Rodent Control Methods
Rodent Control Methods
When you find out you have rodents causing trouble, the search for adequate solutions can be confusing. There are multiple rodent control methods you can try.
Choosing the right one for your circumstances depends on the rodents you’re dealing with, and whether they’re in your home or elsewhere on your property.
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Rodent Control Methods
Indoor clean-up
For indoor rat or mouse infestations, clean-up is always the first step. Sometimes, this can work on its own to clear away infestations, but it’s better as a prevention method. Make sure all food items are sealed away in plastic or glass containers that a rodent can’t chew, and clear away crumbs and dishes quickly. Additionally, clear away any clutter on the floor, since bags, boxes, and clothes offer great hiding spots to mice and rats.
Get rid of entry points
Another important aspect of preventing rodent infestations is sealing entry points into your home. You can use screens to cover windows and vents, while caulk will often work for small holes and crevices both indoors and outdoors.
Rodent repellents
Rodent repellents may work to drive away rodents easily, with minimal effort. There are ultrasonic devices that emit a sound that scares away mice and rats while remaining inaudible to humans and pets.
Alternatively, you can try scaring them away with natural repellents like peppermint oil, neem oil, or commercial rodent repellent sprays or granules.
Outdoor prevention
If you’re worried about rodents outside your home, tidying up is still important. You’ll want to eliminate piles of wood, debris, tools, or toys that rodents can hide under. Additionally, make sure to seal any food sources like garbage cans or bags of birdseed.
Think high
To control climbing rodents like squirrels, roof rats, raccoons, and chipmunks, it’s important to consider entry points to your roof or attic. Seal chimneys, crevices, and holes, and be quick to fix any moisture issues. From the outside, get rid of branches that overhang your roof. If you’re not sure how to go about this, check out our attic care services.
Natural Predators
Bringing in a natural predator can be an easy way of dealing with and keeping rodents away. Cats are the obvious pet, of course. Just keep in mind that you’ll still need to care for your pet, and that should your cat catch a mouse or rat, you’ll likely have to deal with the corpse.
In most areas, however, we don’t recommend cats for outdoor rodent control, since they can also hurt the local bird populations.
Traps
Rodent repellents may work to drive away rodents easily, with minimal effort. There are ultrasonic devices that emit a sound that scares away mice and rats while remaining inaudible to humans and pets. Alternatively, you can try scaring them away with natural repellents like peppermint oil, neem oil, or commercial rodent repellent sprays or granules.
Snap bait traps are old-school, and they tend to kill mice and rats quickly.
No-kill bait traps can capture all kinds of rodents without killing, but then you’ll have to deal with releasing them appropriately and safely.
Electric traps are a modern option that electrocutes smaller rodents.
Bucket traps are popular for capturing outdoor mice and rats, and they can be kill or no-kill.
Glue traps are not recommended, since they kill rodents very slowly and inhumanely.
Poison
Poisons are an increasingly unpopular rodent control method. Poison can kill all manner of rodents very effectively, but it can also harm children and pets.
Conclusion
Now that you know about the different rodent control strategies, remember that you’ll likely need to implement a few of them to get rid of rodents completely.
If you’re still uncertain about doing it yourself or if you’d like to know that the right method was executed perfectly, get in touch with us for expert advice and professional rodent control.