Jackson County, Kansas City Rat Control Situation:
My mother has a medium size varment running around and we have put snap traps out only for it to get away with the peanut butter. waste of good peanut butter! The strange thing is it's eating the philadrium plant taking leaves off. not touching lucky bamboo in water ot the amarilys bad spelling. can you tell me why? Anyway, I've got a dozen traps baited with peanut butter on the obvious trails up there. My question is: should I put traps on top of the insulation (I've got loose blown insulation), on the joists (which aren't quite wide enough), move the insulation out of the way between the joists and put the trap on the ceiling drywall, or something else? I kind of did a mix for this first run, and I guess I'll figure it out eventually through trial and error, but I'd welcome any advice and any other tips would be greatly appericated. gail
I read the articles on your web site. Back in August, I had a new roof, soffit, eavesthrough done. Everything appears fine, the company did a great job, no complaints. About 2 weeks ago, we stated to hear scratching noises in the attic between 2 - 4 am. The noises are in the light to medium range, it does not seems to be a large animal such as a racoon. So, I have no idea what is up there, but I obviously have to deal with it. I walked around the house and up on the roof to see if I could find any entrances. I could not find any. Would you have any idea on what animal would be up there at this time of year. I live in Ontario Canada, about 30 miles west of Toronto. I'm going to start with setting mouse traps. Any advice/suggestions would be helpful.
Kansas City Rat Control Tip of The Week
Can Rats Make Chirping Noises?
Rats are nocturnal animals; they avoid brightly lit places at all costs and prefer damp, dark places out of sight. But because of their great agility and incredible dexterity, they can fit into any place and their presence will be almost imperceptible, due to the low sound frequency they emit.
Rats Communicate
Although they obviously cannot talk, rats have the ability to communicate through pheromones, which are chemical substances secreted by living beings; they use these to warn other rats about any danger. Also, they use vocalizations (almost imperceptible sounds), to associate with pain, discomfort, or uneasiness.
They have other sounds in a higher ultrasonic frequency to identify well-being. It is said that there are specific interactions using a shriek; sexual activities, communication between mother and pup, or situations where the aggressiveness of other rats can be identified.
So Are Rats' Sounds Really Imperceptible?
Their sound is almost imperceptible to the human ear, but among them, this form of communication is very powerful. Their senses of smell, touch, and hearing are highly developed and this is what allows them to walk so boldly through the night.
But if we pay attention and are close enough, we can perhaps hear their gnawing, prowling, and even fighting movements. Just keep in mind that if you are close enough to perceive their screeching, it is because the rat feels in danger and these animals, unlike mice, can attack!
Can This Squeak Affect The Human Ear?
These sounds could not affect in any way your ear; but it may affect our well-being, as their sound can attract more and more rats over time, and this can become a real headache.
Surely you don't want to have a family of rats hanging around your house, your kitchen, or your restaurant. The best thing to do is get rid of rats as soon as you realize they are present in your property.
