Sarah Metlova
Getting Rid Of Rats In The Attic – Bill Earl of Pest Tools describes the features and benefits and ease of installation for getting rid of rats in attics and vacant lots, as well as squirrels, raccoons, feral cats and other small rodents.
Read the following excerpt from Professional Pest Control Magazine: Squirrel Helps Massey Services Rid Structures of Squirrels, Feral Cats and Roof Rats Quickly, Economically and Safely: Heather Gooch, Pest Control Specialist
Getting Rid Of Rats In The Attic
With The Squirrel (® Strobe Light), Massey and its PrevenTech business unit found that the innovation helped the company quickly, cost-effectively and safely exterminate pests—squirrels, feral cats, and roof rats.
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“This tool is consistent with Massey’s commitment to environmental responsibility,” says Yarzinka. “There’s no toxicity, there’s no harm to the animals, and yet we achieve the goal of eliminating pests.” Here’s how it works
Jarzynka says it’s all about placing the right number of strobes in dark places like attics, alcoves, or wall voids and letting the lights go full blast.
Flashing 90 times a minute, the fixtures don’t blind target pests, but they can cause a serious nuisance by driving pests out of unwanted areas for several days.
“Bill Earle, the gentleman who developed the strobe lighting system, is one of the jack-of-all-trades who has a problem with squirrels, but this applied technology also works well with roof rats and feral cats,” adds Jarzynka.
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For extended installations, Jarzynka recommends that an electrician install the fixtures so that technicians can turn them on and off with a switch before entering the areas.
“Believe me, light is as harmful to you and me as it is to pests,” he says. “In training, we’ll keep one on for about four laps before people say, ‘OK, we got it.’ Now you can turn it off.”
Typically, Massey technicians install the lights, check after a few days to make sure the pests are gone, do some minor troubleshooting to make sure the problem doesn’t reoccur, remove the lights, and charge.
For accounts that cannot be fully closed, Massey sells units to customers and then makes monthly service calls.
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The service includes checking the lights once a year, moving them where necessary, carrying out emergency work and replacing the lamps.
“The location of the strobes is the most important thing,” emphasizes Yarzynka. “If there is a wall in the area that can cast a shadow, the devices cannot be fully effective. That’s why customers trust us as professionals to monitor the progress of their strobe systems and know when and where to move units.” Get rid of attic rats quickly, easily and cost-effectively.
Of all the possible pests in the attic, roof rats are probably the one that worries the homeowner the most. The thought of rats running over you is more disturbing than squirrels doing the same. But rats in the attic are a very common problem for homeowners.
The first choice that comes to mind for those looking for a “roof rats in the attic” solution is usually poison. We hope to change that! Did you know that owls, ravens, snakes, foxes and coyotes are natural predators of roof rats? Poisoning a rat can lead to the poisoning of its prey. Both feral and domestic cats will naturally prey on rats. This puts them at risk. Since rats are associated with dirt and disease, few homeowners would think of anything other than poison and traps to consider such a necessary solution.
What’s In Your Attic?
Roof rats will settle in attics for the same reason other nuisance animals do – safety and accessibility. Empty attics are ideal for quiet living spaces. Easy access to food from fruit trees, gardens and garbage cans reinforces their presence. Roof rats also need a reliable water source, so if you have one in your yard, they will come.
Homeowners who discover that there are rats in the attic will suffer not only from the noise above, but more importantly from the damage caused by them chewing and using parts of the attic as a toilet.
The roof rat is another name for the black rat (Rattus rattus). They are known as roof rats because they tend to stay high up along roof lines. Another common name for roof rats is ship rats, because their spread was made possible by ships moving to new areas. The roof rat is a common rodent and pest, but should not be confused with its larger, better-known relative, the Norway rat. The Norway rat (also known as the brown rat) is the better known/more commonly known rat of the two. The roof rat comes from Asia and has reached Europe and beyond. Roof rats live in the warmest regions of the United States, from the Southeast and Gulf states to the West Coast.
If you live in the coastal or southern United States and hear activity in your attic, it’s likely roof rats. You will hear them running around in the attic and biting mostly at night. It will show especially when the weather starts to cool down. If there is noise during the day, there may be more roof rats using the attic. Additionally, roof rats will follow a specific path through your home. They install it for easy navigation at home. Repeated noises from across the road can mean rats on the roof.
I Hear Noises In My Attic!
Another sign of roof rats in the attic is the smell. Roof rats will use part of the attic as a bathroom and the smell will be noticeable. Roof rats also stain the walls with greasy marks from their fur. Since roof rats have poor eyesight, they use these signs to remind them where they want to go in your home. Repainting these areas creates a mess and odor. Roof rats will also store food in your home.
A rat’s nest in your attic roof will mostly be made from insulation that has been stripped from your home. In addition, they can use paper goods and other found trash to build a nest in the attic.
Roof rats prefer to stay above ground and are said to spend most of their lives at least 4 feet above the ground. In their natural habitat, roof rats build nests in tall trees. However, roof rats are adaptable and hardy and will move into bushes, tree piles and other low places that provide shelter.
Lofts are tall, dark, warm and rarely uncomfortable. Attices provide safety from the elements and predators. The attic is the perfect place for roof rats to create a warm home, store food and build a family.
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Roof rats are experienced climbers; they easily navigate power lines and climb a brick building without any problems. Roof rats can also jump up to 2 feet and jump from one pole to another up to 4 feet.
Roof rats only need a half inch wide hole to enter a building. A nickel-sized hole can be either punched or simply bitten to facilitate access. Roof rats can bite various materials: plasterboard, plastic, wood, aluminum sheet.
Roof rats mark entrance holes as territories with their fur secretions. This odor persists long after the roof rats are gone. This scent serves as a signal to other scout rats that your location was once discovered by previous roof rats.
Finally, roof rats have to bite to survive because their teeth never stop. Chewing materials are essential for roof rats, and attics provide plenty of space to chew. Wooden beams, vents, pipes, roof tiles and unfortunately live wires are prone to rat bites on the roof. Roof rats’ incisors would spiral if they weren’t chewed to wear them down.
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In the attic, you can hear the roofing work mostly at night. You can hear rats gnawing and clicking on the roof above your head, making a good night’s sleep impossible. If you notice that you hear noise during the day, you are dealing with a lot of rats.
Roof rats move into the attic when the weather starts to cool and will invade your attic during the cold fall and winter months.
The average lifespan of a roof rat is 1 year, thanks to the fight against predators and pests. Roof rats are believed to live up to 4 years.
The breeding season of the roof tern is mainly in spring and summer. On average, a litter consists of 4-6 babies. Roof rats will have litters up to 6 times a year. Many homeowners with roof rats complain that this is a never-ending problem – this is due to the abundant breeding of roof rats and the well-marked paths in the house where they adapt. Keeping roof rats out of your home can be very difficult. Sealing the holes won’t stop the roof rat from coming back! They will drill more holes if needed.
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Is it possible to stop roof rats from staying in the attic for a long time? Yes! By following this guide,
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