Rat Control is one of those jobs that a lot of pest control companies claim they can do, but really lack the skill it takes to get rid of rats from a structure. Rat control is a combination of experience and being a contractor. You have to know how a building is constructed before you can be successful at performing rat control.
There are many aspects to rat control:
- identifying the rat
- trapping the rat
- finding out how the rat got into the structure
- proper way to close off those entrance points.
Let’s start off with the first step in the complicated process of Rat Control.
IDENTIFY THE RAT SPECIES
Knowing this will aid in the next step of the process which is the inspection, but let’s not jump ahead of ourselves. The reason for identifying the rat species is because, with Norway Rats, they will typically enter a structure from the ground level, through a vent or hole in the siding. The other species of rodent is the roof rat, this rat is a smaller and more agile and tends to live up off the ground in trees and run along wires and will enter a structure from the roof area. Knowing your rat before you start the rat proofing process helps.
INSPECTING THE STRUCTURE
When inspecting the structure you want to look in the attic space first, this is where you are most likely to see rat droppings and by observing rat droppings you will be able to identify the rat species. Then you want to have pen and paper in hand, then begin an exterior inspection. I like to start from the front door and work my way around until I end up back at the front door.
Take note of any hole or opening the size of a quarter or larger, even if the hole is in the middle of the exterior wall four feet off the ground. Rats have no problem climbing straight up a stucco wall or wood sided wall, they really are amazing creatures.
Check from the foundation to the roof, you may need to climb on the roof and check the roof vents, also look at the foundation because rats can burrow 24” below the foundation and make their way under your home. These are the main things to look for.
Use materials like wire mesh, sheet metal and concrete to plug up the holes, these materials are difficult for rats to chew through.
RAT TRAPPING
If you were successful at rat proofing the structure then you will want to get the rats out of the structure, because if rats can’t get into the building, that means the rats in the building can’t get out, so they will have no choice but to get into the living space of your home to look for food and water.
Place 4-6 traps in the attic and the same in the sub-area and bait them with beef jerky, I made a video on how to do this, it can be found here on my website. I hope this helps to give you a better understanding of the process of rat control and rat proofing.
