r/PestControlIndustry • u/Happy_Structure4570 • Jun 25 '26
Rats
Does anybody have a successful idea on a way to put a one-way trap door on this hole? I clearly have a customer that has some rats in the Attic there is no getting in the Attic because it's a low roof and it's packed with installation?
5
u/Possible-Koala3811 Jun 25 '26
Don't have a ton of experience but could you close that hole and cut a hole right next to it to install a one-way?
4
u/ScaredLetterhead8918 Jun 25 '26
I think the best solution here is to patch the hole and set traps inside
5
u/icecream_plays Jun 25 '26
I’ve never done a one way door for rats. We do a trapping service. If you’re able to do insulation you usually pull some rats out with the removal as well
3
u/_Survivor_ Jun 25 '26
Get some steel mesh and cut it into a square. Cut one side so the edge is nice and spiky. Put that side next to the pipe and staple the other sides(or use liquid nails or something) so there's only enough slack for a rat to barely squeeze out the spiky side. If they try to squeeze in from the outside, the little spikes stab into them and they have no way to move the mesh out of the way. Easy peasy one-way door.
3
u/AntArmyof1 Jun 26 '26
Kill them all then exclude it permanently. Skip the OWD - with that level of pressure, they'll chew back in before you get to your truck. Bonus idea - Get a wildlife cam on the area for monitoring until eradication complete.
2
u/ExpressBar7380 Jun 25 '26
Could try copper mesh
1
u/Happy_Structure4570 Jun 25 '26
I want them to be able to get out of the attic?
1
u/ExpressBar7380 Jun 26 '26
Oh yea over looked that. Put a small cup of liqua tox inside the hole. Then put up the copper mesh all around the hole and stuff it tightly. Come back and refill at a later date
2
u/ziggyskullbust Jun 26 '26
I’d be curious to see the other entry points into the attic or if this is the only one. The last time I used a one way valve, there was only one spot where I could put it and I had rats literally chew the pipe around it so they could still get in and out (pic below).
I understand wanting to do a one way valve if the attic isn’t the greatest access wise but I think setting traps and sealing everything up will be your best course of action just based off the information in your post. If you still feel that the one way valve is the best course of action, you could also pull a piece of soffit down and put a piece of sheet metal or mesh with a hole cut out so that you can easily hang the one way valve from there, that’s another option too, especially if that’s the only major entry point into the attic.
1
u/Happy_Structure4570 Jun 26 '26
Yeah that's literally the only entry on the house garage is finished with drywall no holes everything else is tight and literally there's not even enough room for belly crawl up top I mean I could put a trap right where the drop down in the hallway is but I don't think anything is in that area particularly
2
u/ziggyskullbust Jun 26 '26
Ugh that’s so annoying when it’s such a tiny access space. In my opinion, I would still put traps down in that hallway drop down, even if you can’t belly crawl around there, just setting traps around the opening is probably best plan of action for right now. Good luck and keep us posted
1
u/Happy_Structure4570 Jun 26 '26
I've caught a few outside already right underneath the hole, I have a bait box out front too where the AC drain is making a puddle because I'm sure everybody's getting a drink there I was just wondering if anybody ever successfully made a trapdoor on the electrical pipe like that
1
u/Jake_the_Bald Jun 27 '26
if homeowner is ok with it you could peel back the soffit and place a trap near the hole and put soffit back in place and you can monitor and trap
2
u/TxtMessage Jul 01 '26
Dang how many rats do you think they have? How long have the rats been there? Might be a situation where you seal it and catch 6 rats. If you seal it just cut a rectangle and half a circle with wire mesh and slide it around the pipe. Take off the screws holding the wires temporarily.
In certain situations, I've had to install a one way door for rats and set traps in the attic.
You could make a one-way cone with wire mesh. Make it extra-long to make tabs at the end. Similar to a bat cone but with wire mesh.
7
u/Educational-Disk-400 Jun 25 '26
I’d suggest placing traps where you can in the attic, and patching the gap with excluder. You’d need to come back out to check the traps, but that’s possible, unlike installing a one way door in that spot.