[CaseyFronczek]

so I have a rat.. or rats, whatever, in my wall. I first thought it was mice, but I had an exterminator out and he thinks it's rats because they've pulled out a bunch of insulation to get to the wall, and he said mice don't usually do that much.. something like that. They're coming in through a hole in the outside of my house, that's located in my backyard.

Makes sense, because I put out some of the snap traps that have a cover over them (so that the dogs didn't snap their noses) made for mice and didn't catch a damn thing. That, and about a month ago when we had a TON of rain, I found a dying, what I thought was a mouse, but now that I think about it, it was probably a young rat.

So. Exterminator comes today and says he's going to put out a bait station with poison. He knows I have dogs. I ask him if I'm going to have dead rats in my yard, he says "I mean, probably." I ask if they can get sick if for some reason they decide to eat a dead rat. He says no.

However, I'm a little skeptical, and completely paranoid now. Bait station is now in my garage. I plan on calling the exterminator tomorrow to ask exactly what kind of poison is in there, and reiterating that I have dogs, and want the rats to die, not the dogs.

Anyone have any suggestions on what I CAN use to get rid of these things? I haven't tried regular snap traps yet because I'm 99.9% positive that the dogs will go right to them and snap them on their noses. I suppose I could do glue traps (I do have a little area I could put them in where I don't think the dogs could get to them), but they're so inhumane.. and again, I worry about the dogs getting to them and then I'd have a REAL mess.

I'm at my wits end. I love rats/mice, but not the ones trying to get into my house! I just need to find something I can put out that will #1. Get rid of the rats, and #2. Not hurt/kill my dogs in the process.

[Alice_Medichi34]

A good barn cat?

[CaseyFronczek]

A good barn cat?

LOL, I don't have access to one of those! Plus, I live in a very strict condo community that isn't fond of letting animals run loose, which isn't a bad thing, but in this case, I think I'd get in trouble.

[adarmaSen]

A good ratter?Dog or cat

[Alice_Medichi34]

I guess you'd just have to scour the yard for dead critters before you let Wilson and Piper out. You could do the glue traps and just be prepared to smash the bastards with a shovel.

Or put some ferrets in your walls. I have a few mice in my walls (at least that's why I think Dumbass is trying to eat certain walls, and I hear some scratching in there late at night), so I've been letting my marmots out more, since they LOVE to kill little critters.

[rasiasertew]

Get Billy the exterminator

[CaseyFronczek]

I guess you'd just have to scour the yard for dead critters before you let Wilson and Piper out. You could do the glue traps and just be prepared to smash the bastards with a shovel.

Or put some ferrets in your walls. I have a few mice in my walls (at least that's why I think Dumbass is trying to eat certain walls, and I hear some scratching in there late at night), so I've been letting my marmots out more, since they LOVE to kill little critters.

Yeah, that's what I said I would do (walk around the yard to check), but I'm so freaked out that I'd miss one. My yard is small, so I probably wouldn't.. but you never know.

The hole is SO small, ferret definitely wouldn't fit in there. Although, that'd be an easy solution, since I know exactly where they are, and they stay in one area.. which happens to be right above where my computer is, hence why this is driving me NUTS.

Get Billy the exterminator

I said that the other night while watching his show. Alas, I'm in VA, and he is not

[Kimaamighed]

You can always set traps. They kill them quick. Slab some peanut butter on them and set them in the wall if you can or under your sink.

[Alice_Medichi34]

I have a 1 pound ferret who can get into ANY hole no matter how small. If I were closer I'd loan her to you, she's a fierce little bitch.

[adarmaSen]

Just set regular traps but big enough for whatever you think your dealing with. Had a dog catch its nose in one and the shock the dog got was a lot worse than the pain it felt. Never went near a trap again.

[CaseyFronczek]

You can always set traps. They kill them quick. Slab some peanut butter on them and set them in the wall if you can or under your sink.

Yeah I need to go see if they make the enclosed snap traps for rats.. I'm sure they do.

The thing is, the are NOT in my house. They come in from outside in the backyard, and are only in the wall in one spot. The hole they've made isn't big enough to set anything in, therein lies my problem with having to put whatever I'm using IN the yard, where the dogs go.

---------- Post added at 07:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:15 PM ----------

Just set regular traps but big enough for whatever you think your dealing with. Had a dog catch its nose in one and the shock the dog got was a lot worse than the pain it felt. Never went near a trap again.

That's kind of what I'm thinking would happen if they did happen to mess with the snap trap.. they'd only do it once most likely!

Blah. Tomorrow will be call Terminex and tell them to bring out traps instead of poison day. I have a 1yr. contract with them, luckily, so they're at my mercy LOL.

[rasiasertew]

Get a FERRET! Problem solved!

[eladiopsislab]

set a trap outside at the entrance to the hole, make sure you pick it up when you let the dogs out

[Kimaamighed]

We get mice in the winter so I know your pain LOL But they come in the house so it is easier for us to get rid of them.

[adarmaSen]

Don't get traps with teeth or it could get nasty.

[eladiopsislab]

We get mice in the winter so I know your pain LOL But they come in the house so it is easier for us to get rid of them.

same here, yesterday was the 1st time this year we have heard them >.< they like our freezer, not the one that is part of the fridge but a deep freezer we have, they like to live under it by the motor I guess its warm and its a heck of a time getting rid of them by spring

[Alice_Medichi34]

Get a FERRET! Problem solved!

x900000000!

They also kill off my annual summer cricket infestations. All I find afterwards are lots of little legs. And watching the weasels is better than tv, especially when they start war dancing.

[CaseyFronczek]

LOL, y'all are welcome to bring your ferrets over to see if they can fit into this hole!

I'm just happy they aren't in the house. THAT would not be ok.

---------- Post added at 07:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:25 PM ----------

LOL, a friend just sent me this link: Electronic Rat Trap # M240 by Victor Pest Control

How cool is that thing?! Pricey though!

[Freedjome]

You mentioned glue traps being inhumane... poisoning causes them to bleed to death internally, taking 7-9 days to actually kill them after they've ingested the poison

I agree, get a small critter to kill them off! Make a post on Craigslist asking if anyone wants to lend you their weasel? LOL If they are coming in through a hole in the outside, wait by the hole with a gun?

[CaseyFronczek]

You mentioned glue traps being inhumane... poisoning causes them to bleed to death internally, taking 7-9 days to actually kill them after they've ingested the poison

I agree, get a small critter to kill them off! Make a post on Craigslist asking if anyone wants to lend you their weasel? LOL If they are coming in through a hole in the outside, wait by the hole with a gun?

I've never known poison to take that long.. we used it at one of the barns I boarded at and found a ton of dead mice the next day (set it out at about 6pm, back at the barn around 7am the next morning). Of course, I don't prefer to have animals bleed to death, but I also don't want them chewing up my walls.

Getting another animal here to kill them really isn't an option LOL. My dad did mention that he'd break out his night vision goggles and bring his BB gun over though
I think I'd get kicked out of my neighborhood if we shot a gun.. seriously, it's strict here.. we can't even hang Christmas lights, and I got in trouble for having dog poop (literally one pile, I'm OCD about cleaning) in my backyard when they came and did the yearly "yard inspection" Needless to say, I can't wait til we can move! Stupid tax credit has us basically locked in for 3yrs.