rats in the attic

[oakdale160]

I hear noises in my attic, sounds like rats. I bought rat poison from Tesco and put plates with a mixture of hamburger and poison on a dish in the attic but none has been eaten. Any other advice.

[Big Boy]

Get an exterminator in.

[dtaai-maai]

It could well be birds, their scrabbling around sounds very similar. Can you get in and have a proper look?

[barrys]

We've found that banana makes good bait for catching them in traps

[Nereus]

It is more likely to be squirrel playing with his latest find. Rats do not usually make a noise.
If you can get access it is better to set one of those small spring loaded cage traps, which will both tell you what it is, and not kill it if it is not a rat.

Along with banana, chewing gum with aniseed in it will attract them and also ensure that the trap springs when they sink their teeth into it.

[VincentD]

I beg to differ. Rats DO make an awful din at times, especially when they treat the ceiling space as a safe,dry haven most suited for mating dances and raising generations of siblings. Unfortunately my ceiling is gypsum board nailed to the crossbeams so almost no access.

I finally resorted to rat poison, and the only thing that worked was 'Racumin' manufactured by Bayer. All the other brands do not work. Oh, you don't have to mix it with anything, it looks like blue rice grains and the box folds out to contain the poison.
The noises will disappear after a few days. The rats supposedly get thirsty and look for water, so typically won't expire in the ceiling space. If they do,ignore the odour and after a few days that will go away too.

[Vital Spark]

I beg to differ. Rats DO make an awful din at times, especially when they treat the ceiling space as a safe,dry haven most suited for mating dances and raising generations of siblings.

Totally agree, Vincent. Sounds like they've got hobnail boots on sometimes, and are doing Riverdance in the the attic. It's a recurring problem in our house, but we find that BASF brand rat bait works on our lot (we buy a job lot from Hua Hin Shopping Mall, when we're in town). The pellets are almond-shaped, and we sling a few in the attic space. Does the trick until the next lot arrive.

VS

[HHTel]

I get rats in the space between downstairs and upstairs. They do make a racket. However, a plate of rat poison pellets which, when checked, have been eaten. As Vincent says, you get a bit of a stink for a day or so then it's fine. Just know that I have rotting rat carcasses in the ceiling space!!

[HHTel]

Just to add to that, when I lived in Dusita on 112, we had the same scratching sounds. Turned out to be pigeons. Look for pigeon droppings near to the house. Not sure how you get rid of those. They are 'rats with wings!'

[a10ams]

A rubber snake might scare them off.

A real one is even better!

[VincentD]

Re pigeons. The old lady two doors down FEEDS the blighters so there is a swarm of the bl**dy vermin on the power lines, her house roof and surrounds. I got shouted at for shooting at them with a plastic pellet rifle; not that it worked, but it gave me some pleasure with my evening beers(I know, I know, cruelty and all that) but they're hardy bugg*rs and only flinch.
However since my dog just died (she was 18) there isn't any food so they don't come around too much.

I have heard of someone who soaked cracked corn in lao khao and let them eat it. Apparently must have had quite a hangover as they didn't show up for a couple of days after that, and then again in reduced numbers.

Still tempted to do it but don't really want to annoy the old lady so will live with it for now.

[Nereus]

.................rat poison from Tesco and put plates with a mixture of hamburger and poison on a dish in the attic but none has been eaten.

Very fussy, or well fed rats! I stick by my post.

[Gralee]

I would agree with the post that said 'get an exterminator in'. Problem with self treatment is that if you only put a small amount down, and don't check it regularly to top it up, the rats can get a sub-lethal dose and become 'bait-shy' after that. Normal practice is to put an non-poisonous bait down, wait until you're sure your'e getting 'takes' then swap it out for poison when you can see they're taking the bait regularly and in good amounts. Rats are 'new-object shy' which means they'll avoid any new object in their path (they stick to regular runs - hence the term 'rat-run'). Once they overcome their shyness is the time to set the trap be it a cage, spring loaded trap or bait tray.
Sewer (brown) rats don't normally live in roof spaces, but black rats (sometimes called ship rats) do. Also mice are more likely to take up an attic space than rats. One way to know what you have is to check for droppings. Rat turds are like smallish date stones whereas mice poo is smaller and more like large cardomom seeds.

[Farang]

I had an infestation of cats in the space between the ceiling and the roof. I got rid of them by liberally squirting vinegar around the space and following it up with generous helpings of moth balls. It seems that the smell keeps them away, particularly when sowing of repellants is repeated every 3 - 4 months.