Rats

[Carey]

Based soley on this house in Keaau Town... The rat nests & skeletons were only found in the walls, the base area of the cabinets & the tub area (the "inside" part of the tub - not the enameled white side)....Just about every single wall had rats & the two tubs & all of the cabinet bases (kitchen & baths)....the amazing thing is we had our house inspected & we even went through the attic & there was nothing, no droppings... but had we REALLY inspected, we would have found a couple of the romax runs that were chewed through to the bare copper, but there were only a couple of those in the open attic, most of that was near the walls....AHHH the joys!

the electric traps do work pretty well...Oh... and our neighbor has outdoor cats, and the doves, rats & chickens all hang out in their covered outdoor work area/cat feeding area...so ...not sure the cats can always be counted on...

[beejee]

I can attest to the effectiveness of the "Rat Zapper", it works well if you know where the rats move and can bait/train them that the trap is okay. This trap uses 4 AA batteries and worked well for us in the past as the rats around our house that were looking for refuge from the cats always went to a specific safe area in an outside closet. We'd put the trap out as a bait trap (no zap) to get them used to it as a food source. After they took the initial bait we'd turn on the zap. This strategy has got us by for the last few years. But now that all the predators are gone, it's a new frontal/interior assault!

Cheers!

[taropatch]

quote:

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They wake us up at night - no way a mouse could chew that loud. We've opted not to use poison up to this point as we're afraid the rats will eat the poison and then shack up in the walls and die. Does anyone know whether that's what the rats do? Do they shack up in the walls until their nocturnal time comes?

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The poison makes them thirsty, so they are known to head outside looking for water. Often you see them in the yard or driveway, sitting there weak as can be. You can walk up to them and bash 'em with the shovel.

[Bullwinkle]

You need to know where they are getting inside - you can kill this batch - but their scent trail will lead the new ones right back in.

You can tell a rat or mouse entry point by the black greasy stain around it - and leading up and away from it

All it takes is a hole 3/8" in diameter - if they can get their head in - the rest of the body will fit - and they leave a chemical trail for others to follow

I second the rat zapper or those new plastic traps - have had poor results with the stickem traps out here - humidity?

[Bullwinkle]

couple of cats work well too!

[malia joseph]

Hi Bullwinkle - is there anything I can spray to get rid of the previous rats smell so more rats won't go in the same area? Moth balls?

[Bullwinkle]

I dont know of any sprays may want to try hydrogen peroxide as it breaks down biological proteins.

Keeping plant growth away from the house the first defense

sealing up any penetrations the second

keeping food sealed in a canister of fridge seems to help

trash, dog and cat food and feces (yes there is enough protein in the waste to make a rats day) attract them too

Prevention much more manageable than infestation imh experience