Rats often use the same trails repeatedly.

Customer Rat Email: Last yr, I hired a licensed local pest-control & exterminator to eliminate rat infestation sourcing from unmaintained drain sewers across & along my street &/or house in gross disrepair, next door. I was fully satisfied w/the IPM method my exterminator used: w/out poisons (I am medically sensitive to chemicals & smells & also have 4 rescue dogs). Thx to the expertise & due diligence of my contractor: I no longer have rats on or in my property. To my surprise, I rec'd 2 summons from BOH 6/2010: for "engendering rats" & "failure to use pesticides"; since the sewer rats have since 'moved on' to neighboring yards (can't get into my house/yard anymore after IPM) & the BOH is scapegoating me now for town's negligence. EPA advises me this is not a statute; pesticide use is not mandatory. I would like to purchase a new contract from an IPM agent for year ahead (w/o the use of poisons). Will I get 2 summons again for failure to use pesitcides & engendering rats, if rats return & alternate IPM methods and your services are contracted? S. Anderson

My Answer: I don't even know what to make of that situation, I've never heard of anything like it.

If you need rodent control services in your hometown, click for the National Directory of Rat Trappers that I've carefully compiled in every USA city.

Click to go back to my full rat removal photo gallery. Visit my rat removal journal blog! Lots of great rat stories!

There are three kinds of rodents commonly found inside buildings (in the attics, walls, and even inside the living space). They are the Roof Rat (Rattus rattus), which is also called the Black Rat, then there's the Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus), also known as the Brown Rat, and the House Mouse (Mus musculus). Roof Rats are more common in the south, such as Florida, where I work. The above photo is of a Roof Rat. They are very common inside attics. The Norway Rat is more common in the northern section of the United States. The Norways are more commonly found underground, in subways and sewers and such. The House Mouse is found everywhere, but seems more common in the north. All of these rodents thrive in urban areas and love to live in human buildings and houses. They use human garbage (and pantries) as sources of food. All of these rodents are carriers of several diseases that can infect humans and pets. They contaminate homes and attics. The only way to permanently solve a rat problem is to find out how the rodents are gaining access to the inside of the building, and fix those openings. Then the remaining rats inside have to be trapped and removed. If you want to learn more, please read my How To Get Rid of Rats page.

AAAnimal Control is a privately owned wildlife removal and pest control business, located in Orlando Florida. I deal strictly with wild animals such as rats. I am not an extermination company, but a critter removal and control specialist. The above photos are some of the many that I've taken in the field over my years of work. Please email me if you have any questions about the above photographs, or any questions about wildlife problems or rat control issues.

Wildlife Photographs by David     Email me with questions: david@aaanimalcontrol.com     Residential & Commercial     Licensed & Insured