YOU DIRTY RAT! THEY'VE MOVED INTO OUR VALLEY HOMES... SO HOW DO WE GET RID OF THOSE NASTY VERMIN?

Byline: Diana McKeon Charkalis Lifestyle Editor

It began as a skittering in the attic. Must be squirrels, we hoped. But the next day just after sunset, we spotted the culprits.

One furry body with a long, thin tail scampered up a brick wall in the back yard. Another was perched in a hedge, nibbling a chunk of grapefruit clutched in sharp little claws.

We had rats. To be more exact, rattus rattus, commonly known as the roof rat. And as we soon discovered, we were not alone.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's Vector Management Program gets about 5,000 complaints per year from people reporting mice or rats in and around their homes.

``We get calls from the South Bay, the Valley, the foothills, Beverly Hills,'' says program supervisor Gail Van Gordon. ``They can come from anywhere countywide.''

At an owner's or renter's request, the department will send an inspector, free of charge, to assess the situation. Although they won't make repairs or set traps, they will offer advice, starting with identifying the species that's causing the problem, says Robert Flores, an inspector with 16 years of experience. Then, it's all about educating residents on rodent behavior and how to control it.

Up to this point, my knowledge of rats was confined to Templeton, the gluttonous garbage seeker in E.B. White's ``Charlotte's Web.'' But I was about to learn more than I ever imagined.

For example, wild roof rats just may be the superheroes of the vermin world. According to Flores, they can gnaw through wood, stucco and even concrete. They can flatten their cartilaginous bodies and squeeze through tiny spaces. And they have excellent balance, using their tails much like acrobats wield a pole on the high wire. On top of all that, they are just plain wily.

``I consider them very intelligent animals,'' he admits. ``No matter how much you change their environment, they'll survive.''

Looking up at power lines crisscrossing above the homes in a Sherman Oaks neighborhood, he elaborated. ``I call those wires freeways. A full adult rodent will get on that freeway and go up to 200 feet to find what they need -- either nesting, food or water.

``Wires that come down to the roofs are like the off ramps. They'll just get off and see if they can find what they need.''

Turns out what they needed at our house was the grapefruit falling from a tree in our back yard. This was determined when the inspector assigned to us showed up.

He drove his own car with a license plate that read RATTUS. Clearly, this guy meant business. His dedication was evident as he briskly identified rat food sources (grapefruit, garbage cans), nesting (overflowing hedges) and possible entry points to our home (unsealed crawl space vents, roof vents and roof eaves).

Once repairs are made and food sources are removed, it's a matter of controlling the rat population.

Van Gordon and her crew seek out low-cost options. And for outdoor infestation, they offer instructions for creating bait stations that can be loaded with rodenticide and secured out of reach from children and other animals. One affordable option is made from plastic pipe found in hardware stores.

``Our opinion is we're all about public health and safety. No one should have to live with rats. If someone can't afford (more expensive methods) they could do this and make five bait stations for less than $20.''

For those concerned about using poison, or the blood, gore and operator ouch-factor that can come with snapping rat traps, there are other options. Such as hiring an exterminator.

Although they don't work with or recommend particular exterminators, ``We're not here to compete with pest control operators,'' Flores states. ``We want to educate residents so if they do hire (someone), they can see that they're doing the job (right).''

Some things shouldn't be tried. Flores cautions against using devices that claim to ward off rats by emitting high-pitched frequencies.

``I've actually gone into houses and seen a rat sitting on one of those and looking at me.''

He also advises against trapping and releasing rats in other locations because of the possibility of spreading disease.

One method gaining favor among consumers is a device known as the Rat Zapper, (www.ratzapper.com) but it doesn't come cheap -- they cost about $50. Using dry pet food as bait, rats are lured inside a box and then jolted with electricity. A light signals when the trap is occupied. There's no need to touch the rodent when discarding it.

Inventor Bob Noe, a rancher and retired attorney, lives in Ojai and originally stumbled upon the idea while trying to rid his garden of gophers.

``I didn't like poison,'' says Noe. ``Our goal has been to try and build a better mouse and rat trap. We've vaulted rodent control into the 21st century.''

Whatever the method, Noe says residents may want to plan ahead this year.

``Due to the rains we had this year,'' he cautions. ``I think this will be an epic year for rats.''

RAT PREVENTION: DO'S AND DON'TS

Taking steps to prevent rat infestation can go a long way. Here are some tips from the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Vector Management Program for discouraging rats around the home.

Store garbage in rodent-proof containers, as far away as possible from the home. Receptacles should be rust-resistant, water-tight and have tight-fitting lids.

All fallen fruit and nuts should be regularly removed and discarded in the trash. Also pick up pet droppings. Prune fruit off trees wherever possible.

Store pet food in metal containers with tight-fitting lids. Don't leave pet food out overnight. Also, make sure pet doors are shut tight at night.

Rats love clutter, so keep outdoor areas tidy. Elevate stored items, salvageables and firewood 18 inches above ground and 12 inches away from walls and fences.

Trim and thin ground cover, including ivy. Trim shrubbery to allow at least 18 inches of open area beneath the plants. Remove dead palm fronds.

Trim tree limbs at least 4 feet away from roofs, attic vents, eaves and utility wires.

Seal all exterior openings larger than 1/4 inch in size -- including roof, attic, foundation and crawl-space vents.

Eliminate gaps around pipes, cables and wires by covering with sheet metal or sealing with cement mortar. Note: New air conditioning and heating units can attract rats because the animals seek heat in the winter, and in summer they are drawn to the condensation as a water source. Be sure any gaps created by wiring are sealed before the job is done.

Install heavy-gauge sheet metal at the bottom and sides of doors. If you can slide a pen underneath, the gap is too wide.

Attach heavy weather stripping to the base of garage doors.

For more information, call [phone] or visit www.lapublichealth.org/eh

CAPTION(S):

7 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) RATS!

They're hungry, they're crafty, they're in your house!

How do you get them out?

(2 -- color) Inspector Robert Flores shows a bait station that is designed to draw rats to poison.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

(3 -- color) no caption (fruit)

(4 -- color) no caption (pet food)

(5 -- color) no caption (toys)

(6 -- color) no caption (exterior openings)

(7 -- color) no caption (person sliding a pen undernearth a door)

Box:

RAT PREVENTION: DO'S AND DON'TS (see text)