Dauphin County, Harrisburg Rat Control Situation:
David, I found your website very thorough and educational, especially when researching how to handle the rats in my walls/attic. I do have a question though. How do you install steel mesh barriers in the crawl space with the dirt? Won't they dig and try to get under the mesh? Unfortunately, I do not have a husband and need to try to resolve this issue myself so want to do it "right the first time". Any help you can give is appreciated.
Hi David, I found your website "Rats In The Attic" very interesting. I live in a 2-story house. My bedroom is on the second floor, and I get awaken many times at night by the sound of a rodent chewing in the ceiling, but there is no activity there during the day. I could not find any place the rodent could get in there, even from the attic. I liked your idea of setting a trap in the attic to lure this rodent from the ceiling space, and would like to get your advice. Do you have any suggestions on how I could figure out by the sound alone if the rodent is a mouse, a rat, or a squirrel - so I would set an appropriate trap? Please let me know the size of the trap and what bait should I use for this rodent. Thank you.
I have Rats in my Garage and have been using a Rat Bait plus I have a pest control company come out but the Rats do not like HIS bait but seems to be ok with the Home Depot products. What do you charge to ‘take care' of these pasty rats? I just dumped my 2nd dead rat in the trash can for this week!
What if there is scratching at 8:30 in the morning as well as around almost 11 at night on inconsistent days? Is it most likely a rat? The scratching noises arent small mouse ones . I put the fireplace on ( which i just read not to do) and deetermined it isn't in the fireplace because the scratching continued after the fireplace was on for a couple minutes. What could this be ? And outside in our very small backyard... Where are some possible entry points? Would the entry point most likely be where the rat is scratching or if the scratching is in he back yard walls the rat could have come from all the way in the front if the house (should i be looking all around the exterior if he house?)
Harrisburg Rat Control Tip of The Week
Will Rats Hide From People?
The survival instinct of rats leads them to be cautious animals. The fear of being eaten by other predators makes them live in dark places and avoid being seen in broad daylight. People who come in contact with a rat may have several reactions, but the most common one is panic trying to shoo it away or kill it with whatever they have on hand. This situation causes fear in rodents who will look for hiding places and avoid being seen again.
The Mystery Of Smell
Rats use their powerful sense of smell as an effective survival technique. Through odors, a rat can perceive a predator, including species that are still unknown to the animal. Surprisingly, rats flee from cats not only because they know they may be eaten, but also because cat saliva contains chemicals that cause fear when rodents detect them.
Rats Are Pests To Humans
Farmers usually farm in warm places with relative humidity. Likewise, city dwellers tend to have a busy lifestyle, so their environment can quickly lead to clutter and disorder. Both scenarios are perfect for rodents who need the shelter and food provided by a barn, a dump, a messy house, or a sewer.
Rats are quite practical and, if necessary, can adapt to living anywhere, even in a somewhat messy house. The conditions for living comfortably and reproducing are emphasized in people's homes.
Human beings can unknowingly provide rodents with everything they need to survive, turning them into a pest. Rats, being able to take advantage of everything, from rigorously stored food to napkins thrown away, are able to grow as a population. The main consequence of a growing rodent population is the damage to people's health.
