Cumberland County, Fayetteville Rat Control Situation:
Found about 3 or 4 of these in my greenhouse. Poop is about 3/4 of an inch long. Some of the others had a white piece of stuff attached to the end but it disintegrated when I tried to move it. I had to wet this a little so you could see it cause it had mold growing on it. Also it did not appear to be completely round. I think it was ever so slightly oval. I've had a rat issue around my home before when I used to have a rabbit, probably the same type that lives underground? Is it true that rats will not stay in places that are open? I was thinking I should leave the greenhouse door open. It's not glass, it's screen with a tin roof. (I staple plastic up in the winter). I live in NE Florida. Thanks in advance for your input. Much appreciated.
Hi David, I have had Exterminators out to my house and they claimed to have closed up any openings in my attic however I am still hearing the noises in my attic. There has also been a raccoon and possums that sit on the fence at night and drive my dogs crazy. I don't think they could be in the attic at night. When the exterminator was here they caught 2 rats in the attic and one outside. I believe there is another one caught outside on the side of the house. I want to know what I can do or how much you charge to take care of the rat problem I am having. I live in La Verne. I would appreciate any help you could give me. I have been dealing with this for a long time.
Fayetteville Rat Control Tip of The Week
Using Exclusion Funnels To Get Rid Of Rats Without Killing Them
Rats are probably the second most common species of rodent to be found in our towns and cities after rats, and like their larger relations, they can also often find their way into many different areas of the domestic property. Because rats can carry diseases, and can also transmit them by soiling food and water sources, it is natural to want to get rid of them as soon as possible. Exclusion funnels are one approach that can be used to try and get rid of rats from your home.
How Do The Exclusion Funnels Work?
Ultimately, the funnels are designed so that the rats can easily get in through the wide end of the funnel, and can then push themselves out of the narrow end of the funnel when they are leaving a particular area of your property. However, when they try to get back in the narrow end of the funnel the entrance is too small and cannot be prized open, meaning the rats are not able to get back into the area where they are causing the problem. The key aspect with exclusion funnels is that the rats really do need to be contained in one area of the home.
Preparation Work To Install Your Exclusion Funnels
The first step before you install any exclusion funnels in your property is to carry out a detailed search of where they are active, and then to identify all of the holes the rats are using to get in and out of that area. The reason for this is that you need to be able to deal with each entry point the rats may use so that when you install the funnels, they cannot simply come back in through another entry point. While carrying out this work, it is usually a wise precaution to wear long sleeved clothing and gloves, along with a breathing mask and goggles to protect yourself from any disease transmission.
Where To Place Your Exclusion Funnels
It is usually best to only place one or two exclusion funnels, and then seal the remaining access points that you can find in the area where the rats are nesting. When choosing which entry points to install your exclusion funnels, the best options are usually those that have the heaviest traffic, and should be indicated by a greater buildup of rat droppings and urine stains.
Monitoring The Rat Activity In Your Home
Once you have installed the exclusion funnels, the next step is to monitor the area to see how effective the funnels have been. In some cases, this part of the work can actually prove to be quite trial and error, as the rats will often have other secret entry points that you may not have found on your first search of the area. In this instance you will then have to search the area again, and try and find the other access point the rats are using to get in and out.
The Challenges Of Using Exclusion Funnels To Deal With Rats
One of the key benefits of using exclusion funnels to deal with rats is that it doesn?t kill the animals so you don?t have to dispose of any carcasses. However, this also means that the rats can try and find other ways to get into your home, which means it can take longer to deal with them than if you were to use lethal means to deal with a rat infestation. The other issue with using exclusion funnels for such small animals is that because of their size, it is very difficult and detailed work to actually find all of the holes they are using to get in and out.
