The best pest control for
rats is to look at reducing the number around the house and on
the roof, sealing all opening and weak points of the building,
trapping extensively for any rodents sealed inside when the
repairs are done, and lastly removing the rodent marking scent
from the attic.
1). Landscaping:
No fallen citrus fruits left lying on the ground, no trees
resting against the side of the house, and no overgrown
cluttering bushes around the house. The first step of getting
rid of a rat problem is to reduce the number on the outside
around your house. There will always be rats outside. But the
condition of the yard determines whether only occasional rats
will pass by or whether rats will consistently be crawling
around the house and roof. When rats are consistently around a
house, they will inevitably find their way inside.
The most important factor of landscaping is to make sure
all tree branches are 3 feet away from the roof.
2). Inspect the
building for openings, and seal all weak points.
All homes have potential openings where rodents can get in. The
most common entry points are along the eave, particularly where
the soffit corners into the roof. When rats entered a building,
they consistently have to go outside to get food and water.
The most important step in solving a rat or mouse
problem is finding and closing off all the entry points into the
home.
Entry points should be sealed with steel. Foaming holes will not
rat proof the entry point, as they can easily chew through it.
But foaming the entry points and having them chewed open will at
least tell you exactly how the rats are getting in.
The key to catching rats is to stop their ability to go
outside to get food. The only food for them should be the bait
on the traps.
Trapping alone does not solve a rat problem. The building must
be secured. Rat re-entry will occur if the entry points are not
identified and closed off.
4). Remove the
rodent scent
After the building has been sealed and all the rodents removed,
the droppings and scent of the animals remains inside the attic.
For health, odor, and scent reasons, Wildlife Patrol recommends
attic decontamination services for most homes that have had a
significant rat problem. Rats in the attic leave behind a scent
that other rats will pick up and leave the attic marked. Attic
cleaning is performed by vacuuming out droppings and nesting
material, and then spraying down all insulation and wall wells
with Bioshield decontaminant.
Eight kindergarten classes at Tamarac
Elementary school have been temporarily relocated to other rooms while officials
figure out how to end a rat infestation.
School district spokeswoman Marsy Smith said
the school has trimmed trees that are suspected of contributing to the vermin
problem, and set out sticky traps as well as conventional mouse traps in the
ceiling. A dozen rats have been caught so far, she said.
Smith said the school hopes to have the
problem resolved by early January and the children returned to their original
classrooms. The school is closed for the two-week winter vacation starting
Monday, but the problem has been lingering since Dec. 8.
"The District is taking an aggressive
approach," she said.
