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Post by Perfect Mess on Aug 18, 2013 23:19:21 GMT -5
+1 = 21
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Post by goldfinch on Aug 19, 2013 11:04:16 GMT -5
Good job keeping the traps baited and emptied. Keep it up until you haven't caught one for a week or so...then move the traps to different spots. So long as you have all the holes plugged, so more cannot get in, you will eventually win the battle. It is a pain, but it has to feel good knowing that every rat you trap is one less doing damage to your home. Be on the lookout for new entry holes as the fall season rolls in. The little buggers will try anything to get into a warm spot when it gets cold outside...
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Post by Perfect Mess on Aug 19, 2013 17:38:55 GMT -5
+1 = 22
I really thought the trapping slowdown meant the end was near until I saw 4 rats scurrying away when I turned on the light in the hallway at around 2 or 3 am this morning. I've caught 90% of these 22 on one particular section of the kitchen counter but these others seem to be sticking to 2 other areas; the living room where the birds are, and behind the kitchen table, where I think they may have chewed a hole in the wall from the garage.
I've moved traps to these areas. Let's see what tonight brings.
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Post by TheCatsFosterMother on Aug 19, 2013 17:42:44 GMT -5
PM I don't know how much like mice rats are but I've been trying peppermint oil on my unwelcome mice. Worth a try perhaps?
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Post by Perfect Mess on Aug 19, 2013 18:09:57 GMT -5
I'm actually trying to do the opposite of repelling them right now, which is why I don't bother disinfecting my kitchen or any other area they are spending time in.
I want them all to come out of the woodwork so that they'll get trapped. I caught the most rats during a 3 day period when I left a bag of potatoes on the kitchen counter. They were eating from it and getting caught in the surrounding traps. I've since thrown it out but it gets the wheels turning.
The exterminator sealed off all openings leading into my house with wire mesh last week to stop more from getting in, but it also essentially trapped any that were in the house already. So they wouldn't be able to get out of the house except thru an open door or window, and those are never left open.
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Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Aug 19, 2013 19:42:41 GMT -5
You are so brave.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2013 19:43:22 GMT -5
Maybe you need to find ut where they are coming in?
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Post by Fivecat on Aug 19, 2013 23:18:40 GMT -5
Is the exterminator coming back again or are you soley on your own now?
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Post by Perfect Mess on Aug 20, 2013 9:59:47 GMT -5
+2 = 24 Maybe you need to find ut where they are coming in? You may have missed where I said that the exterminator sealed off all openings into the house from outside. So I can assume that they aren't coming in from anywhere. These were all trapped in the house when he sealed off all openings. Is the exterminator coming back again or are you soley on your own now? On my own. If I call him, it'd be to have him recheck the house for openings because I thought more are still coming in. But I don't think that (yet). |
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Post by Fivecat on Aug 20, 2013 13:01:19 GMT -5
If you continue catching them in the numbers like you have been, then i think i.d ask them to recheck for holes. Rats are very tenacious and may have even created some new holes to get in since the other holes have been closed up. Or, the exterminators may have missed something first time around.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2013 13:34:32 GMT -5
I did miss that part, but what fivecat said. Seems like an awful lot. but maybe they had lots of babies.
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Post by nifty50 on Aug 20, 2013 14:13:17 GMT -5
I did miss that part, but what fivecat said. Seems like an awful lot. but maybe they had lots of babies. "They're multiplying like rabbits!" (now I'm picturing a house overrun by tiny bunny rabbits.... aghhhh!!! The cuteness!!!!)  Of course too much of anything is not necessarily a good thing, I guess. |
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Post by bobolink on Aug 20, 2013 14:18:18 GMT -5
Rats are able to get through very tiny openings and can chew through a lot of things including wire mesh, depending on the gauge of mesh. With the number you are trapping, I'd guess they are still getting in.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2013 15:18:11 GMT -5
I actually saw an episode of hoarders where there was a bunny infestation. Cute it was not! hundreds or maybe thousands of rabbits! THey had a bunny rescue come and trap the bunnies, fear not, they were saved!!!!
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Post by Perfect Mess on Aug 20, 2013 15:50:24 GMT -5
I caught about 15 rats in the 2-3 weeks before the exterminator came, and I also caught about 20 more during the 3 months prior to that. I keep losing count but started the count over again after the exterminator came. (which is at 24 currently)
My house is a concrete block house from foundation to roof (with the roof made of wood), so they can't get in any other way other than the dryer exhaust openning, stove exhaust, roof vents, etc. And those have all been closed off with wire mesh.. (supposedly) I'm not about to get on the roof to inspect it myself! And there are no holes in the roof or in the overhang around the house.
So, I'll call the exterminator guy again to see what he thinks.
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