Conventional rat traps
Such rat traps are effective and have been used for a long time. We simply have to bait the rat trap with some sticky food. Then, as the rat or mouse eats, a heavy metal spring-propelled bar strikes it and instantly kills the pest. It is a straightforward method but dangerous for small children who can get seriously injured by the metal bar. So, it is not advisable with kids around.
Glue rat traps
Considered more humane because they do not kill the mouse, they are simple strips of sticky glue. The mouse is trapped once it moves onto it. You can dispose of the rodent as you wish. However, much safer than the snap rat trap, it is dangerous for children as the glue is poisonous.
Live rat traps
Some people prefer them because they are neither dangerous nor poisonous, and the mouse does not die. However, it is lured into the rat trap by using bait, and the trap closes, imprisoning the animal. Of course, you have to check every day to see if any rat or mouse is trapped. If you do not wish to kill the animal and prefer to set it free, never release it within a radius of 200 yards. It will easily find its way into the comfort of your home shortly. So be sure to leave it quite far from your house.
Electric rat traps and mousetraps
Placed all around your premises or house, they will give an electric shock that instantly kills the mouse. The electric shock only activates when the rodent moves onto the internal plate. As it completes the circuit, it receives the terrifying shock that kills it. Such traps are expensive, but if your hate for mice is great and you wish their extermination, it is a good choice.
Ultrasound rat traps
Using sonic sound waves, the device affects all rodents. The level of the sound waves is such that they can be heard by rodents alone. It is not recommended for people who have guinea pigs and hamsters as these are of the rodent family and will suffer. The sound waves do not affect human beings, It is relatively expensive, and some people do not believe it does not bring the extermination of mice and so, not very effective.
So, if you decide to be a mouse exterminator yourself, choose one of these pest control methods. If none of them works, it is better not to waste time and call a professional exterminator.
Understanding Rodent Control
Here are some pointers that will help you understand rodents in a better way, which will further help you in the pest control process.
- Rodents are the category of animals that gnaw, like rats, mice, raccoons, squirrels, skunks, etc.
- The properties that possibly get damaged by rodents are clothes, wood, plastic, paper, etc.
- Rodents thrive on all kinds of food in the household.
- They can also carry diseases with them, some mild ones and some may be as severe as plague.
Rodent Pest Control
If you want to prevent your house from getting invaded by rodents, you will have to seal all the small openings or cracks at your place. Traps are the most common equipment used to catch rodents and release them later.
It is best to place the traps with food inside it. This will attract rodents. Laying out eatables that are poisoned is another method, though it doesn’t seem to be non-humanely. If you are using poison to kill the rodents, make sure you do it with great care.
The tricky part of rodent pest control is that you may not detect a rodent invasion for a very long time. Only once you see its droppings or get the odor of its urine will you be able to guess that these unwelcome guests known as rodents have attacked your house.
If you are doing rodent pest control on your own, it may be difficult for you to track the source of the invasion and block it. In addition, if the number of rodents has grown beyond limits, it will be very tough for you to get rid of them. All you can do is lay out traps or baits here and there and kill only one or a few of them at a time.
If you want to eradicate pests from your house, then taking the aid of a pest control company is the best option. This step is a must if the rodent invasion rate has grown too much. The professional rodent pest control exterminators will do the elimination job cautiously, methodically and thoroughly.
Rodents Cause Damage in Winter Months
Atlanta residents have become too aware that mice and rats will find a way into your home in the cold winter months. They are in your home even if you haven’t seen them. When you do spy one, you can count on the fact that the damage is well underway.
Rodents cause electrical damage
A major portion of the house fires caused by electrical problems is because of rats and squirrels gnawing at the insulation protecting the wires in your home. They must be stopped to protect your property and the lives of your family.
Rodents are disease spreaders
These vermin are well known for spreading disease. However, a professional pest control company has personnel that can catch these critters before they can do any more harm.
Is there a rat in the house?
