St. Francis and rodent infestations

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lynnehelen

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I cried for ten minutes over stepping on a dying wasp. I love animals too much. I get too close to them. It is a problem for me.

Right now, after the house was abandoned for a period, we are finding on returning that there is a rodent infestation. I shouldn’t say the house was abandoned. My son, who was still 17, was left here alone, as I was forced out and my husband works out of town and wasn’t showing up on the weekends either. My son was not up to being left alone and taking care of the home on his own. Should he be at 17? I don’t know. The problem is that, I have returned now to restore order and find what seems to be a serious problem with rodents. Roof rats, maybe an opossum in the sealed attic, something big, rats scrabbling in the spaces between the walls. They don’t seem to be coming in except into my husband’s room, no other sign of entry; they are just camping out in the inner spaces of the home. But they scare me.

The point is, my husband is insisting that we take care of it ourselves using poison. One took the poison yesterday and in the night (I woke up) the house reeked of the pungent and revolting odor of dead rat. I’m sorry but they really do smell bad, alive or dead.

There is one outfit online that offers trapping removal service but I don’t have any money and I don’t think my husband will pay for it. Also the house is dirty. They are too nice for us. They come in a nice zebra-striped truck, they are informed and caring about the animals and the infestations, I don’t think I’m up to it. This is a down and dirty situation.

I think it is like “just warfare.” If you can kill people in just warfare using inhumane methods (which includes all manner of present-day warfare) then you can use poison to kill rats and rodents who have taken advantage of the plight of your minor son to take over your home. I don’t like to do it and it scares me, but something has to give. The scrabbling above my room and on the roof at night is now keeping me up all night. I feel fear and animosity towards these creatures.

???
 
lynnehelen said:
I cried for ten minutes over stepping on a dying wasp. I love animals too much. I get too close to them. It is a problem for me.

Right now, after the house was abandoned for a period, we are finding on returning that there is a rodent infestation. I shouldn’t say the house was abandoned. My son, who was still 17, was left here alone, as I was forced out and my husband works out of town and wasn’t showing up on the weekends either. My son was not up to being left alone and taking care of the home on his own. Should he be at 17? I don’t know. The problem is that, I have returned now to restore order and find what seems to be a serious problem with rodents. Roof rats, maybe an opossum in the sealed attic, something big, rats scrabbling in the spaces between the walls. They don’t seem to be coming in except into my husband’s room, no other sign of entry; they are just camping out in the inner spaces of the home. But they scare me.

The point is, my husband is insisting that we take care of it ourselves using poison. One took the poison yesterday and in the night (I woke up) the house reeked of the pungent and revolting odor of dead rat. I’m sorry but they really do smell bad, alive or dead.

There is one outfit online that offers trapping removal service but I don’t have any money and I don’t think my husband will pay for it. Also the house is dirty. They are too nice for us. They come in a nice zebra-striped truck, they are informed and caring about the animals and the infestations, I don’t think I’m up to it. This is a down and dirty situation.

I think it is like “just warfare.” If you can kill people in just warfare using inhumane methods (which includes all manner of present-day warfare) then you can use poison to kill rats and rodents who have taken advantage of the plight of your minor son to take over your home. I don’t like to do it and it scares me, but something has to give. The scrabbling above my room and on the roof at night is now keeping me up all night. I feel fear and animosity towards these creatures.

???
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I would think that the health and welfare of your family should come first. Do whatever you need to do to rid the house of the infestation.
 
lynnehelen said:
I cried for ten minutes over stepping on a dying wasp. I love animals too much. I get too close to them. It is a problem for me.

…, we are finding on returning that there is a rodent infestation. … I have returned now to restore order and find what seems to be a serious problem with rodents. Roof rats, maybe an opossum in the sealed attic, something big, rats scrabbling in the spaces between the walls.
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Wasps are evil. I spray them with Wasp killer when they build nests on my house. Last summer and fall I destroyed somewhere around 6 or 7 nests before frost came.

