OzeMike Posted July 22, 2021 Author Posted July 22, 2021 Appreciate the good advice.... Part 2 of best laid plans of mice and men.... We had the super highway to the roof removed with a drastic cutting back of the mango tree branches from the vacant lot next door. The next day I spied a rat at the top of a drainpipe which doesn't go into the gutter (don't know what the story is behind it) but ends a foot from the eaves. So maybe trying to find their way in again? Noises in the ceiling much reduced (according to her indoors) or non existant (my ears). Next steps.... moth balls will be thrown around the ceiling and a rat trap cage the type Jack recommended put into use. ...and sealing of possible entry points. Hoping this will do the trick. Wish we had a cat or a snake! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnMyWay Posted July 29, 2021 Posted July 29, 2021 On 7/22/2021 at 2:34 PM, OzeMike said: Wish we had a cat or a snake! Why compromise? 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham59 Posted July 29, 2021 Posted July 29, 2021 (edited) Think of your roof as a giant rat/mouse cage...except that you need to keep them out of it, rather than in. Fix it up accordingly (as I have done with our kitchen). That small steel mesh comes in very handy, as it can be cut, and 'balled up' into any shape, to fill gaps, but still permits ventilation. Remove or cover (with metal) all edges that can be gnawed on too. Edited July 29, 2021 by graham59 Missed the g of gnawed. doh ! lol 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hounddriver Posted July 29, 2021 Posted July 29, 2021 12 minutes ago, graham59 said: Remove or cover (with metal) all edges that can be knawed on too. I had a metal roof, screwed down at the eaves, and still those buggers nibbled and pulled at the metal until enough had broken away to get inside. But I just put poison near the entrance and within a week the problem was solved. Then I screwed the roof down again. This happened about 2 years ago in my Sibulan home. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham59 Posted July 29, 2021 Posted July 29, 2021 Use thicker metal (steel). I kept and bred rats and other rodents for many years as a kid, and then later as a pet store owner. Never had a rat escape yet. A lot of this stuff about rats eating through concrete, etc, is simply urban myth. Anyway, the O.P. ..or anyone else with a similar problem has to start somewhere, and that is my advice...from one who is very experienced in such matters. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jollygoodfellow Posted July 29, 2021 Posted July 29, 2021 6 hours ago, graham59 said: Never had a rat escape yet. I thought you told me you used to work in a lab in Wuhan 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham59 Posted July 29, 2021 Posted July 29, 2021 That was just a couple of bats, not rats. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jollygoodfellow Posted July 29, 2021 Posted July 29, 2021 29 minutes ago, graham59 said: That was just a couple of bats, not rats. Might have been both 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onemore52 Posted July 30, 2021 Posted July 30, 2021 17 hours ago, graham59 said: Use thicker metal (steel). I kept and bred rats and other rodents for many years as a kid, and then later as a pet store owner. Never had a rat escape yet. A lot of this stuff about rats eating through concrete, etc, is simply urban myth. Anyway, the O.P. ..or anyone else with a similar problem has to start somewhere, and that is my advice...from one who is very experienced in such matters. Graham, in your opinion what is the food that rats cannot walk away from, a food they just cannot resist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum Support Tommy T. Posted July 30, 2021 Forum Support Posted July 30, 2021 (edited) On 7/30/2021 at 8:48 AM, Onemore52 said: Graham, in your opinion what is the food that rats cannot walk away from, a food they just cannot resist? I know you asked Graham, but I will add my experience... I raised pet rats too. They cannot resist peanut butter. You don't need a lot, just a small blob will do it. I should have said that my pet rats loved peanut butter - so funny to see them get it stuck to the roof of their mouths! They were actually great pets, affectionate and clean... Edited July 31, 2021 by Tommy T. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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