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
Can Rats Chew Through The Ceiling?
Rats Are Adept At Climbing:
Rats can fit through surprisingly small spaces and they are extremely adept climbers, it may not take long for a rat to make its way up to the ceiling and then to continue burrowing through the ceiling in an effort to make a nest.
Rats Have Powerful Teeth:
Rats have the ability to chew through almost anything. Certain varieties of brown rats are able to bite through cinderblocks and light concrete. Rather than facing rats that could potentially wreck your ceiling, it's wise to stop them before they have a chance to cause structural damage.
Rats Often Spend Time In Attics:
Rats like to spend time in attics because it can often give them quick access to the outside world. Chewing through the ceiling is a likely consideration because rats are likely to be spending time at the top of your home. Rats like to hide out in attics where they may not be disturbed and this will regularly lead to the chance that a rat could chew through your ceiling quite quickly.
Rats Make Short Work Of Items Like Drywall:
Because the majority of ceilings are made out of drywall and plaster, a rat can chew through these areas quite quickly. You could have a rat making its way through your ceiling tiles within just a matter of minutes and this can be potentially dangerous for the structural integrity of your home.
Rats Want To Be Where It's Warm:
It's likely that a rat will always be directed towards the ceiling as they want to be in an area where it's warm to raise their young. Because rats can breed so quickly and because they are likely to need access to a warm roof spot, you may find rats naturally gnawing through your ceiling.