Rats and mice and rodents inside homes are bad. The pee and poop everywhere. They contaminate your food and living area. They carry parasites - worms, fleas, etc. You MUST find out where they are entering and seal the areas. Mice and rats can enter in very small openings - 1/4 inch for mice and holes the size of a quarter for rats! Then you must eliminate those who are inside. Set out tons of traps where you see evidence of them - along walls and baseboards. If they are inside your walls only, you may need to contact an exterminator who is familiar with exterminating pests that way.

Otherwise, your house WILL be destroyed.

Mouse poop:
http://byebedbug.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Mouse-droppings.jpg
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/upload..._3_-_Evironmental_Health/Rodent Droppings.jpg
Selected Infectious Disease Associated with Rodents

DISEASE

DESCRIPTION

Plague

Caused by a bite of a rat flea infected with pathogenic bacterium Yersinia pestis. While there have not been any reports of plague in Berkeley, the potential for an outbreak may increase as the rat population expands.
Salmonellosis

Bacterial “food poisoning” that may be transmitted when rodents defecate or urinate on food, dishes, kitchen counters, floors, and other objects associated with humans thus contaminating food or drink.

Leptospirosis

Caused by the bacterial spirochete, Leptospira spp., which humans may become infected through contact with water or ingestion of food contaminated with urine of infected rats.

Murine Typhus

Also known as flea-borne typhus is caused by Rickettsia typhi and it can be transmitted to rodents or other hosts such as humans when infected fecal material from a flea is scratched into the skin or rubbed into the flea bite or an open sore or wound.
 
lynnehelen said:
I cried for ten minutes over stepping on a dying wasp. I love animals too much. I get too close to them. It is a problem for me.

Right now, after the house was abandoned for a period, we are finding on returning that there is a rodent infestation. I shouldn’t say the house was abandoned. My son, who was still 17, was left here alone, as I was forced out and my husband works out of town and wasn’t showing up on the weekends either. My son was not up to being left alone and taking care of the home on his own. Should he be at 17? I don’t know. The problem is that, I have returned now to restore order and find what seems to be a serious problem with rodents. Roof rats, maybe an opossum in the sealed attic, something big, rats scrabbling in the spaces between the walls. They don’t seem to be coming in except into my husband’s room, no other sign of entry; they are just camping out in the inner spaces of the home. But they scare me.

The point is, my husband is insisting that we take care of it ourselves using poison. One took the poison yesterday and in the night (I woke up) the house reeked of the pungent and revolting odor of dead rat. I’m sorry but they really do smell bad, alive or dead.

There is one outfit online that offers trapping removal service but I don’t have any money and I don’t think my husband will pay for it. Also the house is dirty. They are too nice for us. They come in a nice zebra-striped truck, they are informed and caring about the animals and the infestations, I don’t think I’m up to it. This is a down and dirty situation.

I think it is like “just warfare.” If you can kill people in just warfare using inhumane methods (which includes all manner of present-day warfare) then you can use poison to kill rats and rodents who have taken advantage of the plight of your minor son to take over your home. I don’t like to do it and it scares me, but something has to give. The scrabbling above my room and on the roof at night is now keeping me up all night. I feel fear and animosity towards these creatures.

???
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  1. An exterminator said for rodents it is ok to use poison for mice, because they are very small and won’t cause much of an odor. Rats need to be trapped. Especially if there are a few.
A possum needs to be trapped by a professional…but they do eat rats.

You need a professional.

Are you sure they are rats? Have you seen them? Could it be squirrels in the attic?
 
As a man who tries very hard to live a vegan life, I don’t like to kill animals. I too have trouble killing wasps and often catch them and release them outside of the house. I do think though that you have to do something with the pests in order to take care of your family.
  1. You can kill them with poison and deal with the smell. Boiling maple syrup will help take care of that if you have to go that route. It’s not ideal. But your health and your families health takes priority over that.
  2. You can use live traps. But in order to do this you first have to find out where they are getting in and fix it. You then catch them and release them somewhere in the wild or far away from your house. This takes time and can be effective, but you’ve got to put a break on any food source. If they can eat, they’ll just breed. They’ll stay in the home and it will be a difficult run with catch and release.
  3. You can realize that the exterminators are going to know it’s a bad situation when you tell them there is a rat infestation. Sometimes it’s necessary to swallow the pride, and simply take care of the problem. Yes the house is dirty. Yes it’s going to be embarrassing to have people come in. But if you don’t take care of the problem the house is not going to get cleaner, it’s going to get much worse and it’s potentially deadly to you and your family.
I will be praying for you that you find confidence to do what needs to be done, and to make the decision as to how you will handle it.

