UGHHHH! Mites / Rodents / Bugs infestation

[bluestream]

Buying a dog is a 12 year commitment that you may not want to make. The food and vet bills over that time will cost far more than the fees for an exterminator. I would get some T-Rex traps and put them around the perimeter. Use some snap traps in the attic as well. Don't forget good old fashion Warfarin (if you can still buy it) its an oldie but a goodie..

Or, just hire a professional

 

[doitmyself]

There is a documented history of Roof Rat problems in Santa Clara County that dates back to 1960's and 1970's. I imagine that you are practicing excellent sanitation measures (NO food left exposed), so your rat problem is probably a community problem that goes beyond your home and property.

NO ONE welcomes government intervention, but I see that Santa Clara County has a Vector Control District (department) that you pay taxes to support and is available to provide you help. You be the judge if you want them poking their noses in your private property. They might be able to provide help that will go beyond your individual home....they might identify and "police" a community problem. Again, there is risk asking for local government assistance....i.e., they might determine an unhealthy condition and force you to do something? It might be like asking the child welfare department to come into your home to assist a child rearing challenge.....who would do that? Again, ask around and you be the judge if you think community intervention is warranted.

Here's their website: http://www.sccgov.org/sites/vector/Pages/Vector-Control-District-Site-Home-Page.aspx They offer "free" home inspections and consultation... the term "free" might be a misnomer.

They have a rat control publication if you go through the "what's bothering you" link:
http://www.sccgov.org/sites/vector/What%27s%20Bothering%20You-/Rodents/Rats/Documents/1580-What-U-Can-Do-2-Prev--Control-RATS---FullPageView.pdf

Univ. of California, Davis has 2 publications called Guidelines to Rat/Mice Control, but I cannot get the links to open.

Here, on youtube, is a recent 35 minute presentation by : Bob Kaufman, Field Operations Supervisor for Santa Clara County Vector Control:


By all means, BEST OF LUCK, and please post updates.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: doitmyself

NO ONE welcomes government intervention, but I see that Santa Clara County has a Vector Control District (department) that you pay taxes to support and is available to provide you help.


Oh I don't mind that kind of intervention. Thanks for the news. I just left them a message.

 

[sleddriver]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Update:

Some of the companies I talked to said they will not go on to the roof but only try to patch entry point from inside the attic. One said they would go on the roof but once they hear that it is Spanish tile they say they don't (and refer me to another company).

So far a large percentage of the companies said they do not do major proofing (only plug minor holes?), and some of the others said they only trap but not exclusion. Most of them ask for an initial inspection fee or "integrated" service package that include multiple visits and trapping.

Prices vary all over the place from around $160-850, and some even charge by the number of rodents caught and number of holes plugged.

My head hurts.


I'll bet it does. Major PITA. First, all holes need to be sealed..major & minor. A rat can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter. I'd suggest going outside and looking at your eaves & roof with binoculars for holes. Inside your attic, with the lights off, look around for daylight. That will also give you a clue.

The varmits need water. So they'll nest in your attic, then leave then come back. I'd recommend poison bait in your attic, sealing up every hole you can find, then waiting. You can also use spring-loaded traps and cheese.

If you found something dripping? out of an AC duct (yuck), then you'll need to patch/replace it else you'll be heating/cooling your attic.

I'd hold off on replacing the insulation.

 

[PandaBear]

Exclusion done, the company charge me $765 total due to their 10% off if I mention Yelp. They went on the roof, into the attic, and around the perimeter of the house. 2 guys spent about 2 hours on sealing the house, and previously 1 guy spent about 1.5 hour the first day for inspection, mapping the entry points, and quotes. 1 year warranty.

Now I need a duct cleaner (and check whether there's rodent getting into the duct, whether they chew a hole to get in, etc). Almost everyone is booked 1-2 weeks out. Some charges $280-$380 without video camera inspection, while others charges $60/vent outlets (I have 10 outlet 1 inlet). Half of them do not even pick up the phone (guess they have too many works booked up).

 

[Mamala Bay]

Rodents need food and water. Chewing on foam isn't the main food source ... they are feeding on something very close by that has protein my guess.

For example rats can live on Kiawe(mesquite) beans, with food source available they will establish a dwelling protecting themselves from external weather conditions no different from humans. To establish themselves such as your situation(opinion) my guess they have to have a strong food source available close by.

I'd seal the areas but on residential unless it's steel they can't chew it....you may also look in that direction where and what is their food source.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: Mamala Bay
Rodents need food and water. Chewing on foam isn't the main food source ... they are feeding on something very close by that has protein my guess.

For example rats can live on Kiawe(mesquite) beans, with food source available they will establish a dwelling protecting themselves from external weather conditions no different from humans. To establish themselves such as your situation(opinion) my guess they have to have a strong food source available close by.

I'd seal the areas but on residential unless it's steel they can't chew it....you may also look in that direction where and what is their food source.



Dog food in neighbor's yard, neighbor's fruit tree, etc. It is in an urban setting so they'll find something regardless.

 

[Mamala Bay]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Originally Posted By: Mamala Bay
Rodents need food and water. Chewing on foam isn't the main food source ... they are feeding on something very close by that has protein my guess.

For example rats can live on Kiawe(mesquite) beans, with food source available they will establish a dwelling protecting themselves from external weather conditions no different from humans. To establish themselves such as your situation(opinion) my guess they have to have a strong food source available close by.

I'd seal the areas but on residential unless it's steel they can't chew it....you may also look in that direction where and what is their food source.



Dog food in neighbor's yard, neighbor's fruit tree, etc. It is in an urban setting so they'll find something regardless.


Don't know what to say...did have experience with rodent nest but not on residential. Ironically cats kept the rodent from infesting commercial dwellings but when the cats where removed rodents started nesting. Also the rat population increased. Kiawe trees were cut down as that was their food supply. I'm assuming the cats kept the rats at bay from establishing a nesting.

When rats start to establish themselves with protective nesting such as in dwellings their population will increased a rapid pace.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Exclusion done, the company charge me $765 total due to their 10% off if I mention Yelp. They went on the roof, into the attic, and around the perimeter of the house. 2 guys spent about 2 hours on sealing the house, and previously 1 guy spent about 1.5 hour the first day for inspection, mapping the entry points, and quotes. 1 year warranty.

Now I need a duct cleaner (and check whether there's rodent getting into the duct, whether they chew a hole to get in, etc). Almost everyone is booked 1-2 weeks out. Some charges $280-$380 without video camera inspection, while others charges $60/vent outlets (I have 10 outlet 1 inlet). Half of them do not even pick up the phone (guess they have too many works booked up).



The duct cleaner came to clean the duct with a Rotobrush and sprayed some disinfectant (Clorox Envirocon, Chlorine Dioxide).

The vector control analyzed my insect sample I taped up, and conclude that they are mites (and dust particles), they couldn't conclude whether it is bird mites or rodent mites however.

Over the weekend I moved everything away from the carpet area and spray all carpet with HotShot (Permethrin 0.2%), and dust the attic with Bayer Advanced Insect Dust (Permethrin 0.25%). I'll soon have a carpet cleaner come to steam clean the carpet, something that I haven't done in 6 years and will hopefully remove all pesticide residue. I'm feeling a bit guilty discharging this thing into the environment as they are highly toxic to insect and fish.

When all is done, I've lost about 1 week of my life as well as $1200. Ouch.