roof rats? exterminator recommendation

Well its that time again, mice want a warm place to live and come visit our 4 story limestone.. Seems every year I have some visitation, and Ive gotten pretty good at getting rid of those smallish gray mice in recent years w traps..  Only thing is this year Im thinking they look a little different; a bit larger, darker and long tails.(we found a dead one a month ago) .I checked the interwebs Im thinking roof rat- does that sound right?  Anyway we’re hearing scratchy noises on highest floor and now also on basement level too- Ive put some traps down but so far nothing caught after a few days..Something tells me its time to call  a pro-  any suggestions? Thanks in advance !

steveg

in Brownstoner Renovation 12 years and 7 months ago

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steveg | 12 years and 4 months ago

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Sorry for the slow response hbbrooklyn –  We didnt have to get an exterminator for this one- miraculously , we actually got rid of them ourselves with a combination of sealing any holes we saw that might be entranceways (behind sinks etc) with heavy steel wool, and making sure there wasnt a spec of food for them available in any kitchens. The stick traps I put everywhere didnt do anything,  but thanks to our awesome tenant upstairs; he killed 2 with a broom or something similar- then it seemed the vermin were gone thank god!  Unfortunately I didnt get to inspect the bodies (to confirm what type of rodent it was) because he disposed of them already, but Im pretty sure based on early sightings these were not the normal gray field mice I was used to seeing.. Good luck with them- write in your experience if you get a chance – as we old brooklyn home owners will surely have these problems from year to year and it’s good to know how others dealt with the problem…

hbbrooklyn | 12 years and 4 months ago

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I have the same problem, creatures living in between the roof and the top floor of our house in Park Slope. I think they have gnawed the front cornice of our house where they enter and exit.  Have you found a solution, do you have the name of an exterminator? Thank you.

bklyngirl | 12 years and 7 months ago

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Those big rats are pros at not getting caught and breeding like there is no tomorrow.  You are fighting a losing battle if your neighbors are messy.  Kingsway exterminating has always done a good job of keeping my problems at bay and most of their guys are willing to crawl in to spaces I would say “hell no” to.  They also offer a keep at it until the problem is resolved guarantee on their service.  The other thing you can do is head up to WashHeights and ask for tres pacito.  You kind of have to do it on the DL because it is outlawed in NYC but some bodegas will get it for you.  Rats don’t stand a chance.  If that is not your cup or tea then get some boric acid and peanut butter and put the peanut butter in a piece of cheese cloth and load it with boric acid and then roll the cheese cloth in boric acid too and drop them where-ever you see rat dropping.  Be sure to check every few days because you want to get rid of the rats but the peanut butter will attract them too. so as you see dead ones clean up your little packages and wipe the area down.  Or get a cat.