Rodents in attic - Rentokil

Rockfish

Ive mice or more likely rats in the attic, its very small and i can't physically get up there to have a look due to a bad back. I can set traps, posion etc near the attic door but even if i get rid of whats there i have no idea where they are getting in and have checked around the house but no obvious entry signs. What i really need is someone who is experienced in this field to inspect the attic, assess the scale of the problem and have a look around outside to see how they are getting in etc. Rentokil's reputation doesn't seem to be that great and they seem very expensive though if anyone has a positive experience of them id be interested to hear it, thanks. Ive no problem paying if the service is good but from what im hearing im a bit dubious tbh

BrokenArrows

They could get getting up the gutters and in somewhere at the roof level.

Try closing off the bottom of the gutters with chicken wire.

Mango Joe

FWIW on another thread I read recently on askaboutmoney someone called a pest control company out.

Yer man put a bait box in her kitchen and another in the attic, without entering said attic, failed to check around the house for entry/exit points or signs of where they were nesting and charged her a whopping €305 for the privilege.

Go DIY on this if at all possible or if you cannot then perhaps a helpful relative, neighbour or friend might assist.

For a start get good traps set in this attic, you don't want them to dig in and start breeding up there.

The Bishop Basher

Your main priority needs to be to seal off the access point(s).

Until you've done that, everything else will be futile.

I speak from experience.

The suggestion about blocking off the gutters is a good start.

If you can't figure it out how they;re getting in then pay some to do it for you but bear in mind when you're looking that they can crawl through tiny gaps so don't assume a gap is too small.

You'll know whether you have rats or mice from the droppings. A quick google search will confirm.

Good luck..

careless sherpa

A mouse in an attic can sound like an elephant. Hard to believe something so small van make such a racket so the immediate thought is it must be a rat

frillyleaf

Set up humane traps in the attire and release them in a field away from your house. Seal up anywhere they are accessing house, they can squeeze through tiny gaps!

Don’t use poison, it will be a prolonged and cruel death for the rodents. It also means they could die and rot somewhere you can’t access. Wildlife or pets can die from eating rodents that have consumed poison.

katiek102010

We had them last year. Bought pre baited traps and they caught nothing.


Bil told me to replace the bait with Nutella. Caught 8 in 2 days after. 2 weeks later caught another 6

Stigura

Buy a Mars bar and get back to me.

Rockfish

Mango Joe wrote: »

FWIW on another thread I read recently on askaboutmoney someone called a pest control company out.

Yer man put a bait box in her kitchen and another in the attic, without entering said attic, failed to check around the house for entry/exit points or signs of where they were nesting and charged her a whopping €305 for the privilege.

Go DIY on this if at all possible or if you cannot then perhaps a helpful relative, neighbour or friend might assist.

For a start get good traps set in this attic, you don't want them to dig in and start breeding up there.

Ya thats what im afraid of, i can set traps and poison myself or get someone to do it, what i really need is someone with expertise who can survey the house and see where they are getting in

pburns

I'm not convinced about the old 'mice making as much noise as rats' thing. In my experience it just helps you feel better about things!

Rats or mice are nothing tho...

We once had a mink in the attic! He **** all over the place & used the water tank as a swimming pool... Cost a fortune to sort it all out. He was getting up the drainpipe & under a tile. They are dirty, vicious, fearless fookers so a safety worry apart from anything else...

cheif kaiser

Rentokil, etc are extremely expensive and will only lay traps. You will probably need someone who will survey around the house and attic and seal up all access points for you. A decent handyman should be able to do this. I used this guy to do some work for me and found him very reliable and very reasonably priced, he also has Pest Control listed as one of the jobs he can do. https://www.adverts.ie/handymen/handyman-available/18357126

He is in no way related to me. - Just in case anyone thinks otherwise

BarraOG

I heard before that mice can get in through a crack the width of a pencil. I sealed all my cracks over the course of the last year but caught a mouse in a trap in the attic yesterday - sickner! Can mice really climb up a down pipe? I presume since people are recommending chicken wire that they can only do so inside the pipe.

Effects

katiek102010 wrote: »

We had them last year. Bought pre baited traps and they caught nothing.

I bought baited traps last year, didn't catch anything. Poison left out in trays seemed to do the trick though.

Then last weekend I had a look in the attic and found a recent kill in one of last years prebaited traps. Even though the bait had dried up somewhat.

I rebaited with cheese and some corn kernals. Best I had to hand at the time!

I'd a friend spot a rat in his garden a few weeks ago. I told him to lay some traps.
He just called Rentokil who laid the traps instead, for a steep price.
His wife was so scared when she spotted the rat outside that she left the house with the kids. So far the traps haven't caught anything.