In Christ,
Brian
 
DON’T use poison; the vermin will go die in your walls or somewhere else that’s difficult to reach. Then you will have The Smell, and it will last for a very long time, depending on the size of the carcass. Snap traps work best; death is instantaneous (no prolonged suffering like sticky-traps), plus they can be reused. You will know where to find the bodies so they can be disposed of. Try to get a good brand of snap-trap; some of the cheapies don’t trigger properly. The mouse eats all of the peanut butter, licks the trigger clean, and goes on his merry way.

Or you can just get a really big cat.
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
I can relate to your problem. I have found that burning incense really helps with the smell.

I hope and pray the infestation stops.
 
Catholic90 said:
Wasps are evil. I spray them with Wasp killer when they build nests on my house. Last summer and fall I destroyed somewhere around 6 or 7 nests before frost came.

Rats and mice and rodents inside homes are bad. The pee and poop everywhere. They contaminate your food and living area. They carry parasites - worms, fleas, etc. You MUST find out where they are entering and seal the areas. Mice and rats can enter in very small openings - 1/4 inch for mice and holes the size of a quarter for rats! Then you must eliminate those who are inside. Set out tons of traps where you see evidence of them - along walls and baseboards. If they are inside your walls only, you may need to contact an exterminator who is familiar with exterminating pests that way.

Otherwise, your house WILL be destroyed.

Mouse poop:
http://byebedbug.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Mouse-droppings.jpg
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/upload..._3_-_Evironmental_Health/Rodent Droppings.jpg
Selected Infectious Disease Associated with Rodents

DISEASE

DESCRIPTION

Plague

Caused by a bite of a rat flea infected with pathogenic bacterium Yersinia pestis. While there have not been any reports of plague in Berkeley, the potential for an outbreak may increase as the rat population expands.
Salmonellosis

Bacterial “food poisoning” that may be transmitted when rodents defecate or urinate on food, dishes, kitchen counters, floors, and other objects associated with humans thus contaminating food or drink.

Leptospirosis

Caused by the bacterial spirochete, Leptospira spp., which humans may become infected through contact with water or ingestion of food contaminated with urine of infected rats.

Murine Typhus

Also known as flea-borne typhus is caused by Rickettsia typhi and it can be transmitted to rodents or other hosts such as humans when infected fecal material from a flea is scratched into the skin or rubbed into the flea bite or an open sore or wound.
Click to expand...
I think it quite likely that I shall not sleep soundly tonight.
 
Catholic90 said:
Nope. Cats do not necessarily work. I have cats, and this fall I had a mouse problem. The only thing that worked was traps and poison.
No more mice.
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Actually a good thing, as there’s a parasite that mice carry which a cat can get from eating mice, which can then be transmitted to humans. The infestation sounds bad enough to warrant calling an exterminator.
 
lynnehelen said:
I think it is like “just warfare.” If you can kill people in just warfare using inhumane methods (which includes all manner of present-day warfare) then you can use poison to kill rats and rodents who have taken advantage of the plight of your minor son to take over your home. I don’t like to do it and it scares me, but something has to give. The scrabbling above my room and on the roof at night is now keeping me up all night. I feel fear and animosity towards these creatures.

???
Click to expand...
If another human invaded the house and began to take liberties, how would you feel and what would you do? Whatever it took to protect your family members? Hit the invader over the head with a rolling pin? Call the cops? Get out a gun?

The rodents are evil invaders. Declare war for the sake of your family. Have no mercy. After all, the house is a human house, not an animal house and animals are less important than humans.
 
