Fairfield County, Bridgeport Rat Control Situation:
Hi, I found a live rat in my toilet bowl today. I was able to kill it and remove it. I have never seen any signs of rats in the house at all. I live in Fairfield County CT, Greenwich. Is there something I can install to prevent rats from getting into my toilet bowl via pipes in the future? Thanks in advance, Sincerely, Jay
I found your site on the web. We made an offer on a house North of Brdigeport CT and the inspection found a mouse infestation in the attic and crawl space. 14 on a scale of 1-10 according to our inspector. The house has been vacant for a year, so I can imagine it could be bad. While we are working with the seller to correct (rid, prevent and clean) (Andersen Pest and Servicemaster) I am curious from your experience can it ever really be corrected? I mean I know there is always a chance for mice, but is this an acute problem we can deal with if done correctly or is this going to be a chronic problem where we will be dealing with it for the next 30 years? I want the house, but I have two small children so their health and safety is my primary concern. Thanks, Julia
Bridgeport Rat Control Tip of The Week
Rats And Black Pepper
Rats eat almost anything. In their search for food, they can gnaw on plastic, wood, and even electrical wiring. A rat presence in your home can cause a lot of economic damage.
When this expense is added to the health problems rats' body fluids can cause, the best thing a person can do is getting them out of the house as soon as possible. The most common extermination way is using traps or rodenticides. However, there are more natural methods such as the use of peppers that cause unpleasant odors and tastes for the rodent and quickly drive them away.
Odors That Repel
Using repellents with unpleasant odors for rats is a way to keep them away from you in a friendly way. The advantage of not having to deal with the rodent's carcass can be worth the effort of constantly using these temporary methods. Rodents use their sense of smell to socialize as well as to survive. An odor such as ammonia often drives them away because it is very similar to the urine of large animals that could devour them. Spicy odors are perceived as dangerous chemicals that are also often avoided at all costs.
Black Pepper
Spicy food odors are unbearable for rats, thanks to their high capsaicin content. These natural compounds give the food its spicy effect, but they are also often very irritating to the mucous membranes and lungs of rodents. If ingested, they can cause a burning sensation in the taste buds and olfactory glands. Pepper is known to be able to scare away rats temporarily although this is not scientifically proven.
For all those people who are afraid of having to deal with poisons or homemade traps, finding new and less harmful options is a headache; however, homemade repellents like black pepper avoid harming other animals and humans, being a perfect choice. In any case, even if they are harmless odors, it is advisable to seek the advice and follow the instructions of a professional in the field.