A few years ago I had a rat problem and I cured it with a live trap. I had a bird avary in my garden and the rats found a way into it and ate several birds. I caught 7 very large rats and of course I had to sacrifice them by drowning in a tub of water while in the cage. Evil little critters! I found that the same trap helps me to control the squirrel population to keep it low enough so that the squirrels (commonly referred to as tree rats) get only their fair share of my vegetables and fruits. You can get live traps from your local feed store. I use peanut putter as the bait in the live trap for both of these pests. Don't worry; you are smater than the rats! Although my wife says that the squirrels make me look kind of dumb.

Sorry to hear it, we had them in the Arcadia area a few years back. I have the best thing for stopping them, an Irish Terrier dog! They are bred to kill vermin, roof rats and gophers don't last too long in my yard. Other than that, you can put out sticky traps or big traps. Make sure that your attic is sealed, so they can't get in, and pick up all citrus that falls to the ground. They are big, nasty rats....(my dog loves them)

Great info story teller I'll certainly keep my mind open on the subject but after my experience I am too shy to reintroduce standing water ie bird baths or bird seeds. I do however provide plenty of fruiting shrubs and trees that the birds can enjoy and I hate to think about it but I am sure blueberries, crabapples, ilex berries are enjoyed by rodents as well. I suppose this is all a population management program with the ultimate goal of keeping the rodents out of my living and gardening area. Abi, You bring up a good point and the sad truth in all of this is there really is no one perfect solution. Without becoming too descriptive I will say the poison was the most effective to date. The rats after they ate the poison tended (not all of the time) to go back to their home and die, we were able to determine their location and dispose of them because of the very distinctive odor. The snap traps (which we stopped baiting) killed a number of birds and mice but no rats (maybe they are all gone). I did call the exterminator regarding secondary poisoning at the advice of a forum member, the response was a non scientific opinion so they mailed me to gov. specs of the bait and bait station which is as difficult to understand as my homeowners insurance. But if I am correct in my understanding of this, the amounts used in the bait stations to cause death to rats either by ingestion or skin contact cause no reaction in rabbits. Again there was no mention of secondary poisoning but being pet owners (Ollie our NYC city slicker kitty has arrive and is protecting the inside of our home)we are doing our best to be responsible. The bottom line however is rats are a real health threat that are difficult to get rid of once they have moved in. I am at the point now where talking to my neighbors has gotten nowhere and the county rat control agent will not approach them without a request from the board of health who I now feel compelled to petition. I really hate being put in this position but feel the need to get a handle on this before the cold weather comes. I ask with no malice, what would you do? kt

Replying to anyone with similar issue or: HU-171861020 “last year We have exactly the same problem in 2021. Rats in the loft, poison deployed, dead rat and smell in the upstairs bathroom and downstairs utility room before Christmas. Thought it was going as now in January but seems to be coming back! How is this possible? Horrible sickening smell thats lingered now for over a month” …… I live in a 30O yr old house which suddenly developed mice issues during the pandemic. My home shares a crawlspace with another attacked house and they were having mice and putting poison in crawlspace. Well, either a town of mice or a giant rodent ate the poison and burrowed (I believe) under my bathroom floorspace. The smell of death started a week after poison had been placed. I thought it was a plumbing issue and wasted $400 on wax toilet rings! none of the plumbers thought it was the sewer lines. Dead animal is what they all said. Called pest contol and for $300 he told me to close up holes in my foundation. well, this was during delta/omicron Nov surge and also impossible to get contractors. Finally had foundation rebuilt, but was told they could not plug every hole and mice or rats woukd still get in. its been THREE MONTHS of stank in one bathroom. fans have helped, but the weather is below freezing so i cant air the entire house out. im just horrified that a rodent could take this long to decompose (gag. GAG) It is the bane of my existance. I suppose ill have to have the tile floor ripped up or maybe the walls, which I cannot afford on a fixed income, nor can I find available contractors near Boston. Everyone is putting on additions. Today, the smell, which had been getting milder, is back. Never a smell in crawlspace or sign of dead rodents, so they are def in floor/wall. I just can not believe this is happening. i will never, ever use poison again. i didnt even know it was there. Just venting as I’m petrified the arctic blast in the NE will bring in more disgusting RODENTS! Thank you, pandemic. You've made everything even more unbearable. Rant over, but know you are not alone if you have this issue. Thanks and sorry. i truly hate rodents and old houses. i pray most of you with past issues have solved them.