Montgomery County, Clarksville Rat Control Situation:
Thought I had a red squirrel in my 6 inch cottage attic space as I caught one before in a live trap on the roof. Never heard noise after that for a while. Now the noise is back. However I just read that red squirrels aren't nocturnal, is that true? It stirs in the night and sets my dog to barking.... but usually around 4:00 am though. Tonight about 2:00am I heard something in the kitchen and now there are feces on my kitchen counter and on the toaster over. They are black and look just like mouse droppings only very large. Do you think it may be a red squirrel or a rat? There are lots of red squirrels and mice in this remote area but I have never seen a rat.
I've been reading your site and really appreciate the info. If I don't have the stomach to handle this, or I don't trust my husband to do a thorough job, what should I expect to pay an exterminator? I live in Clarksville TN. The vermin are in a place in think is probably very difficult for humans to access.
I was reading your very informative article, and I'm having a problem locating the access panel for my new double wide mobile home. Which is really a pre-fab home with regular 6 inch walls. Is it possible that the crawl,space is accessible through the roof? I have looked very closely in both rooms, and closets. No luck. I've had a professional trapper come to my condo last week to set traps in the ceilings of my kitchen and 2nd floor bathroom. He sealed up any entry points outside. So far I've only caught one rat but I think I still hear scratchings at night. I haven't caught any for a whole week now. what should I do?
We recently started noting rat dropping in our house.. we live in a townhouse and most of the droppings were on stairs leading to first floor.. we immediately called pet control and they kept bait in the kitchen , 1st floor and attic..however rat is still coming in.. we are unable to locate the entry point and since sealed 2 places.. sides of dish washer and kitchen exhaust(lamp cover is open) ... we still see it coming.. place we live in is newly built townhouse.. 4 yrs old.. i cannot find a place in the ground floor as point of entry.
Clarksville Rat Control Tip of The Week
Can A Rat Hurt A Human?
Rodents are animals that do not represent a direct threat to people. Although they are intelligent, they do not harm for pleasure. Most of the time, they are just bacteria carriers, but they do not spread them with the intention of starting a pandemic. The cases in which rats have harmed children, might have been because at that moment their instinct was activated to survive. Most houses that are invaded by this urban plague is because they do not take necessary preventive measures and rats have easy access to any corner of the house.
Rats vs. people
Man is surrounded by animals that are predators, so over the years, he decided to protect himself and shelter in homes. Some animals are attracted to find refuge in these homes due to the same necessity of protection and food that humans have. Rodents and people in the same house are a bad combination because of the structural and health damage that rodents can cause.
Can a rat make me sick?
Rats are animals whose excrement, urine, and saliva can contain a great number of bacteria damaging for people's health. Among the most well-known diseases are salmonellosis, leptospirosis, and hepatitis. The most common wounds caused by rodents are bites and scratches. An open and deep wound caused by rodents that come in contact with fluid from a rat will be an open door for microorganisms to spread into the bloodstream causing systemic infections that can be severe and even cause death.
In summary, it can be said that rats can hurt humans through infections by having contact with their fluids or can accidently cause scratches and bites through measures of self-defense. On the other hand, people that have a phobia of these little animals may have psychological damage when coming in contact with them.