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
Is It Common For Rats To Bite Humans While They're Sleeping?
There have been many cases reported in which human beings have been bitten by rodents. People tend to be alarmed when seeing a rat, not just for being repulsive but for the notoriety they have. However, some rumors are just myths that are a bit exaggerated.
Any animal tends to behave aggressively if they feel threatened or in a dangerous situation. In the case of rodents, the behavior is the same. Most of the times they want to go unnoticed, but if they feel cornered they can bite in defense to escape.
Can Rats Bite People While They're Asleep?
It is a rare thing that a rat climbs to someone's bed and bites them. Generally, the occasions in which a rodent climbs a piece of furniture has to do with dirtiness. A messy bed with crumbs of food will attract a rodent.
In these situations, the animal does not normally attack the person. However, some rats sometimes bite kids when they sleep. These exceptions happen because these kids are in low hygiene conditions with crumbs of food on their hands and the smell of this food is an open invitation for rats and their instinct for feeding.
Rats And Infections
People that have been bitten by a rat usually say it is a very strong pain. It is known that their teeth can deeply penetrate the skin, whereby it is necessary to act and clean the wound quickly to prevent the spread of diseases that can be caused when their saliva enters in contact with the bloodstream.
Rodents are vectors in the transmission of many diseases due to the bacteria and viruses they carry. A messy and dirty house is sought after by rodents, due to the abundance of areas suitable for nests. For this reason, if you wish to prevent a rodent infestation, you should keep your house clean.
