PeteC wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 3:56 pm
You need to try to determine what is attracting them in the first place to avoid any repeat.
That is the mystery. Maybe dog food as HHTel suggested, but my dogs are so unwelcoming, it would have to be a very brave rat to go near their food. Actually, one of our dogs often goes crazy at the back of the house, chasing something - the main reason I had a camera fitted at the back of the house. I stare at that camera footage a lot, but have not seen a thing yet.
We had rats at work a few times, and they always left little clues. Aside from our 4 holes and something running above the ceiling, there are no signs. My daughter-in-law keeps the house spotless, so nothing left around for them to forage.
Nereus wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 4:21 pm
If it is rats, then did he show you the evidence in the way of scat(droppings)?
No, but he reckoned the holes were actually caused by droppings that had soaked through. He did rub his finger around the edges of one hole, and there was definitely something unsavoury on the end of his finger - I didn't get too close.
Nereus wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 4:21 pm
If it is rats, then did he show you the evidence in the way of scat(droppings)?
No, but he reckoned the holes were actually caused by droppings that had soaked through. He did rub his finger around the edges of one hole, and there was definitely something unsavoury on the end of his finger - I didn't get too close.
So not just rats, rats with diarrhea.
Hmm; for me, no shat equals no rats!
They must also be shatting some mighty acidic crap to put a hole through the ceiling overnight! What usually happens is the first sign that you have is a stain appearing on the ceiling material, unless you have metal sheeting!
What’s the Difference Between Rat Droppings And Squirrel Poop?
Rat and squirrel droppings are the same in size and shape. The only difference is the location you may find them in. Rats use their excrements to mark their territory, so the faeces are always scattered. In contrast, squirrels usually defecate in the same spot. Regardless of the type of rodent infestation in your home, you should get professional rodent control.
I'm certainly no expert, but maybe rat and squirrel became confused in translation. Whatever, I hope now that I'm living in a hazardous chemicals warehouse that it does the job.
PeteC wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 3:30 pm
Edit: When the poison works if they die in the loft or under the house you'll have to get them out of there quickly as it will stink to high heaven in this heat.
When I was growing up we had rats in Detroit. Electricity would blink and we knew one was electrocuted while chewing on wires. Never got the smell (bad anyway) since the other rats would take care of it (and not by holding a funeral)
The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
OMG, this is creepie, exactly 1 month later (we hadn't heard a thing since the exterminators did their thing).......
I didn’t get home until 11 last night, and was up updating my football fan page until 1am. I was tired, and soon fell asleep.
2am both Mrs BB and I sat up suddenly in bed basically saying, “What the fcuk was that?”
Inside the roof space there was something moving about making a lot of noise. Not a rat or a squirrel – this was monkey/small human size. I soon worked out it was trying to get into the house through the loft door in my son's bathroom. I had my Mr Fixit put bolts on this door years ago to prevent just this. Mrs BB and I were quite shaken – probably because we didn’t know what it was. I put the light on in the bathroom, and whatever it was moved above the kitchen area for a while.
At 2:30 this morning I was out in the road with a torch, checking the roof. I couldn’t check the back of the house because I didn’t want to leave Mrs BB alone, and I’d have to drive to the next road.
By about 3am, the noise was subsiding – now it could have been a rat or a squirrel, but there was still the occasional heavy thud around the trap door. Mrs BB and I were back in bed by now, but wondering WTF could it be. I concluded the sound was akin to a monitor lizard (something I'm quite familiar with as I see them most days at Khao Tao), but didn’t have a clue how it could have got into our roof space.
The noise gradually subsided, and the last time I remember looking at the clock was around 4:30.
Of course, we woke late this morning, but the conversation was based around the nighttime visitor. My daughter came around and reckons we have a huge snake in the roof (maybe feeding on the rats or squirrels from a few weeks back). We have the local snake catchers coming later to go into the roof to check it out properly. So scary though, especially when it was trying to get in through the bathroom trap door.
Are you using those traps that are basically a tray with glue on them? Once a rat gets stuck on the tray they can cause a loud banging noise as they try to escape. Can go on for quite a while until they die.
malcolminthemiddle wrote: ↑Sun Apr 10, 2022 11:37 am
Are you using those traps that are basically a tray with glue on them? Once a rat gets stuck on the tray they can cause a loud banging noise as they try to escape. Can go on for quite a while until they die.
That is the most feasible suggestion yet. A creature stuck on a tray, and banging around could be what we were hearing - I'd imagine that could be very loud. There was a tray left near the bathroom hatch into the roof space, but that wouldn't explain how it moved to the kitchen area about 15' away when I turned the bathroom light on.The rescue guys will be here within the hour. If they produce a dead rat stuck to a tray, I will be quite happy.
malcolminthemiddle wrote: ↑Sun Apr 10, 2022 11:37 am
Are you using those traps that are basically a tray with glue on them? Once a rat gets stuck on the tray they can cause a loud banging noise as they try to escape. Can go on for quite a while until they die.
That is the most feasible suggestion yet. A creature stuck on a tray, and banging around could be what we were hearing - I'd imagine that could be very loud. There was a tray left near the bathroom hatch into the roof space, but that wouldn't explain how it moved to the kitchen area about 15' away when I turned the bathroom light on.The rescue guys will be here within the hour. If they produce a dead rat stuck to a tray, I will be quite happy.
Give that man a coconut
That was it. How did the sound move? There are 2 of the beasies on 2 traps - still alive
The rescue guys won't remove them - that is the job of the exterminators who set the traps. Yes, you've got it - don't work on a Sunday. At least when they start drumming next, we won't start crapping ourselves. Probably one of the scariest encounters ever.
Mystery solved. What an incredible noise from a little rat. The exterminator should have warned us what would happen when we caught the beasties.
Don't forget that sounds in the night and in a quiet house are really confuing. You can think it comes from a big animal but maybe it is just a small one. When i was young in my house, we had a big noise in office of my dad (nearby my room). My mom and me were thinking it was like a big rat by the sound it makes. Even thinking a robber. In fact it was a little mouse. She was very busy and have eaten a lot of papers.
Big Boy wrote: ↑Sun Apr 10, 2022 1:06 pm
The exterminator should have warned us what would happen when we caught the beasties.
I'm just back from my daily stroll around the lake. Last night's events are still etched in our brains, and we're still talking about it. Mrs BB made a confession - the exterminator did warn her that when they caught the rat(s), there would be a lot of commotion in the loft. She hadn't put 2 and 2 together