Tabnabs

We had rentokil out, he sealed up all cracks or holes where mouse could squeeze through at ground level outside. Put poison traps in attic, hot-press etc. and came back to check them all three weeks later and reapplied poison.

They are all sub-contractors so you can have good or bad experience, but a follow up email if you're not happy worked for us.

The Princess Bride

pburns wrote: »

We once had a mink in the attic! He **** all over the place & used the water tank as a swimming pool... Cost a fortune to sort it all out. He was getting up the drainpipe & under a tile. They are dirty, vicious, fearless fookers so a safety worry apart from anything else...

I would burn the house down, 100%.

liquoriceall

Can I ask what happened with this? I have I'm pretty certain rats in my attic.....have poison and traps up there with no success. Had builders out found a hole in sewer pipe of attached house which they sealed as we feel the rats are in the walls between us and still noises
I'm wondering should I go for rentokil at this point or what next??

Stigura

liquoriceall wrote: »

I'm wondering should I go for rentokil at this point

For gods sake NO!

Get a mars bar.

liquoriceall

I'm using peanut butter but have caught nothing.......no poison touched either.....it's like a herd if elephant up there

Stigura

What has peanut butter got to do with any of this

Get A Mars Bar.

What county are ye in?

Boredstiff666

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHwPYze5M9s

Better Than Christ

The last time I had mice, I bought the cheapest poison I could find and poured generous amounts of it wherever I saw signs of droppings (under the kitchen sink and in the attic). They gradually became quieter and quieter and after a week, they were gone. Then I found where they had been coming in (through a vent), and covered it with cheap squares of aluminium mesh from Halfords. Job done, for around a tenner.

Boredstiff666

Better Than Christ wrote: »

The last time I had mice, I bought the cheapest poison I could find and poured generous amounts of it wherever I saw signs of droppings (under the kitchen sink and in the attic). And then I found where they were coming in (through a vent), and covered it with cheap squares of aluminium mesh from Halfords. After a week, they were gone.

They probably went next door where they get peanut butter and mars bars.

Tell me how

Stigura wrote: »

Buy a Mars bar and get back to me.

Stigura wrote: »

For gods sake NO!

Get a mars bar.

Stigura wrote: »

What has peanut butter got to do with any of this

Get A Mars Bar.

What county are ye in?

What do you think they should do Stigura?

Snow Garden

Do an exorcism.


Seriously though, always important to find the food source. What are they eating in the attic? Block the entrance holes too. Poison might work but dead rats will smell awful for months. I would use traps.

Stigura

Tell me how wrote: »

What do you think they should do Stigura?

Dunno. Up to them. But, I was being trained in rat catching the better part of a century ago. Been bang at it all my life. Got a job on as I type. Retired, but, try to help out where I can. Can't help it

Few enough listen though. I'm not on fb, see? LOL! That's fine. I let them crack on. Internet's full of 'experts' and money takers are two a penny. I won't try to force myself on anyone. Nor argue with the 'experts'.

One, gentle, offer and I'm gone

tom_tarbucket

Stigura wrote: »

Dunno. Up to them. But, I was being trained in rat catching the better part of a century ago. Been bang at it all my life. Got a job on as I type. Retired, but, try to help out where I can. Can't help it

Few enough listen though. I'm not on fb, see? LOL! That's fine. I let them crack on. Internet's full of 'experts' and money takers are two a penny. I won't try to force myself on anyone. Nor argue with the 'experts'.

One, gentle, offer and I'm gone

Seriously, what are you on about!

Stigura

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

Seriously, what are you on about!

Seriously? If I have to explain that? It'd be a waste of effort trying.

Snow Garden

Stigura wrote: »

Dunno. Up to them. But, I was being trained in rat catching the better part of a century ago. Been bang at it all my life. Got a job on as I type. Retired, but, try to help out where I can. Can't help it

Few enough listen though. I'm not on fb, see? LOL! That's fine. I let them crack on. Internet's full of 'experts' and money takers are two a penny. I won't try to force myself on anyone. Nor argue with the 'experts'.

One, gentle, offer and I'm gone

Classic!!

You sound like Quint in Jaws.

Tell us more about the Mars bar method.

Boredstiff666

Stigura wrote: »

Dunno. Up to them. But, I was being trained in rat catching the better part of a century ago.

Do you reside in a town called Hamelin?

Boredstiff666

To be fair and not taking the piss. In days not all that long ago there were people who were experts in catching rats as farms and food places were over run with them. What they learnt as their trade was worth their weight in gold because these men could clear a premises of hundreds of rats.

If ever you have had rats you will know that some rats arent affected by poison and are clever to avoid traps.

Stigura

Snow Garden wrote: »

Classic!!

You sound like Quint in Jaws.

Tell us more about the Mars bar method.

No. I actually sound far more laid back than him Granted, that character knew his schit. But, I've long since found that raking ye finger nails down black boards does no good when the room's full of people who just know better.

