Rats!... in the house

“What’s my biggest problem?”  I asked the home inspector who was just finishing up a home inspection on a house that was being purchased by a client I represent. 

“Rats!” he replied.

Rats have plagued my life this past year. They eat just about everything! Not only do they eat native species such as lizards, insects, birds and their eggs, but they eat building materials, the plastic insulation on electrical wiring, and they love to build nests by ripping away from and apart the insulation that protect our homes.

During this time of the year, rats and rodents can be an especially daunting because they, like humans, like food and shelter; especially the type of safe and warm environments that can be found in the crawl spaces or attics of one’s home.  

Many well meaning property owners nearly welcome the rats into their environment without realizing it. They maintain well stocked bird feeders; the seeds of which are meant to be eaten by birds and which are also consumed by the rats. They create water features that provide fresh, clean, water. They forget to trim tree limbs away from the house that provide superhighway access to vents or pipes on the roof of one's home that lead to attics and crawl spaces.

Because wild rats typically can live up to 18 months and are prolific breeders that can produce up to 10 young every month, the problem quickly takes quantum leaps.

There are a few options to controlling the rats. The best solution is prevention. Inspect the crawl spaces and attics of your home and seal all possible openings that can provide access. Rodents are very nimble creatures able to squeeze through even the smallest of openings.  Keep all possible food sources (such as bird seeds) and garbage clear and away from all improvements. Keep water sources or other providers of shelter (unused wood piles) as far away from the house as possible.

Trapping can be accomplished in many ways. Dan and I typically relocate six to eight rats a year by using kindness traps. Keep in mind, however, that in addition to adversely affecting the environment and one’s personal property and improvements, rats and rodents can spread serious diseases that are harmful to humans and our beloved pets and animals.