Tarrant County, Fort Worth Rat Control Situation:
I have been caring for a rat since 2004 when she was displaced as an infant during hurricane here in Texas. I actually had two but had the other released. I kept the this one due to her having neurological brain damage from falling out of her nest as a baby and she was also blind so she could not care for herself. I recently had to leave town, let my neighbor care for her. I was gone for a week.
On my way back I stopped and bought her a new toy to play with and a new water bottle because hers was getting kinda green and I couldn't clean it all out. Anyway I got back on a Sunday night and found that she was not moving. The lady said she had been acting like that for a couple of days. I picked her up she was almost dead. She could not stand up she just lay there with a little movement not much. I tried to give her water she drank a tiny bit but no more. I later tried to soak her monkey biscuits in water to feed some to her with water mixed in a syringe, again she took a tiny bit and that's all. About an hour later I juiced an apple and mashed a banana she likes apples and bananas and I thought something sweet would help her she had a little that's all. It was awful she was just lying there in my hand cold and limp could barely keep her eyes open. I live in B.F.E with nothing around so I had to wait it out till the next day to get her to a vet. I put her in my room in a small box with heat because she felt cool. I'm not dumb I knew she wasn't going to be ok and she never made it through the night.
The next day I checked her cage for anything to explaine what might have happened, she had water, her cage was still pretty clean from when I cleaned and changed everything which I thought was odd. there was very little evidence of food from the week except her untouched food that was probably given to her that day or the day before. Did this lady starve her to death, was it the water, a spider bite I wish I knew. I miss her and feel terrible for her. I just wish I new what had happened. I had been told that she may not live that long due to her problems but I just don't think that's what killed her. What is your opinion please some input.
Hi David, I am in a bad rat place in Fort Worth, Texas- it's so bad we now have maggots in our house L. Myhusband has used your website for a reference for a couple of years, but wejust don't have the time or expertise to really fix our ratproblem. We really need a reputable company that will be able to find thepoint of entry into our house (now), and I would like to verify with you (theauthority) that Tru Tech is the company to use. Thanks in advance, Kindra
Fort Worth Rat Control Tip of The Week
How Likely Is It That A Rat In The Attic Will Have A Nest Of Babies?
Rats are among the most common pest animal species that people may have to deal with around the home, and because they are quite small they can often be quite elusive little animals to deal with as well. They are quite good climbers when it comes to moving around a domestic property, so if you are worried about rats, they won?t necessarily be around ground level. Because the attic or roof space of most domestic properties is rarely used, it can often be the dark quiet place where rats can get a foothold and build a nest without being noticed by the people living beneath.
Do Rats Have A Mating Season?
Like most wild animals, rats in the wild do have a mating season, where they will normally copulate and impregnate female rats in the spring, and then the female will then give birth a few weeks later, and can then have a few litters over the summer. However, the reason for the mating season is that in rural areas there are limited food sources available during the winter months, so it is impractical for rats to mate during these months. However, over recent decades, a growing number of rats are actually giving birth throughout the year because food sources are also present throughout the year, so whatever time of the year you discover rats in the attic, you may find there are babies there too.
How Often Will Rats Give Birth?
Because of how quickly rats can go from mating to giving birth to a litter of baby rats, a female rat can often be back and ready to mate again within a few weeks from giving birth. This means that in some cases female rats can give birth to up to ten litters a year, so the population of rats from one breeding female can increase very quickly. It is also worth noting that a baby female will actually become sexually mature herself after around six weeks from birth, so the possibility for a rat population to expand very quickly where there is sufficient food is certainly there.
Dealing With Rats In The Attic
When it comes to dealing with a rat infestation, the first step is to identify where in the attic the rats are active, and while taking the appropriate precautions, look for areas where there is a buildup of rat droppings. You should then place several rat traps in these areas of the attic, along with a small amount of food as bait, and the next step is simply to watch and wait. You should remove any rat carcasses as they are caught in your traps, and then re-lay the trap with a new serving of bait, and you should then continue this process until you no longer see any signs of fresh rat activity, and when you are no longer catching any more rats. You will then need to carry out the appropriate repairs.
What To Do With A Nest Of Baby Rats
In some cases you may actually find a nest of baby rats in the attic, and if they are very young they will often be unable to look after themselves, and will ultimately die if they have to live without the support and feeding from their mother. Because of how common they are, baby rats are rarely suitable to be looked after by a wildlife rehabilitator, so in this case the most humane thing that you can do will be to kill those baby rats as humanely as possible.
