Mark refused to make dinner last night because the kitchen has the distinct odor of dead rat coming from somewhere behind the wall. He has sprayed every type of air freshener in there, and has scented candles burning twenty four hours a day. It was bad enough that the dead rat stink was in there, now it smells like a rat died while wearing a 
gallon of my grandmothers perfume. It has become more than I can stand, so I finally got off my big fat ass to try and do something about the rats, besides poisoning them. 
After doing a more thorough inspection of our property, I found the most likely spot the rats were getting into the attic. Hidden up behind one of the awnings, was a vent in the eaves that had been chewed through by the vermin. After repairing the vent with a steel mesh screen, I went up on the roof to check on the stacks that lead down to the toilets. On two occasions we have had a rat pop up out of the toilet, and although it is entertaining to watch Mark run out of the bathroom screaming with his pants around his ankles, I really would prefer not to have to wrangle a rat out of the toilet. I hope that I have blocked the bastards from getting in, but they seem to always find a way. If they do get past my latest defenses I’ll know it, Mark has a very distinctive scream when he sees a rat.
You now may have locked them in your attic. Contact the Wildlife Care Center and ask them how to get critters out of your attic. They will know the most humane way.
ReplyDeleteI believe if you place some rags soaked in bleach on a tray up there in the attic, that that may chase some critters like raccons out because of the smell. I still suggest live traps with non lethal bait. I knew poisoning them would create this. See my posting from earlier. I knew it would happen.
From my post on Dec 1:
ReplyDeleteI don't suggest using rat poison. They will died in your attic and the stentch of rotting rat carcuses will permeate your home. Use live traps.
December 1, 2009 9:22 AM
and Alan said...
ReplyDeleteD-Con makes them thirsty and they leave the attic looking for water. Chances are I'll find them in my pool. I've tried every type of trap and the only way to get rid of them is poison.
December 1, 2009 9:25 AM
So much for that tactic...I told you sooooo.
Now you can look forward to those giant black flies that come next.
ReplyDeletewhy did I read this while eating my lunch!
ReplyDeleteGaret, I don't really care if it stinks a little bit. It's not very strong, and they are gone. I waited until I couldn't hear any more activity up there before I closed off the access. Mark is the one who is really affected by the smell. I know it will pass.
ReplyDeleteDennis, I don't think I will get the fly problem either because I have taken care of that. Don't ask me how, just that it is taken care of.
Sue, really, you don't know by now not to eat while reading my stuff? You and Peggy both remember mom using leashes? I guess I'll hear an ear full next time I call mom.
I'll bet Alan let off an insecticide bomb in his attic to kill all those black flies. So lets see...rotting rats, plus floral deodorizing spray, plus insecticide bomb. Maybe that's what happened at Peter Pan's and it got into the food that made you sick. Hello....
ReplyDeleteI have heard that story before about the mice leaving my house before they die to find water... what a bunch o (bs)hooey!
ReplyDeleteRats in the toilet...you are supposed to crack the lid, squirt some dish soap at them and then flush, flush, flush until they go down. No joke. Its on our county web site.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/rats/sewerbaiting.aspx
You mean I didn't have to grab it with Mark's kitchen tongs, and take it outside and kill it? (Sorry Garet)
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me of the time Mr Johnson gave me a huge pair of clipping shears to kill a rat in his toilet. When I open the lid and saw those little beady innocent mouse eyes, I didn't have the heart. So I put on some thich gloves, picked it up, put it in a box and drove to the nearby forest preserve and released it. It scurried away with leaps and bounds at it's new found freedom to repopulate Wilton Manors.
ReplyDeleteNow that I think about it, maybe I should have had it spayed or nuetered first. Hmmmmm...sorry Alan.
From the website:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kingcounty.gov/
healthservices/health/ehs/
rats.aspx
"Poisons are not recommended for rat control inside buildings, since poisoned rats can die in hard to reach places causing a very bad smell."
The smell is almost all gone. Either that, or I have become immune to it.
ReplyDeleteI always screen vent pipes. Up until now I sold this service to my customers to keep out the giant green tree frogs. However, I now have another sales aid. Usually, the tree frogs are white(albino) when they come hopping out of the water closet.It is most unsettling to the consumer when they are either sleeping and hear the splashing or are actually using the facilities in the darkened bathroom.Sue needs to stop eating at her computer.
ReplyDeleteAlan: Sounds like you are just getting use to the smell. It's called desensitization.
ReplyDeleteAl, one thing you can't screen is the sewer pipe running from the street to your house.This is more likely the way a rat would enter.
ReplyDeleteThe rats are gone, the smell is gone, and I now have two new rat cops on patrol. Itchy and Scratchy, my new feral cats.
ReplyDelete