Sadly, the local city / county animal services won't help you when you have a rat infestation. They might try.
They might offer you something to try and help, but they are not equipped and nor do they have the man power to deal
with every rat infestation. In places such as New York City, the rat problem is so bad, the local government would have
NO other time on their hands if they were to deal with every case.
Free rat removal might sound like a good idea at the time, but there's a good chance it will just lead to more rats, and in turn, more rat damage. Once they start chewing through electrical wires and drywall or wooden foundations of your home, you're definitely in trouble. It won't take them long …
Go back to the Rats in the Attic home page.
The presence of rats at a home is truly a nightmare that no one should ever have to live through. Once rats have entered a property, rarely do they leave so easily. They tend to stay at the place for a long time because it eventually becomes their safe place where they are protected and sheltered. But them being in your house puts you, your family, and your pets in a very dangerous and compromised position. Rats have teeth that grow without stopping, hence, the reason why they gnaw excessively. They chew whatever material and surface they find. There are very few things that rats do not chew. They chew cables, wires, clothes, furniture, and even sheetrock. This chewing of things can have damaging consequences such as a fire, an electric power shock, or major wire damage.
Not only this, but rats carry a lot of diseases and they tend to carry these diseases wherever they go. They host various pathogens and these get transferred to you. These diseases can pass onto you by coming in contact with their waste materials such as feces and urine. These diseases can also be airborne and spread to you, your family, and pets by simply breathing them in. These diseases are dangerous and can be fatal in some cases. You can get ill and might need to see a doctor to avoid any serious consequences. Not only this but rats can even bite you which poses many serious outcomes. The bottom line, however, remains the same which is that the presence of rats should be taken seriously.
Having rats in your house is not the ideal situation. They have a short gestation period and reproduce in huge numbers which means that there can be a whole army of rats in a short period. If you spot one rat, chances are there are a quite few rats hiding that you have not discovered as of yet. The presence of one rat is problematic, just imagine what a dozen rats are capable of.
After discovering rats, your primary focus should be on getting rid of them. It is not as easy as it sounds as it requires a lot of work and can be tedious. There are various ways and techniques you can use to get rid of rats and they are all different from one another, however, their main purpose remains the same-to eradicate these rodents. Techniques can include using traps such as snap traps or live traps. Some people opt for poison; however, it comes with a lot of baggage and its own set of problems.
Another way of getting rid of rats involves using professional rat removal services. It involves professionals coming to your property and properly removing rats after careful examination. These agencies can be costly and you may also find that they do not offer their services around your area.
The option of rat removal may appear ideal to you and you may wonder if you can get it free of cost. In that case, you should examine your situation. If your situation is severe, it may be covered by insurance and then you won’t have to pay a dime. This is the only way through which you might receive this service without any cost. It depends on your insurance agency policies as well as how severe your situation is.