Advice On How To Kill Roof / Attic Rats?

[olouie]

So for a little over a year now there have been strange sounds coming from my second story ceiling. I believe that there are rats living there, however both our pest control man and myself have been in the attic above the ceiling and cant really see anything major because there is lots of insulation spread around.

I have put some poison pellets and such up a few months ago and they seemed to go away, but they are back this morning with a vengence.

Anyone have any good ideas about how to get rid of them? Need some ideas about how to go about trapping / killing them even though there is lots of insulation there.

Thanks

 

[Toasthead]

D-con

 

[waggy]

duh thats because they are NOT rats. they are ghost! the house is haunted!

 

[K1052]

+++++Poison

 

[Amused]

NO POISON!!!

I'm not a PETA member, so that's not it.

The problem with poison is the rats die and rot in your walls and other places not easily reached. A VERY smelly situation.

The best bet is old fashioned spring rat traps with peanut butter as bait. It's never failed me.

 

[Carbo]

I've had a few rats in my attic. It's absolutely the norm when you live in Florida. They're all over the damn place. Posion is a bad move. They die up there and the stench will be obvious. They aren't going to make themselves visible to you. Their instinct is to survive, not be captured.
$1.50 rat traps are your best bet. One or two are all you'll need. Bait with some peanut butter and check every few days. If you have rats, believe me, they'll find the bait. Enjoy!

 

[Atomicus]

Could be squirrels living between the panels of the flooring or walls. If you can spot rat droppings, then its rats. Otherwise, send up a cobra.

 

[gsaldivar]

Originally posted by: Toasthead
D-con

That's the worst possible advice you can give to ANYONE with a rodent problem.

Here's what happens:

Rat eats poison. Crawls into some fvcking hard-to-reach crevice and dies. You get to smell the dead rat for months.

To get rid of rodents: Use old fashioned wooden TRAPS. Never POISON!

Do what Carbo said: Bait with peanut butter. Set your traps along the walls - perpendicular to, and a few inches away from each wall. Check every few days for results.

 

[olouie]

Traps are very hard to use because of the insolation. Its all over the place and I am not sure if they would work given how crappy the stuff is up there.

I will give it a try, but just in case I think its time to call a good exterminator as I do not like going up there very much haha.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: olouie
Traps are very hard to use because of the insolation. Its all over the place and I am not sure if they would work given how crappy the stuff is up there.

I will give it a try, but just in case I think its time to call a good exterminator as I do not like going up there very much haha.

Then mount the traps on sqaures of plywood so they stradle the rafters.

Whatever you do, don't try the poison unless you like smelling dead rats for months.

BTW, an exterminator isn't going to do it any differently...and it will cost you a bundle. Just suck it up and do it yourself.

 

[gsaldivar]

Originally posted by: olouie
Traps are very hard to use because of the insolation. Its all over the place and I am not sure if they would work given how crappy the stuff is up there.

I will give it a try, but just in case I think its time to call a good exterminator as I do not like going up there very much haha.

You know, you can move that insulation temporarily... just cut/pull some aside to make room for the traps. After you're done - push it back.

Of course, if you have several hundred $$$ laying around for an exterminator, you can pay him to do the exact same thing for you...

 

[olouie]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: olouie
Traps are very hard to use because of the insolation. Its all over the place and I am not sure if they would work given how crappy the stuff is up there.

I will give it a try, but just in case I think its time to call a good exterminator as I do not like going up there very much haha.

Then mount the traps on sqaures of plywood so they stradle the rafters.

Whatever you do, don't try the poison unless you like smelling dead rats for months.

BTW, an exterminator isn't going to do it any differently...and it will cost you a bundle. Just suck it up and do it yourself.

now that is a great idea.... going to try it this afternoon right after i get me some plywood