Kanawha County, Charleston Rat Control Situation:
Hello David. I have a problem at my West Virginia home & not quite sure how to resolve it. I hear scratching noises between a wall in my house. I believe it's a rat. How do I get it out?
Thanks for your useful information about rat in the attic. I have tried to find and seal up all entry points as possible, but the rats still can get into the attic once in a while. You mentioned about vent, and I'm thinking about the roof splashing vent from the bathroom. There is big space under the "umbrella" covering the opening of the splash and I wonder if they can climb or jump up and get into the attic. Please advise. Thanks.
Hi David, I enjoy your website. It is very informative. I found your website after noticing a couple pieces of rat feces in the attic and, what looked like a hole burrowing down in the insulation. I got paranoid, and set a trap with peanut butter but have not caught anything in 4 days. I did not think there were any entry areas as our roof was just replaced a few moths ago, BUT after I did an inspection I did find what looked like a half-circle chewed where the wood meets brick. I couldn't believe it! I patched that with steel the next day and became paranoid there were other holes. After a complete roof inspection I found a couple gaps between brick and wood that could be entry points. I completely repaired/closed all entry points... My question is how long should I leave that trap in the attic if I haven't caught anything? I don't think that rat stayed in the attic???? Thanks again and very informative website!
My name is Julio and I am worried becuase I always hear running noises in my bedroom cieling. How do I get rid of these mice . Where should I look for holes ? Can I call an rodent exterminater. Thank for the article.
Charleston 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.
