Rat(s) in the ceiling - advice?

[goober (Doug)]

Wow, thanks to all. Lot of good info there. I have a professional coming today to assess. I can't believe there are 10 up there, but am prepared for anything.

[fauxpas (Tony)]

I use the blocks so they go away to die...

traps means you have to dispose, or ignore the bodies...

don't use the bait sacks (paper sachets with poison in them) as they don't get touched...

when we moved into our house we heard the scratches... We threw up the blocks and the sachets... The blocks were nibbled on and the sachets were untouched... The scratches ceased and have not returned for 5 years... The last time I was in the roof the sachets were still untouched...

Use these type of bait...

http://www.selleys.com.au/assets/86/...ocks_large.jpg

Don't use these type...

http://www.wapoultryequipment.net.au...arge_image.jpg

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Now if they were my rats I'd just call them and they'd come running to mummy. (pet ratties )LOL

I can relate to Rat Volleyball. When we lived in town, the rats moved in the house. And every night they'd go out foraging and bring home Macadamia nuts to their nests. They would climb up the stud inside the wall, drop the nut down, pick it up again, climb to the top of the next stud, drop the nut down. etc etc etc. You could follow their progress by the sound of the nut dropping. Finally they get to their nest in a wall cavity in the bathroom, right next to my bedroom. There to gnaw through the shell of the nut for the rest of the night.
Because we had cats, dogs and kids, we didn't poison. We set rat traps along the beams in the back verandah where they traversed. ( look for the rat poop to find where they travel.)

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Man, I must have fussy rats! I tried the Talon and only the roaches nibbled at it,

Tomcat baits have been most effective for me. It's got a hole going through its centre which I thread a wire tie through and fix the bait to a post, nail, whatever. I can monitor the consumption of the stuff this way. Stops the baits being taken, which is a way of reducing the bait finding its way to pets.

Bunnings used to sell Tomcat. I haven't been able to find it recently though there. Funny enough, ebay has it listed, and cheaper too:

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_t...at=0&_from=R40

[Ric]

Originally Posted by cybereye

Living in Queensland I can tell you that a snake in the ceiling will do the trick!

Yep, the Red belly Black will solve all problems Doug

[TrevorW]

Fire works cleared the rats out of London