Owner`s manual

Rodent and Snake Control After a Flood
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND ELIMINATION
Following floods, rats and other
rodents may move into buildings
to escape floodwaters. Snakes
are often forced into places
where they are not usually
found. Upon re-entering flooded
homes or buildings, you will
need to be wary of these
possibilities. Rats can carry
disease and parasites, while
snakes may be poisonous or at
least frightening. Neither pose
serious problems in Wisconsin,
but the chance of an incident
increases after a disaster.
WHERE THE RATS ARE
Because of the danger of rat infestation, use caution when entering flooded
buildings:
♦ Carry a solid club and a flashlight.
♦ Inspect likely hiding places for rats. Check closets, drawers,
mattresses, appliances, upholstered furniture, stacks of clothes or
paper, dark corners, attics and basements.
♦ Be extremely careful when approaching rats. They may be aggressive.
CONTROLLING RATS
If rats continue to be a problem after floodwaters recede, contact your
county Extension agent or professional pest control operator for advice. If
you proceed on your own be extremely careful with any rodenticide or
trap. To minimize rat problems:
♦ Remove trash piles and piles of damaged furniture or equipment.
Store materials on platforms or shelves 12 to 18 inches above the
ground.
♦ Remove food sources. Store food supplies in rat-proof bins or
containers. Suspend garbage containers from trees or posts. Remove
animal carcasses, as they may attract rats.
♦ If you are bitten by a rat, wash the wound with soap and water and
see a doctor immediately. Rats may carry diseases and at the least, rat
bites can cause infection. If the rat is captured or killed, health
authorities may wish to check it for rabies or other diseases. When
picking up a carcass, use the inside of a plastic bag to avoid touching
it. Double-seal it in plastic and freeze until further notice.
INSPECTING FOR SNAKES
It is important to know what poisonous snakes may be common to your
area. Only two poisonous snakes exist in Wisconsin: the timber rattlesnake
and the massasauga rattlesnake. Both species are restricted to the southwest
quarter of the state. The massasauga is an endangered species and is rarely
encountered. Non-poisonous snakes, however, are common and may bite.
Remember that all snakes are beneficial to the ecosystem and should not
be killed indiscriminately — poisonous snakes included. But follow these
precautions upon entering a flooded structure or area:
University of Wisconsin-Extension • Cooperative Extension FLOOD-SANITATION
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