and that was a waste. He threw out some bait and sprayed for spiders!!! and I specifically called for the noise in the wall, which did not make a sound when he came out. I told him he could cout the wall and I would have someone repair it...I JUST WANTED THE CRITTER OUT! I don't know if it's a rat, mouse or squirrel. I have heard running in the little crawl space of an attic I have earlier on, but not sinse he threw out the bait. He did say he saw very little droppings up there, but didn't say of what. I have only been in my house two years and am in NEED of HELP! Wfat can I do? I live in Greenville, MS. Thanks Shirley
Winston Salem Rat Control Tip of The Week
Norway Rat Biology
The Norway rat is typically nocturnal. It is a good swimmer; however, unlike the related black rat, it is a poor climber. Norway rats burrow well, and regularly uncover broad tunnel systems.
Rats are equipped for creating ultrasonic vocalizations, both as grown-ups and babies. They may likewise transmit short, high frequency, socially-prompted vocalization during interaction with different rats or animals. This call most takes after a trilling sound but is undetectable to human ears. Rats can discernibly be heard through calls sounding like squeaks when they are in trouble.
These rats are omnivores. This implies they can eat both plants and animals. As predators, rats are opportunistic.
The Norway rat can breed consistently if the conditions are reasonable, and a female can deliver up to twelve litters in a year. The gestation period is just 21 days, and litters can number up to fourteen, albeit smaller litters are common. In this way, the rat population can increase rapidly. Rats have a lifespan of around three years, yet regularly live less than one year.
Norway rats live in enormous hierarchical groups, either in tunnels or subsurface places, such as sewers and basements. When food is hard to come by, the rats lower in the social order are the first to die. If a large portion of a rat populace is eliminated from a zone, the rest will expand their reproductive rate, and rapidly reestablish the old populace level. This makes it imperative to have a plan to get rid of the entire rat population on your property if an infestation occurs.