Mars Bar? Any rat catcher worth air would know about that. Here, of course, we have a variation. Hence (Half the reason) I ask for county

I guess that bog basic trick hasn't found its way onto 'social media' yet then? Think I'll leave it that way. Like a lock smith will always block what he's doing with his shoulder. Lest everyone rush out and buy a brad awl and become a " Lock Smith ", on line, over night.

Stigura

Boredstiff666 wrote: »

To be fair and not taking the piss. In days not all that long ago there were people who were experts in catching rats as farms and food places were over run with them. What they learnt as their trade was worth their weight in gold because these men could clear a premises of hundreds of rats.

If ever you have had rats you will know that some rats arent affected by poison and are clever to avoid traps.

Very close, my friend, to why I try So Hard to steer people away from the Big Household Names and towards a recommended, local man.

The 'Big Boys' are extremely well trained. I won't hear a word said against them.

But; They are ridden by their 'Sales Managers', who are purely and simply bean counters! The Boys (and Girls!) are constantly harried to 'Make The Figures'. Sell. Sell. SELL!

They are Trained to rid ye place of rodents, fleas, birds, What ever! But; Their phones will ring: " Are ye onto that next job yet? How much have ye Sold this job? "

To hell with That!

Boredstiff666

Stigura wrote: »

Very close, my friend, to why I try So Hard to steer people away from the Big Household Names and towards a recommended, local man.

The 'Big Boys' are extremely well trained. I won't hear a word said against them.

But; They are ridden by their 'Sales Managers', who are purely and simply bean counters! The Boys (and Girls!) are constantly harried to 'Make The Figures'. Sell. Sell. SELL!

They are Trained to rid ye place of rodents, fleas, birds, What ever! But; Their phones will ring: " Are ye onto that next job yet? How much have ye Sold this job? "

To hell with That!

I have had rat problems and seen things that sent shivers down my spine with rats. I know how rats and mice are very clever and avoid traps. I learnt from 'boys of old' how to trick those rats.

I have seen how poison doesnt affect them in fact I cleared some stuff out of a shed and found all of the poison collected up and hidden in the rats lair.......hundreds of bags.

Pine Martins were released nearby and the rats and mice kind of disappeared.

endacl

BarraOG wrote: »

Can mice really climb up a down pipe?

Yep. But they can't climb down an up pipe.

BorneTobyWilde

Peppermint oil, put in attic, they'll run a mile.

Stigura

Boredstiff666 wrote: »

Pine Martins were released nearby and the rats and mice kind of disappeared.

Don't even get me started!!! :mad:

Talk about a Thin Line!

mickdw

Is peppermint oil actually any good?

Boredstiff666

mickdw wrote: »

Is peppermint oil actually any good?

Have you ever seen a rat sucking a Polo mint?

Stigura

LMFAO! Brilliant!

liquoriceall

I'm in Limerick. Will try peppermint as well if ye think it will help

Stigura

:eek: Liquoriceall, I'm sorry. Limerick is a bit far, from Leitrim. Even if ye were to come and get me ~ I don't drive. Sorry.

I hate trying to do pest control on line though. Seriously. This whole; " It sounds like a herd of elephants in the roof space! " stuff.

How many people have Had and Heard a herd of bloody elephants in their roof space?! In my whole career, I've never found an elephant in a roof space! How then can I judge an on line report by that?

African or Asian elephants? They'd probably need different ways of handling. Though, while I'd but out, I'm sure the internet massive would know how. " Peanutella will get elephants in the roof space every time! I read it on face book! "

See where I'm coming from?

Focus on identifying the subject. Calm, more experienced, middle aged man will be better than a teen with an air rifle.

Loaned Trail Cam FTW! Beats even a mars bar! :P

liquoriceall

Thanks sigura yes probably a little far. If you know of anyone more local to me that would be great too

Irish_peppa

Tell me how wrote: »

What do you think they should do Stigura?

All this talk of Mars Bars and Peanut butter. Best of both worlds ...try a snickers:pac:

Irish_peppa

Peanut butter seems to be excellent for attracting mice BUT i have watched mice lick the trap clean myself through the window, The mouse rested one arm on the trap catch plate and licked the stuff clean, they must have quite abrasive tongues as he seemed to do it with no effort i couldnt lick peanut butter up like that its too sticky. I mixed it up a bit. I hot glued a nut onto the catch plate and then smeared it with peanut butter. It definitly worked but was a pain to be messing with hot glue.

Stigura

liquoriceall wrote: »

Thanks sigura yes probably a little far. If you know of anyone more local to me that would be great too

I'm afraid I don't, sadly. But, word of mouth is how to find the right person.

My business cards used to bear the motto: " Because even nice people get pests ". Keep that in mind. There's no silly shame in getting a problem creature turn up. So, don't be afraid to mention it to others.

