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
How Can I Get Rid Of A Rat In My Bedroom?
Fill In Gaps And Cracks:
It's likely that there could be areas across your bedroom where rats can easily enter into your home. This could mean filling in cracks and gaps along the baseboard of your room or at the top of your room where the ceiling meets it. Filling in these gaps and cracks will make sure that a rat cannot enter and leave freely.
Remove Food:
If you regularly keep old plates and food in your bedroom it is important to remove these items and clean up your room as quickly as possible. More areas for rats to hide and more food sources will make sure that a rat will continually go back to that room.
Trim Overhanging Branches:
If you have branches that overhang to a window in your bedroom or hang close to the roof of your bedroom, you should trim them back as this can be a perfect way that rats can access your property.
Set Traps That Are Not Dangerous To Pets:
It's likely that you still want to have your pets in your bedroom so you will need to use a trap that is safe for your room and that will also be widely effective at catching rats. Making sure that you are using a safe trap to remove a rat is a great way to capture an animal that has been getting into your bedroom. Rats can spread poison easily so you should never consider using a poison trap, especially in the bedroom.
Remove Nesting Material Often:
If you find nesting material around your bedroom or in the walls, make sure that you are removing it often to discourage rats from breeding and setting up for a long time in your room.
