Kings County, New York City Rat Control Situation:
Hi, I found your site very informative and helpful. I live in a ground floor duplex in New York City and we have had a rat problem in between our two floors since last August. The management company has sent an exterminator out several times-- to remove carcasses from the ceiling, place rodenticide in the ceiling, and fill any holes outside the apartment building. The problem is still going on almost a year later and we can't seem to figure out how they are getting in.
There is definitely less scratching and scurrying now compared to a few months ago, but the smell is consistently unbearable as something dies in the ceiling every few weeks to the point that I am ready to just move out. I have asked the management company to take a more proactive approach to the problem rather than reactive when I call and complain, perhaps gut the ceiling to expose the problem area, but they don't seem willing to do it. I can imagine there are a lot of droppings and urine in addition to at least 3-4 dead carcasses. Would the smell disappate if no more rats could get in (i.e. if we found and closed the access points), or is that something that will just continue to fester?
I am trying to make a case to the management that it is necessary for them to clean all the droppings and carcasses to restore the apartment to a sanitary environment. I noticed on your site you mentioned that rats can smell the droppings and urine of other rats, indicating the area is a safe habitat. I also think opening the ceiling might expose the access points. Apparently my unit is the only one of 47 in the building with a reported rat problem. Do you have any suggestions? Best regards, Alexandra
My response: Sounds like a very tough case. The entry holes into the building, or at least, the apartment, must be found and sealed! Check behind the oven, for example. The odor will disappear as soon as all rats are gone and any biomass dries up.
Thanks for the response! I got them to remove the entire ceiling and they said they removed some carcasses and closed a bunch of holes inside. I was on a business trip the past week and will see the result tonight. Fingers crossed the problem is resolved!
New York City Rat Control Tip of The Week
Why Is Rat Feces Dangerous To Breathe Or Touch?
Apart from rats being a significant threat to your house, the health implications of having their feces around your home is something that you need to be concerned about. Rat feces are carriers of all kinds of pathogens and diseases that can infect you when you have direct contact with them. This simply shows how dangerous rat feces are and why it is very important for you to avoid touching them or breathing them in.
Rats are a very active household pest, you can find them at almost every corner of your home, including your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and other rooms in your home. If you have a rat problem, their feces will be found in all these places. This shows that you are at risk of getting infected if the proper sanitization of your home is not done.
Rat feces are carriers of dozens of pathogens and bacteria, with each of these having the possibility of causing lethal health complications. One of the most common of these rat feces related infections is Hantavirus. This particular infection is medically known to cause severe health complications that could lead to death if not managed properly.
To simply avoid exposing yourself to these infections and diseases, you need to avoid touching or breathing in rat feces. The best way to avoid this is to use personal protective equipment such as gloves and a mask when cleaning your home.
Also, if you have a rat problem, you need to hire a professional wildlife agent to help disinfect your home after removing all the rats. By doing this, you will be able to protect yourself from the diseases and pathogens carried by rat feces.
