CINCINNATI (WKRC ) - A new survey ranks Cincinnati as the seventh most- infested city in the country for rats and mice.
The national ranking appeared in Bloomberg, it’s based on online responses to the federal government's "American housing survey." Rodent control experts say it doesn’t surprise them but there’s not been a recent spike.
Eric with Scherzinger Pest Control showed Local 12 News the spots around a Hyde Park home that were vulnerable to infestation. He pointed out vines and brush close to the exterior. There was even a large gap at the bottom of the garage door.
"It's like an open highway for them," said Eric.
Rats burrow and chew their way in looking for food and shelter, "Your house is nice and warm, they don't mind coming right in and finding a warm spot. Plenty of food to eat."
By the time people have seen one rat, there's probably a whole family living in the home. They can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter.
Rick Steinau with Ace Exterminating said the trap has to be set up properly, "It has to be perpendicular to the wall. So that when they run they get trapped either way and it has to be touching the wall."
Steinau said shredded paper or droppings were a sign people have a rodent problem. He added that rats were smart and people have to trick them to catch them. He suggests first setting up 6 to 8 traps then put the same food they were eating onto the trap.
"But you don't set the trap, it's called pre-baiting. You allow the rat to get use to coming around the trap. Then take the bait off of it, you'll see bait is gone. Do the same thing the next night and on the 3rd night you can set the trap and you will have a rat in the morning," said Steinau.
Cincinnati’s health department said in 2016 it investigated 259 rat complaints; less than one percent of the homes in the city.
