Be Thankful For the Little Things, Like Not Having a Rat Infestation

It’s the time of year when we count our blessings and think about all the things we’re thankful for. I can tell you that ever since 2013, I’ve been thankful every day that my house is not infested by rats. In those days, I lived over by White Rock Lake in a wonderful little neighborhood called Little Forest Hills. All you White Rock Lakers know that if you see a rat, it’s already way too late. We went from, “I think I hear something scratching in the walls,” to full-blown “Secret of NIMH” in no time flat.

They were in the kitchen cabinets and drawers. They were in my closet and in my dresser drawers. They chewed through the water lines in the dishwasher. They got in the piano and chewed through several piano wires. They got in the panel box and chewed through power lines. And they got really bold before it was all over. They would just scamper right out and scare the bejebus out of me in the middle of the day. Not to mention the creepy sounds in the walls and ceiling at all hours. The pest control guy said there looked to be several families of rats living in my house. And my dogs were absolutely no help at all. They apparently see so many rats in that area that they just smile and greet them as friends.

Needless to say, I was totally traumatized by this experience and I dislike rats intensely. You may see a cute little guy in that picture above, but I see this:

So last year, when I went to New York to celebrate my best friend’s birthday, it never occurred to me to be concerned. But of course, if you’ve been to New York, you know they have a bit of a rat problem. We were walking back to our hotel after a show, and I literally TRIPPED over a rat running across my path on the sidewalk, after which I proceeded to do my best impression of the Ministry of Silly Walks all the way back to the hotel.

The next day, we were innocently taking selfies in Central Park, as one does, and the next thing I know, my friend is slow-talking me off the boulder we were posing on. I didn’t know why, but I just did what she said, figuring there was a wasp or something, because I’m allergic, and that’s usually what it means when I hear that tone of voice from her. Oh no, she’d glanced over my shoulder and saw six or seven RATS crawling up the side of the boulder behind me. Is this a friggin’ nightmare?

So I’m thankful for every rat-free day I spend in this life. Anyway, there’s an inspection in here somewhere …

Like Rats On A Sinking Ship

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This video right here is why I got all up in my feelings and told you about my rat trauma. This failed attempt at a rat hole — right there in the LIVING ROOM — isn’t the only blatant sign of a rat infestation in this home, either. They had the rat rub marks (shiver), and some evidence of chewing inside the home, as well as droppings. It’s wild to me the kinds of things that people will sometimes not fix before they put a house on the market.

Homes that are close to water are more likely to have a rat problem, simply because they’re more likely to have a high population of rats. When it gets cold, rats start looking for someplace warm to ride out the winter.

If you have a rat infestation, it also could be a sign that you need a sewer scope inspection. Sometimes rats are drawn to the pooling water or leaking sewer pipes associated with problems with your sewer line.

You can protect your home from a rat infestation by sealing any gaps where rodents can enter. As we move into the winter months, it’s a great time to have your pest control professional out to check for any holes or openings where you might be vulnerable, and if you’ve had problems in previous years to set up preventative measures.