AB & BE
Animal Bat & Bird Extractors
10656 Keysville Rd
Emmittsburg, Md 21727
SOLVING HUMAN ANIMAL CONFLICTS
301-748-8372
Licensed & Insured to $1,000,000.00
Certificates Available Upon Request
Tim McDowell 301 748 8372

Opossum      Squirrel        Raccoon      SkunkSnake    Beaver   

 Birds  Ferel cats Bats    Deer    Dead    Rodents  foxes

Groundhogs

Rodents

Rats are dangerous! They can ruin your food, destroy things in your home and start electrical fires. Rats and their fleas can carry disease.

• Under wood piles or lumber that is not being used often
• Under bushes, vines and in tall grasses that are not trimmed or cut back
• Under rocks in the garden
• In cars, appliances and furniture that has been put outside and is no longer being used
• In and around trash and garbage that has been left on the ground
• In holes under buildings

• In the insulation of walls or ceilings
• Inside the crawl spaces
• Behind or under cupboards, counters, bathtubs and shower stalls
• Near hot water heaters and furnaces
• In basements, attics and wherever things are stored in boxes, paper or cloth

• Garbage that rats can get into, like garbage cans with loose lids, plastic or paper bags, and litter.
• Food for pets and birds that has not been eaten. Birdseed on the ground, pet food in pet dishes, bread crumbs, etc.
• Fruits and berries that have fallen to the ground.
• Compost pile or worm bin that isn't taken care of the right way (do not put meat, fish, poultry, or dairy in the compost)
• Dog droppings

• THE SAME FOODS WE DO!
• Foods, fats, oils that have been spilled and left on counters, floors, appliances and tables
• Grains, like cereal, oats, rice and vegetables like potatoes and carrots that are in cardboard boxes and plastic bags
• Pet food in boxes or bags
• Any garbage that is not in a can with a tight lid

Do not give food and shelter to these most unwanted guests!

• The time to act is before the signs (droppings) of a rat or mouse.
• Stack fire wood 18 inches off the ground and away from all buildings.
• Birdhouses and seed should be on poles and in trays rats can't get.
• Keep garbage can lids closed tightly.
• Plant bushes so they will stay at least 3 feet from your house.
• Keep yards and alleys clean. Take junk to the dump!
• If you feed them, they will stay. Pick up fruit and vegetables in your yard.
• Do not compost any animal products (fish, meat, chicken, cheese, butter). Keep lids tight.
• Use only rodent resistant composters.
• In basements keep any food in closed containers that rats can't chew through.
• Cover all openings to your house. Rats can get into very small places.
• Do not leave your pet food outside. If your pet doesn't eat it, the rats will.
• Roof rats get into your house from tree branches that hang over the roof. Keep trees cut back and cover any openings in the eves.

Rats live in sewers and can follow the food in pipes up to your toilet.

• Keep your kitchen sink rinsed clean and use garbage disposals as little as possible.
  • Rinse out your kitchen sink once or twice a month.
  • Use 1 cup of bleach (an alternative to using bleach, 1 cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup of vinegar) and rinse with boiling water.
• Never throw grease down the drain.
• Keep your toilet lid down when not in use.
• If you find a rat in your toilet, flush it! (hint: squirt a little dishwashing liquid under the lid into the bowl, wait a couple of minutes then flush)

The best trap is the large, simple, cheap wooden "snap trap." They are sold in hardware stores.

To use the trap:

• BAIT IT with pieces of apple, potato, raw bacon or with peanut butter spread on a cotton ball.
• ATTACH IT firmly to the ground or solid place to keep the rat from dragging the trap away.
• PLACE THE TRAP near where you have found the droppings. Make sure the trap is safe from people, children, pets or animals who could get hurt from it.

POISONS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED unless inside a tamper proof bait station, for rat control, because children or other animals may eat it by mistake. Also, poisoned rats can die in hard to reach places causing a very bad smell.

DEAD RATS must first be wrapped in newspaper, or placed in a plastic bag before putting it in a tightly covered garbage can. Injured or sick rats must be killed, then wrapped and put in the garbage can. Try not to touch the dead rat. Use gloves if possible.

WASH YOUR HANDS WITH HOT WATER AND SOAP AFTER GETTING RID OF DEAD RATS! (even if you used gloves).

If you are cleaning out a building that has been closed up, such as a cabin, shed, or garage, or areas where rodent nesting material have been found, follow these steps.