Never underestimate your opponent. It may seem comical to apply this mantra when dealing with rats in a house. However, many homeowners suffer from rats in their walls and attics with little success of removal. What are some common reasons rat projects fail and how can the approach be changed for the better?
Rat control is not an overly complicated process. In order for control efforts to be effective one should be familiar with the structural components of houses and buildings, hold a general understanding of rat habits and biology and approach the project with a “block them out so they can’t get in” mentality. Here are common reasons rat exclusion projects fail.
- Misjudging the severity of the rat infestation- never under estimate the potential number of rats in a home or building. It can be almost impossible to accurately guess how many rats are causing the nuisances without a comprehensive inspection and accurate monitoring of the property.
- Failure to identify all potential entry points- in some cases there are clearly visible cavities on the exterior of a structure rats can use for entry. Its imperative to not only locate the obvious holes but also search the entire structure for the not-obvious holes.
- Not utilizing enough traps- not to give rats too much credit but they are intelligent critters. When setting rat traps ensure the traps are places in areas with activity and use enough traps to get on top of the infestation fast. Rats can learn to avoid traps if given enough time.
- Not following up on traps- unfortunately there’s no “set it and forget it” approach to rat trapping. Traps should be maintained and monitored on a regular basis. This will provide insight to the effectiveness of the bait used, trap placement and number of traps set.
- Not removing dead rats from tripped traps- rats are known to consume other rats if resources are low or rat carcasses are left in homes. Removing dead rats in a timely manner will prevent odors and maggots from infiltrating a property.
- Utilizing poisons as a primary control method- poisons do not provide long term solutions. The focus should be placed on mechanical traps and exclusions.
Rats have been around for over 160 million years. They are quick to adapt, communal and are able to squeeze into spaces 1/2’’ and larger. Understanding structural components of homes, rat habits and reproductive cycles are great tools to utilize when approaching a rat eviction.
For more information on rat removal and exclusions contact the wildlife professionals at Critter Evictors.