For the last month I have heard this loud scratching and thought it was outside because we have raccoons around my house. But when I got up today and opened the cabinet where the dog food is, the food had been ripped apart and there were big rat droppings all over!! UGH!! I just moved in this house and am renting. What can be done? Will me or my dog get sick? I know the landlord needs to tend to it but I doubt an exterminator can come because of the holiday weekend. Please any ideas on starting to get rid of them or at least keeping them out for now??? UGH--HELP!!!
2006-12-31 06:35:36 · 12 answers · asked by l'il mama 5 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Whatever your idea make sure it is pet friendly!!
2006-12-31 06:42:20 · update #1
Go to the supermarket and get some of that rat killer they sell de-con I think its called they eat this stuff and it dehidrates them and they just die
2006-12-31 06:42:49 · answer #1 · answered by slp9209 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a book about home remedies and it has some pet friendly suggestions. "Mix powdered cement and flour in equal amounts. Set an open container of the powder next to a pan of water, yet away from children. This does not usually appeal to dogs or cats." What the rats do is eat what they think is just flour. They then get thirsty and when the water is in their stomachs it mixes with the cement and hardens. Powdered cement can be purchased at your local hardware or home improvement store. If they have any broken bags, they may give you a cup or 2 for free.
and it also says this- " Put 2" or 3" of water in a bucket and set beside a counter. Drop a scant amount of corn in too. Mice will fall in the bucket and drown." If its rats I would use a 5 gallon bucket and a little more water. Put field corn in the water, on the lip of the bucket and maybe a couple kernels on the counter. They will jump into the water to get the corn!
In the mean time, put the dog food and anything else they may be getting into in containers with lids. They will gnaw through paper, cardboard, ziploc bags (or other things similar), even thin plastic, and wood.
2006-12-31 15:16:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK, I'll add some ideas other than the obvious rat trap, & poison ideas.
1) Plug all of the holes that they can get through, & any that can't be closed with conventional building materials pack with steel wool because they hate to chew on it.
2) Clean clean clean every where they have been. Their dropping are toxic to humans & pets, but also the scents they leave behind attract new rats in. Be carefull handling the droppings. Wear proptective gloves, & wear filter masks while cleaning them up.
3) Put all packaged foods, into strong plastic containers, so that the rats have no way of breaking into the food & having a feed.
Hope you get rid of them soon.
2006-12-31 15:09:04 · answer #3 · answered by No More 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can buy rat traps...just like the spring loaded mouse traps only much larger. They can spread disease, so kill them and make the lanlord come plug up any holes where they may come in.
I had the same thing happen....kept seeing droppings and insulation around a pipe kept getting pushed out. The thing was coming in for dogfood too, and i set a trap and caught 2 of them right away, and almost died when I saw how big they were...about a foot long...2 feet long if you count the tail.
My firnd had one on his chest in teh middle of the night...it woke him and he was paralyzed with fear he said.
You should be able to find the traps at a farm home store, or maybe even lowes/home depot. Peanut butter makes great bait.
Kill em!!!
2006-12-31 14:43:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do NOT get rat poison, you can poison your dog. Get some rat traps at the hard ware store and bait with peanut butter.
2006-12-31 14:41:00 · answer #5 · answered by bearcat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rat traps will cost you about two dollars apiece, and peanut butter is the best thing. They will have their last supper- even faster than Saddam Hussein!
Hmm...what made me think of him?
2006-12-31 14:42:21 · answer #6 · answered by Lion J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They make a device that plugs in the wall and gives off a sound they hate. It works well and does not harm your dogs. you can get them at Wal Mart.
2006-12-31 15:13:28 · answer #7 · answered by Joe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get the rat poison, it works fine!
2006-12-31 14:38:30 · answer #8 · answered by Webballs 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
rat poison is great, as long as your dogiie dosen't eat it or the dear dead poisoned rats! , or you could string'um up like sadam!
2006-12-31 14:57:35 · answer #9 · answered by Bonno 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
feed them cheetos and tell them a joke. then train them to be your unholy army of the darkness
2007-01-01 00:17:24 · answer #10 · answered by turkey 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