Got a call from my tennant, Chicago 2 flat, fairly urban environment. It appears that a failed attempt at a planter that is now a large mound of topsoil (relative’s best intention……) has become home to a colony of rats. While not a total surprise, as the nearby alley has a problem due to a restaurant, this is in the back yard and scared the krap out of my tenant.
While I imediately distributed ‘eat it and die’ rodent control, I want to have the large (3′ at the peak by 8′ long) mound of topsoil removed and the yard finished asap.
The question is: what to do about the rats below? I presume that if they remain alive they will simply dig new tunnels back to the surface right? As this area is right on the lot line, and there is an adjacent sidewalk on the other side of the lot, I suspect that the rats may be dug in under that sidewalk.
Will an exterminator pump fatal gas thru the visible holes? Or should I rig up a large hose the exhaust of a car and pump that in? The thought of pumping water into the holes also occurred to me, but I fear for the adjoining sidewalk.
Another question – Once the yard is again leveled, would any type of surface treatment help to prevent their return to this area? While effective, concrete is a lot more trouble than I want and won’t really work in that area of the yard. Would heavy gravel make a difference?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Replies
Rats
>>> While not a total surprise, as the nearby alley has a problem due to a restaurant,<<<
The bad thing with rats is if there is a source of food they will not leave the area. Concrete is proably one of the few things that rats can't gnaw through.
I think you need a pro to tell you what's the best thing to do, you don't want they getting inside the dwelling where they will gnaw on everthing, like water pipes, electric wires, etc., it then becomes a real pita to get them out, luck.
P.S. If you are interested there is an old movie about a rat called "Of Unknown Origin", it' will show what you are up against.
The first you need to do is inspect your building and make sure there is not the tiniest little hole anywhere that they can get in. If your pinky will fit in the hole, that is too big. Rats generally chew to get out but once the hole is open they will keep using it.
Don't ignore things just because they are up high. If you have roof rats (rattus rattus) they climb better than a squirrel.
http://gfretwell.com/wildlife/rattus%20rattus.jpg
They are identified by the long skinny tail
Once you are sure they are all outside, knock down their home and watch them run.. Make your property as unattractive as you can. Don't feed them and don't give them a place to live. They are going to go infest someone. Just be sure it isn't you. Poison will get some of them but they haven't been here for 70 million years by being easy to kill. There will be a few survivors that will not eat the bait.