Harris County, Houston Rat Control Situation:
Dear Pest Control Agency, My name is Juan and I am working on my doctoral dissertation in Biology at Rice University, Houston, Texas. I have an undergraduate researcher who helps me with my research, and we both work in the laboratory of Prof. Michael. We have studied rats and mice in Europe, and we use the information to study a number of questions, including how rodent populations are connected between continents or within countries. One part of our work deals with the question of whether rats and mice in the US have developed resistance to rodent poisons, about which little is known. Our hope is that during pest control you will be able to obtain the tail tips (about 1 inch) of rats and mice that can be found at rodent infested sites. These could be collected from dead animals, and of course, we would send you everything you would need (scissors, tubes, gloves, prepaid shipping, etc.). If you decide to help us in our research, we would like to offer you a Domino's giftcard as a thank you for your efforts! We have received a large amount of support from a few pest control agencies so far. It would be wonderful if you would also consider helping us! Attached is a simple spreadsheet where a few details on the sampling are described. We do not need any specific information regarding locations where sampling was done, and no names of owners or of employees, etc. are needed. However, if you would like we would be more than happy to promote your company name in our research paper! Please feel free to contact us by email or phone if you have any other questions or concerns. Thank you so much for your consideration, and I hope to hear from you soon! Sincerely, Juan
Houston Rat Control Tip of The Week
Non-lethal Ways To Get Rid Of Rats
If you are the type that considers rats as small cute-looking creatures, you might feel bad for wanting to kill them because they are causing a nuisance in your home. The fact is, your feelings do count. But at the same time, you can't afford to continue watching as these little creatures destroy your home and put your life at the risk of contracting diseases.
We understand how you feel, which is why we will be sharing non-lethal ways to get rid of the rats in your home. With this, you will be able to get rid of the rats without actually killing them.
1. Get A Cat
Cats and rats are natural enemies. If you have a cat in your home, rats will try as much as possible to do all they can to avoid your home. The sound and smell of the cat alone will trigger the sense of the rats and will make them stay as far away as they can. With this method, you will be able to get rid of the rats in your home without even having direct contact with them.
2. Trap And Release
This is another way to get rid of the rats in your home, the only issue with the use of this method is that cannot be used in a home where there are many rats. This is mainly because rats are smart and will end up figuring out that it's a trap after they see it capture one or two other rats. To trap and release a rat, all you need is a live trap and bait.
Also, you need to understand the fact that when you capture a rat and release it into another environment, its chances of survival are very slim.
3. Use Natural Rat Repellent
Just like other animals, rats are sensitive to some smells and they will do all they can to stay away from those areas. You can take advantage of this as well and use it to get rid of the rats in your home. A mixture of cayenne pepper and peppermint will help you get this done.
