Montgomery County, Dayton Rat Control Situation:
Thanks for your excellent web page -- But here's the problem we are having: some sort of squirrelish-looking, rat-tailed tree rat variety has already taken over our attic en masse. I have no idea how they are getting in. They first appeared when we were removing large, dangerous trees from our yard. One attraction may have been the bird seed in our storage room, which they chewed open the bags and made a feast of it all around. They pitter-patter all night, literally re-arranging the attic and storage room -- and sounding as if they are trying to claw through the ceiling. The number of them is truly terrifying when I enter the storage room. They haven't gotten into our house yet -- they seem content with the remnants of seeds thus far. How do we get rid of them?
David, I found your page while searching for how to get rid of rats in the walls. We hear them crawling around the ceiling and walls. We have seen them in our garage which is honestly full of junk. Last night, I went out there and saw one for the first time and it ran over all kinds of stuff and disappeared into a small hole in the wall. I put an electric rat trap by the opening. I have gone to the attics and see a few droppings in one but nothing like I saw in the garage. I have no idea how to get these bastards out of my walls and ceilings. I have tried putting my cat out in the garage but he hasn't caught one yet. Any help you can offer is appreciated.
Hello David, I just bought a house and the second night I was sleeping, heard attic noises and am sure it was a rat or mice, scratching. I got so shook up I couldn't sleep all night. Is there someone you could recommend to help me? I live in Dayton OH. Thank you!
Hi David! Iam going crazy with this! I have something chewing and spitting out little bites from my mats I have in my basement. I have a daycare down there, I have an exterminator for mice and water bugs once a month. But there is gnawing at my mats! With no droppings. I know during the course of chewing there should be droppings. And there is quiet a few sections if knawing. I was wondering what it could be?? Please help me! Thank you!!!
Dayton Rat Control Tip of The Week
Norway Rat Biology
The Norway rat is typically nocturnal. It is a good swimmer; however, unlike the related black rat, it is a poor climber. Norway rats burrow well, and regularly uncover broad tunnel systems.
Rats are equipped for creating ultrasonic vocalizations, both as grown-ups and babies. They may likewise transmit short, high frequency, socially-prompted vocalization during interaction with different rats or animals. This call most takes after a trilling sound but is undetectable to human ears. Rats can discernibly be heard through calls sounding like squeaks when they are in trouble.
These rats are omnivores. This implies they can eat both plants and animals. As predators, rats are opportunistic.
The Norway rat can breed consistently if the conditions are reasonable, and a female can deliver up to twelve litters in a year. The gestation period is just 21 days, and litters can number up to fourteen, albeit smaller litters are common. In this way, the rat population can increase rapidly. Rats have a lifespan of around three years, yet regularly live less than one year.
Norway rats live in enormous hierarchical groups, either in tunnels or subsurface places, such as sewers and basements. When food is hard to come by, the rats lower in the social order are the first to die. If a large portion of a rat populace is eliminated from a zone, the rest will expand their reproductive rate, and rapidly reestablish the old populace level. This makes it imperative to have a plan to get rid of the entire rat population on your property if an infestation occurs.
