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 Do Rats Chew On Wires?
Insulation, wires, straw, cardboard, paper, and different materials assist rodents with survival because they can utilize any of those things to build bigger homes, hone their teeth, and more.
Rats find it a lot simpler to chew wires, cable, wood, and even water warming pipes than most other materials because of their teeth. The chewing of wires and cables by rats has been identified as one of the main sources of blackouts in some homes. Out of these materials, wires appear to be the most attractive to rats and mice.
Why Do They Chew On Wires?
Let's review the most common issues relating to rats chewing on wires that some homeowners face every day:- Rodents don't go around searching for wires to chew on. They happen to get a kick out of the chance to stow away in places where other shrouded things are commonly found, for example, your home electric and security wiring system.
- One thing with wires is that they are all over the place, and rats have a nature to follow anything they can bite to keep their teeth from over developing. If they don't bite on wires, they will, in the long run, bite on everything else: glass, plastic, elastic, wood, aluminum, rock, and even concrete.
- Even though rats can chew anything, they love wire more when it comes to grinding their teeth. They can hold the wire as they chew, giving them more control. As you most likely know, rats and mice have sharp teeth, which keep growing unless they find a way to control the growth. This is why they choose wires.
- Keep in mind that rats and mice don't just chew on house wires. They also chew vehicle wires.
