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
New York City's Rat Problem
The Norway Rat:
The majority of rats in New York City are Norway rats, otherwise known as brown rats. Brown rats typically weigh 1 pound and they can grow up to 16 inches long. A brown rat needs just 1 ounce of food and water every day to survive.
Agile Creatures:
Brown rats are known for their ability to climb through pipes and get through small spaces. Even though some of the largest brown rats can be up to 20 inches long and weigh more than 2 pounds, it's easy for them to fit through a hole that's the size of a quarter. Rats have some serious superpowers and are capable of falling up to five stories without any injury and leaping up to 4 feet for climbing.
Going Through Any Material:
Rats also have extremely strong jaw muscles and quality teeth. There are rats in New York that are capable of chewing through cinderblocks and sewer pipes.
Where Rats Live:
Most rats will rarely travel more than 600 feet away from the area that they were born. Most rats like to nest and burrow in soft ground as well as below ground to live in colonies. A rat colony is usually between 30 to 50 rats and the number of rats in a burrow or family is usually between 8 to 12. Rats stay close to their food source and they can often be found just a few hundred feet from where they go every day to be fed. Public garbage areas, alleyways, and more can be a hotbed for rats and NYC produces its own information portal on areas where rats are heavily concentrated.
Massive Population:
It's estimated that there are roughly 2,000,000 rats in New York City and this means that the rat population in New York City sits around 25% of the total number of humans.