That's when someone may confide; " We had a problem like that! Ye know George ....? " I'm, frankly, yet to hear Anyone say, " And Rentokil sorted it out, very reasonably too! " :eek:

Stigura

Irish_peppa wrote: »

i have watched mice lick the trap clean myself through the window, The mouse rested one arm on the trap catch plate and licked the stuff clean

Peppa; This is the classic problem when the man of the house buys wooden break backs and goes all out cave man. Unfortunately, there's a tendency for people to set traps, for a couple of grams of mouse, as if they're setting for elephant.

" SelfSet " used to make a fantastic mouse trap! Blind fool could set one, and still get the mouse every time. They had like a chamfered under base and operated on like a little rocker switch. Brilliant, they were.

Sadly, for some reason, they've since gone back to their nasty little trigger arrangements. Hateful things.

Best trap on the market now ~ for the common man? The black, plastic ones with a yellow bar. Iron is; I've seen them branded as " Rentokil "! :rolleyes: Cracking little trap though. Anyone can set them and they'll practically always set right and light.


<Sorry for the time lapse. Posted the above. Then got hit with the mother of all power cuts!>

Stigura

Boredstiff666 wrote: »

I learnt from 'boys of old' how to trick those rats.

I'm a 'boy of old' who learned from my boys of old. One of mine was in his seventies, in the seventies. He'd been at it his entire life. (Weee! It's never before struck me that his name was Ted! )

Found myself locked into a vast area of waste land, one night. Got bored ~ as ye do, in an era long before mobile phones and the internet! So, going on what Ted had taught me, I wandered about till I'd found an old TV, and a rotten boot.

When they came to let me out, in the morning, they couldn't comprehend the rabbit I had, hanging on the back of the door! I had to laugh! (Nearly choked on my mars bar, actually! :P)

Site foreman was a lovely guy and, so enamoured of my rabbit, the next night I got him one too!

BorneTobyWilde

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNaNGH_hnEE

BorneTobyWilde

Peppermint will drive them out, trust me. Get a spray bottle, add the peppermint oil and some water, shake, and spray it all over.

Demosthenese

Considering it seems to be recommended NOT to go the Rentokil route Need some advice ...

Discovered Rats in the attic, how many i don't know. Heard them scrapping away, then one of them ate through a water pipe and i seen the scratching/marks on the pipe, luckily it was in an area i could get to - fixed said water pipe.

This was downstairs behind my kitchen cabinets, corner where the main sewage pipe runs from upstairs to sewer.

Anyways, i pulled the kickboards from around the cabinets and appliances and found droppings. About 30? In one space, then 100 in another. Hoovered them all up and got rid. Some of the yellow insulation was strewn around too - so they were in walls? Checked Attic, they opened a few bags in had there, just old toys etc, no food etc.

Set traps, bought bait - huge mistake with the bait - 1 of them ate the bait and died about 4-5 days later, the smell was incredible. I was lucky he was down under the kitchen kickboard and i disposed of him and cleaned around. If he'd died in walls or attic under the insulation it would have been a disaster. Lesson learned!

So far, 1 dead rat, that ate poison 2 weeks ago - and today 1 dead rat from a snap trap. I've 4 traps in attics and 3 behind kickboards.

These might have been in the house about 2 months ... my daughter could hear em weeks ago but never mentioned!

I've walked the house, can't find anything outside that they could be getting in as far as cracks, holes. Up the drain pipe maybe - having read this thread.

So my questions are
- whats chances there were only 2?
- how long do i keep traps and checking ... weeks months? Before getting better help from someone more knowledgeable?
- do i need to go back to attic and search for a nest? (think i know the answer here ) really don't want to be crawling around looking for a rats nest :(

Stick it out myself ... or go more professional route?

Stigura

Demosthenese wrote: »

Considering it seems to be recommended NOT to go the Rentokil route Need some advice ...

Stick it out myself ... or go more professional route?

This. But, word of mouth about a decent, local, 'one man band' sort of outfit should be ye holy grail. And ~ I can't possibly emphasise too strongly ~ Tell People ye have the bloody things!

You've got rats. I've got rats. They've got rats. People Get rats! Schit happens! :P It's far more to do with ye location and structural matters than it is ye being " Dirty ". So, mention it to ye social circle. How else is anyone going to know to mention They had it, and so and so turned out to be a star?

In the interim, my advice to you is to forget all the internet stuff about " Peanut Bitter ". " Nutella " and " Blocking their holes up. " (I'd imagine Nutella might do that )

Focus on the realities: Check the batteries in ye fire / smoke alarms. Then, if ye have electrical wiring up there? Buy a couple more and put Them in that attic.


How long before I'm forced to tell " Andy's Story " to you people :rolleyes: