JLibourel
Distinguished Member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2004
- Messages
- 8,287
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Over the years, my wife and I have occasionally had problems with rat intrusions. When this has happened, I customarily have dealt with it with traps and poison. I kill a few rats and the problem abates.
Most recently, we had another rat problem. I trapped five or six. All of them were black (tree) rats in the brown and gray color phase. None of them was full-grown, and I am inclined to think they were all from the same litter. I have left traps out but have not killed any more rats in the past three weeks or so.
I would have been content to let matters rest there, but my wife had to get the pest control company we use into the act. The exterminator wanted to effectively seal of the vents leading to the crawl space under our house as well as making some kind of door for the entry to the crawl space. Cost is $425. The problem is greatly complicated by the fact that a skunk sometimes dens under the house, and we have to get rid of the skunk before he can do the job. Easier said than done: The only live traps available in our local hardware emporia are either too big to fit into the crawl space or too small to catch the skunk. Killing the skunk is not an option. The animal has been sort of a pet to me. I also don't like the idea of having to relocate the skunk for fear it will spray in my Jeep. If I had a pickup truck, this wouldn't be a problem.
I realize that my trap and poison method is sort of a "Band-Aid" solution. However, given how many ways rats can get into the house, I am inclined to think that re-screening the vents is also a Band-Aid solution and lot more pricey and bothersome than my traps.
Anyway, I'd like to get opinions from some fellows who've had rat problems before I go ahead and get an intermediate size trap to catch my little striped friend and proceed with "sealing" the crawl space.
Most recently, we had another rat problem. I trapped five or six. All of them were black (tree) rats in the brown and gray color phase. None of them was full-grown, and I am inclined to think they were all from the same litter. I have left traps out but have not killed any more rats in the past three weeks or so.
I would have been content to let matters rest there, but my wife had to get the pest control company we use into the act. The exterminator wanted to effectively seal of the vents leading to the crawl space under our house as well as making some kind of door for the entry to the crawl space. Cost is $425. The problem is greatly complicated by the fact that a skunk sometimes dens under the house, and we have to get rid of the skunk before he can do the job. Easier said than done: The only live traps available in our local hardware emporia are either too big to fit into the crawl space or too small to catch the skunk. Killing the skunk is not an option. The animal has been sort of a pet to me. I also don't like the idea of having to relocate the skunk for fear it will spray in my Jeep. If I had a pickup truck, this wouldn't be a problem.
I realize that my trap and poison method is sort of a "Band-Aid" solution. However, given how many ways rats can get into the house, I am inclined to think that re-screening the vents is also a Band-Aid solution and lot more pricey and bothersome than my traps.
Anyway, I'd like to get opinions from some fellows who've had rat problems before I go ahead and get an intermediate size trap to catch my little striped friend and proceed with "sealing" the crawl space.
