Why no bite-marks

htabbas · 11-27-2011, 04:44 AM

My house had rat infestation before I bought it a few months ago. It used to be that there were rat poops everywhere up in the attic. You can see trails of rat poops on the fiberglass insulation.

Then an exterminator, tons of hours from myself later, rat problem should be resolved. And then I hire an insulation company to remove all the batt insulation. Now the attic is without insulation and clean. I checked thoroughly around the attic but found no bit marks on wires nor wood. I don't know what these rat do up in the attic. I thought that since their teeth keeps growing, they have to chew on stuffs right? But it's strange that with so many rats (maybe 5 - 10 rats living here at one point), they should leave behind a lot of bite marks on wood or wire.

Why? I am asking because I am afraid that they are actually chewing stuffs in a location where I have't checked yet.

PAbugman · 11-27-2011, 09:28 AM

your last sentence indicates that rats may still be present and chewing. Rats are noisier and leave more visible evidence than mice do and since you were aware of the rats initially I think that you would know if they were there. Look around the exterior perimeter for burrows,clean runways, bits of insulation on ground, etc. They were probably just harboring in your attic as it was safe, prior to your actions, and venturing to their food source. Rats will travel a long way to eat and return to safety. Set some rat snap traps in attic and maybe elsewhere and see if you get any action. Do any neighbors feed pets outside or have bird feeders? These are common sources for rat food; even under dog houses. Rats aren’t afraid of dogs and will live in proximity to them.

htabbas · 11-27-2011, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PAbugman

your last sentence indicates that rats may still be present and chewing. Rats are noisier and leave more visible evidence than mice do and since you were aware of the rats initially I think that you would know if they were there. Look around the exterior perimeter for burrows,clean runways, bits of insulation on ground, etc. They were probably just harboring in your attic as it was safe, prior to your actions, and venturing to their food source. Rats will travel a long way to eat and return to safety. Set some rat snap traps in attic and maybe elsewhere and see if you get any action. Do any neighbors feed pets outside or have bird feeders? These are common sources for rat food; even under dog houses. Rats aren’t afraid of dogs and will live in proximity to them.

No, I don't think I have rats right now. I have not heard anything in walls, from attics since I moved in. All entry points are sealed and there are 8 traps set up in the attic which I check every week.

I asked the question because I am just curious why the previous rats didn't do any chewing damage in the attic. I have been to all the corners in the attic multiple times already.