Polk County, Des Moines Rat Control Situation:
Hi David, Great website! Thank you for providing that resource. I was hoping you might have a bit of advice for me. I looked but didn't see anything about dealing with rats that burrow in your backyard. We have a burrow that appears to be extensive (based on our scientific experiment of emptying all the water in a kiddie pool into the hole). It has been there in one shape or another since we moved into the home about a year ago. We have filled it with rocks, planted grass over it, covered it with large stones, nothing keeps the hole from reappearing. So far we have not seen any evidence of current habitation in our home but have an old house with a bad foundation and it doesn't seem impossible that rats could get in if they wanted to. We have been using a rat zapper baited with peanut butter out near the hole and where we think they would run for a week to no success. We don't leave it out during the day due to neighbors cats and a toddler. We know there are rats around because we see them from our windows in our neighbors bamboo patch every evening. We have been wary of hiring a pest control company based on the terrible stories you hear about them, but will use your list of referrals for wildlife control people. Just wondering if getting rid of the hole while it is outside is even feasible, something we should try on our own but just didnt think of the right strategy, or something a pro could handle. Thanks!!
Des Moines Rat Control Tip of The Week
How To Identify Rat Feces And Where Is It Found?
Dark Brown In Color:
You can recognize the look of rat droppings for their dark brown color. Unlike other animals that have darker feces, rats have a darker brown that does not border upon black.
The Shape:
The shape is often spindle and tapered to be less conspicuous. Most rats have a spindle shape for their feces and the pieces will be no larger than a grain of rice.
The Volume:
Each rat can produce up to 40 droppings in a single evening and this can mean that you are likely to find a series of piles across your home especially if you are facing a larger rat population. As you continue to identify the look of rat feces across your home, you are going to notice piles and likely find rats nearby.
Keep An Eye Out For Rub Marks:
Rub marks are another common sign that you have rats in your home. Rats naturally have grease or dirt on their body and because of their poor eyesight they often leave a series of smudges across your home. The darker marks show areas where the rats are regularly moving throughout your home and potentially entering into areas like the walls. If you started to notice various areas where there could be marks and feces, this offers an excellent chance that you could have a rat inside your home.
Be Careful While Cleaning:
Rats carry a series of diseases and it's very important that you are able to clean up any feces that you find to prevent the chance that a family pet will get into it or that you could be exposed to potential diseases.
