Roof rats in Germantown, TN (Memphis: rental, houses, refrigerators)

[COTransplant]

We just bought a house in Germantown and have roof rats. Our official move-in date was last Saturday, but although all of our stuff is here we haven't moved in because of these disgusting rodents. A local pest control company has been out and put poison outside and glue boards inside. But we still have them. I don't think their approach is aggressive enough. We've also called the Shelby Co. Health Dept. but the robot I spoke with on the phone said they couldn't treat our problem if a professional pest person had already started the job, because of liabilities. I won't even comment on that. But does anyone have any ideas about getting rid of these revolting intruders...short of a grenade?

[jm24]

I've posted a response to a similar problem I had years ago, but can't find the post so thought I'd send a quick reply.

I had rats (in the attic, not the interior of the house itself) and tried various exterminating companies and their bait stations, sticky traps, poison blocks, etc. with no luck. I finally got desperate and called the city (we live in east Memphis) to see what they could do for me. I have to say I was very impressed with the results. Someone came out, found evidence confirming the rat problem, put out some poison packets, and told me where to purchase them. We originally used Talon (contains Brodifacoum) - little packets that you place around the area and out of reach of children and pets. We've since bought other brands (whatever is currently availably at the co-op).

Also told me to keep standing water outside to a minimum (birdbaths, ponds, puddles) and to pick up dog poop regularly (we have 3 dogs and continue to pick up several times a day).

The combination continues to work for us. I hope this helps.

[bjh]

"Roof" rats and "tree" roaches. Only in Memphis

[clobbersaurus01]

How is that only a Memphis problem?

[COTransplant]

Thanks for the info. Will give it a shot. We're trying anything and everything.

[bjh]

It's the euphemisms, man!

[wendysnindy]

I would have assumed it was a -Memphis problem only- I have NEVER heard of roof rats or tree roaches and I have lived all over the country and overseas! we are looking at moving to the burbs of Memphis - is this seriously a huge prob for many???

[UofMGrad92]

Roof rats are just the common black rat. They prefer to live up high so they get in roofs sometimes. They are certainly not unique to Memphis or even to the United States (they were responsible for the spread of the plague in the Middle Ages in Europe).

Rats are sporadically a problem in various parts of town just like in any other warmish urban area. That being said, I've never had them anywhere I've lived (knock on wood). My brother did have them around a rental house in East Memphis when he used to live there, but an exterminator killed them and no more problems.

As for tree roaches, I've never heard of that one. Plenty of roaches in the filthy houses my work takes me to, but they seem to prefer the plates of food, sticky stuff spilled on the floors and counters, and the privacy of a closed cabinet full of "clean" dishes. Heck, I've even found them inside of refrigerators. Why live in a tree when you can live like roach royalty?

[DubbleT]

Some people call Palmetto bugs (aka water bugs) tree roaches. The problem here is not nearly as bad as down along the gulf coast but you will see them from time to time.

[UofMGrad92]

I have heard of Palmetto Bugs, but I thought that was just what polite people called really big flying cockroaches. Are they actually different than regular old spreading filth and disease and laying eggs in the jelly cockroaches?