Rat In Our House - Very Smart - Can't Get Rid Of Him --HELP!--

[gritsar]

 

[babbs]

Hey Nifty Chicken have I got a story for you. Sounds alot like that of Rocket Raley's shooting the mouse with the pellet gun. We had every animal in our newly boughten house and didn't discover most of them until we moved in. These critters even included weasels. Then one day my husband was up late and he seen something really big with a puffy tail go into our pantry. It was a pack rat and he got our 12 yr old daughter to hold it in the corner with a broom and came and got me up to ask me if he could shoot it. I was horrified at the thought of him using a gun in the house and although he was only talking about a 22 rifle I was still worried about it hurting someone or the newly finished water pipes that ran the wall behind the rat. He ended up shooting it and it dropped right away. We found out later that one of the best and humane ways to get rid of a rat is to put shavings of bar soap in a corner where they can eat from. Apparently they like the smell and are very curious and will take it back to their nest. It will not kill them but will make them sick enough to stay away from anywhere that they smell that smell again in the future. They just move out and you don't have to worry about poisoning children or animals in the process. I have never tried this because I haven't had a rat problem since but it is something that comes from the early 1800's. It is suppose to work best with the purest bar soap too, like ivory. Good luck and hope you solve your problem soon. I've lived with rats and I know how it can drive you crazy.

 

[rufus]

This rat sounds like a roof rat. They enter the house on the electical and cable lines. They love the insulation on electrical wires, so you had better get rid of it pronto. They reproduce like crazy too.

I have been told that they dislike fiberglass insulation, so they will run along uncovered rafters. That is where you need to set the traps.

Stuff all the holes with steel wool; they have a hard time with that.

Also, pick all ripe citrus and other fruits from the trees. When they get hungry, make them move on to the neighbor's place where they didn't strip the trees. They really like dates, so maybe you could try them on the traps.

Rufus

 

[bantymum]

Hows the hunting going?
I like the bar soap idea best but if that fails then a humane trap with a bit of top shelf salami or belgian chocolate as the bait.