Leon County, Tallahassee Rat Control Situation:
Aloha David, We are just moving to Tallahassee but own a home in Honolulu. I am writing you because there are no rodent removal companies on Oahu and I don't have anyone I can get help or advice from. We recently discovered rodent droppings in our atticat the Honolulu home. After checking the roof, eaves, etc., we found the potential entry point into the attic. It is an existing vent opening that a contractor used for installation of a hot water heater pipe that was fed into the attic. (see photo) We sealed the opening with galvanized sheeting, screwed in place, caulked and painted. The opening was sealed off September 14,2012. Subsequently, we set snap and electronic traps in the attic. The morning after the first traps were set, we caught one rat in the rat zapper. None in the snap traps. The fifth day we caught another rat in the zapper. After several days of no more trappings, we completely vacuumed the attic space with a hepa vacuum. Feeling like there were no more rats in the attic, We removed the traps. We have been checking the attic everyday since the last rat was killed, on September 21,2012 and there have been no droppings... ...until this morning when my husband checked the attic. He found one rodent pellet on a beam about a foot from the attic access panel and several more maybe six feet or so from the opening. My question is twofold: 1) is it possible for a roof rat(s) to live in an attic space for an extended period of time without access to water (over 3 weeks), and 2) wouldn't we see more than 3 rat turds if there is current activity in the attic? I really would appreciate any advice or insights you can provide. I am so fearful of rodents and will have to return to Honolulu in less than a week to take care of the house while my husband returns to work here in Florida. If you feel so inclined, you can also reach me on my cell phone. Mahalo, Frances
Tallahassee Rat Control Tip of The Week
Norway Rat Biology
The Norway rat is typically nocturnal. It is a good swimmer; however, unlike the related black rat, it is a poor climber. Norway rats burrow well, and regularly uncover broad tunnel systems.
Rats are equipped for creating ultrasonic vocalizations, both as grown-ups and babies. They may likewise transmit short, high frequency, socially-prompted vocalization during interaction with different rats or animals. This call most takes after a trilling sound but is undetectable to human ears. Rats can discernibly be heard through calls sounding like squeaks when they are in trouble.
These rats are omnivores. This implies they can eat both plants and animals. As predators, rats are opportunistic.
The Norway rat can breed consistently if the conditions are reasonable, and a female can deliver up to twelve litters in a year. The gestation period is just 21 days, and litters can number up to fourteen, albeit smaller litters are common. In this way, the rat population can increase rapidly. Rats have a lifespan of around three years, yet regularly live less than one year.
Norway rats live in enormous hierarchical groups, either in tunnels or subsurface places, such as sewers and basements. When food is hard to come by, the rats lower in the social order are the first to die. If a large portion of a rat populace is eliminated from a zone, the rest will expand their reproductive rate, and rapidly reestablish the old populace level. This makes it imperative to have a plan to get rid of the entire rat population on your property if an infestation occurs.