Thanks! for the info and confidence boost. My husband will be home from out of town tonight and we will re-strategize. I knew this was a dangerous predicament, but I didn’t know the extent of it, it helps to know exactly what I’m dealing with.

😊
:sad_yes:

:amen:
 
If you’re still looking for saintly help, try St Martin DePorres, who had trouble with mice chewing on vestments and altar linens. He politely asked them to move to his garden, where he would be glad to see that they were fed. You might ask him to move your critters and then just shut your eyes and trust that between St Martin and the exterminators, things will be taken care of, one way or the other.
 
Catholic90 said:
Selected Infectious Disease Associated with Rodents

DISEASE

DESCRIPTION

Plague

Caused by a bite of a rat flea infected with pathogenic bacterium Yersinia pestis. While there have not been any reports of plague in Berkeley, the potential for an outbreak may increase as the rat population expands.
Salmonellosis

Bacterial “food poisoning” that may be transmitted when rodents defecate or urinate on food, dishes, kitchen counters, floors, and other objects associated with humans thus contaminating food or drink.

Leptospirosis

Caused by the bacterial spirochete, Leptospira spp., which humans may become infected through contact with water or ingestion of food contaminated with urine of infected rats.

Murine Typhus

Also known as flea-borne typhus is caused by Rickettsia typhi and it can be transmitted to rodents or other hosts such as humans when infected fecal material from a flea is scratched into the skin or rubbed into the flea bite or an open sore or wound.
Click to expand...
Don’t forget about Hanta virus:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanta_virus
 
EvelynEVF said:
If you’re still looking for saintly help, try St Martin DePorres, who had trouble with mice chewing on vestments and altar linens. He politely asked them to move to his garden, where he would be glad to see that they were fed. You might ask him to move your critters and then just shut your eyes and trust that between St Martin and the exterminators, things will be taken care of, one way or the other.
Click to expand...
Ooh, I’d forgotten that one: such a lovely story, too!
 
EvelynEVF said:
… and then just shut your eyes and trust that between St Martin and the exterminators, things will be taken care of, one way or the other.
Click to expand...
Personally, I would keep my eyes open…I want to know if I am going to be run over by a rodent, AND I would keep my eyes doubly wide open to make sure I am not ingesting food that has been contaminated by rodent urine or feces.

Call the exterminator and set up the traps.
 
Oh, I don’t mean ignore the situation or any remaining rodents! Yuck! I mean, if the OP is going to be paralyzed with regret for killing them, then it might help to piously pretend/hope that St. Martin helped relocate them, so that they need not die to leave her home in safety and peace.
 
Turns out that the noise on the roof was opossums hunting the rats in the attic. And that this problem has problem been ongong for some time and just blew out of control when the house was vacant. Snakes a possibility too (they also prey on rats.) I’ve seen maybe ten or twelve black snakes in the garden in the 13 years we’ve lived here. The exterminator did not see evidence of any snakes within the structure of the home.

“Exterminator”: actually, I found “Wildlife Solutions” online, recently featured in National Geographic. They use a fog to force the rats out and cover the odors they leave behind that attract the predators. Already done. Then, they trap and remove any remaining animals. Then, they address all the points of entry so that the rodents cannot re-enter.

No fatal odor of dying animals (I was sick for days, I boiled the maple syrup but the combined odor still lingered for about three days.)

I cried for the rat. When I thought about it. Poor little animal, just doing what it does. We used a really nasty poison.

We also have to cut back the trees the opossums were climbing up that are too close to the house, I already know which ones. Once the rats are gone, the opossums will disperse.

I am humbled. The service is expensive, but I paid (or rather charged) the fee not so much because of St. Francis as because of my illness from the fumes from the poisoned one. Maybe a lesson learned.

Thank you for attending to this thread. Wildlife Solutions will be here on and off for a week or two; I pray for the success of their methods and that my crazy husband, who has already objected, does not interfere.

Breathing a sigh of relief. (The fog has a cherry odor and the house already smells better.)
 
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