Santa Clara County, San Jose Rat Control Situation:
First off, love the website. thanks for the resource. Ive had rats for 6 months and have been trapping to get rid of them. After the first 3 months of trapping and 12 rats, i found an open sewer vent in a hidden part of my attic. i fixed that, but im still catching a rat every 2 weeks in snap traps. I sucked all the blown cellulose out of the hip-roof section of my house when i thought they were initially gone, and unfortunately they must now living in the flat roof portion that i cant access (recently added on). The outside of house is tight as a drum. Three rat pros have looked it over and dont see openings. so my question is....can rats be smart enough to live there for the past 3 months and avoid the traps????????? Maybe the rats saved up a lot of food when previous homeowner stored birdseed in attic? maybe they dont come into the hip roof often enough to die on the traps? Either that, or i must have another plumbing issue that i havnt found yet and they are still getting in. id rather think that i just need to be patient, but id like to get your opinion. Going insane, Mark
Hey Dave, Been reading your website and I think your main point is - there's no easy shortcut to mice removal - simple technique and put the effort in. I did purchase an electrical device that plugs into an outlet and emits a pulse through existing electrical wiring - I know, probably a gimmick, but I've heard a lot less scratching in my attic since (shrug). The field mice are still in the attic though - I see the dropping everywhere and I hear some scratching at night - I even see the suckers sometimes when I crack open the attic door. I will try some of your DIY techniques - but I was wondering if you can recommend a pro in the central NJ area? I'm in Los Gatos CA. Thanks! John
hi david, i read your article online and agree with you about exterminators. however what can i do about the mice in my attic. i went to turn on the central ac in my home and mice poop came out of the ceiling registers. i have heard some movement during the middle of the night up in my attic and within my walls. i have trapped some mice in the garage at times and than all is well i thought. my home is a manufactured high ranch. i live in mahopac ny. i also have a cat so i figured that would keep the mice population down because we never see any signs in the living areas or cabinets. what do you recommend i do moving forward. thank you for your help in this matter. if you like i can be reach on my cell phone. ken w
San Jose Rat Control Tip of The Week
Why Do Rats Chew On Wires?
Insulation, wires, straw, cardboard, paper, and different materials assist rodents with survival because they can utilize any of those things to build bigger homes, hone their teeth, and more.
Rats find it a lot simpler to chew wires, cable, wood, and even water warming pipes than most other materials because of their teeth. The chewing of wires and cables by rats has been identified as one of the main sources of blackouts in some homes. Out of these materials, wires appear to be the most attractive to rats and mice.
Why Do They Chew On Wires?
Let's review the most common issues relating to rats chewing on wires that some homeowners face every day:- Rodents don't go around searching for wires to chew on. They happen to get a kick out of the chance to stow away in places where other shrouded things are commonly found, for example, your home electric and security wiring system.
- One thing with wires is that they are all over the place, and rats have a nature to follow anything they can bite to keep their teeth from over developing. If they don't bite on wires, they will, in the long run, bite on everything else: glass, plastic, elastic, wood, aluminum, rock, and even concrete.
- Even though rats can chew anything, they love wire more when it comes to grinding their teeth. They can hold the wire as they chew, giving them more control. As you most likely know, rats and mice have sharp teeth, which keep growing unless they find a way to control the growth. This is why they choose wires.
- Keep in mind that rats and mice don't just chew on house wires. They also chew vehicle wires.