You might not see the rats, but you can probably hear them after dark, as rats are often more active at night. So don’t be surprised if your pets paw at walls and cabinets where rats are hiding.
Watch for rat droppings and nests in storage areas, such as garages and basements. Nests are usually made of materials like bits of cloth or shredded paper. Or you can check for rat tracks by dusting suspected areas with a light coating of unscented talcum powder or mason chalk dust. Wait a day and then shine a flashlight across the area. If you notice small tracks in the powder, then you’ll know that rats have been there.
The best way to control rats is to keep them out in the first place. Check your home yearly to make sure it’s still rat-proof and keep your home and property uncluttered. Don’t expect your cat or dog to keep rats away. You have to take the necessary steps to prevent rats from becoming a problem.
Having rodents, such as rats, take up residence in your home can be extremely worrying and inconvenient. Not only do they pose a health risk, but also they are liable to cause structural damage to your property. However, there are many ways you can control them.
Most people don’t have the qualifications to exterminate these vermin professionally and aren’t sure even how to guard their home against them, let alone get rid of rats once they are firmly ensconced in their home.
Prevention is the first step to dealing with any pest problem. But, unfortunately, small rodents can get through the tiniest of openings, and you should never underestimate a hungry, determined rat.
Rats can chew through wood, plastic or rubber to get in. They will make their home almost anywhere, in boxes, behind furniture and between walls. You firstly need to prevent them from making it indoors. You cannot close all openings, but by walking around the exterior of your home to check gaps, you can certainly reduce the risk of an infestation.
Pay particular attention to the gaps between the bottoms of doors, where pipes and vents penetrate and ground-level windows. You can use foam rope, foam sealer, steel wool, caulking or better yet, steel wool combined with caulking to plug any visible gaps.
Scale down plants and weeds that grow up exterior walls. Rats are shy creatures and are always on the lookout for cover, and cutting greenery back will reduce their protection, making it unappealing.
Always move your bin far away from your garage or the side of your property. These pests are constantly on the hunt for food, and the scent of rotting detritus will only serve to attract them.
There are a few signs you can look for to detect a rat invasion. Small droppings will be the first one. They are usually rod-shaped, black and between three and six millimeters long.
Another sure indication of rats is gnawed furniture. You may also find their nests in sheltered areas around the house, made from finely shredded paper or similar. These rodents also have an unmistakable ammonia odor from their urine.
It is unusual to have just one rat invade your property. They normally move around in pairs and can breed at an alarming rate. A female adult can have up to seven litters a year, with around five pups in each litter. Baby rats reach maturity within eight weeks and will live for approximately a year. Therefore a vermin problem can escalate rather rapidly.
Should you discover you have a problem, you can attempt your rat control by catching them yourself. However, poison traps can be toxic and dangerous to humans and pets, so using a traditional spring trap may be safer.
You should place the traps wherever you think the rats are most active, particularly where you have spotted droppings. Make sure other household members will not disturb the traps.
Try using sweet bait to attract the pest. Sultanas, raisins, chocolate or peanut butter are all very tasty foods to a rat. Avoid touching the trap too much as you could overpower the bait with your scent, which may put the animal off. Once caught, to dispose of a dead rat, it is best to wrap it carefully in a plastic bag and place it in your outside bin.
If you are quite squeamish, you may want to use a humane trap that won’t harm the rodent. It is best to set it free a great distance from your home. By letting it go in your back garden, it will inevitably find its way back inside. You may decide to use poison to rid yourself of your rat problem. Do take care to place it where it won’t be accessible to children or pets, as it can be extremely dangerous if eaten.
There are some chemical-free poisons available on the market. However, their composition relies on the nature of the rat’s body to take effect and cause dehydration. The animal will retreat, fall into a coma and eventually die.
You could try sonic control to purge your rodent guests. Ultrasonic waves disturb rats until they give up and go elsewhere. A good model will cover an area of 400 square meters and will not harm cats or dogs. Do be aware, though, that smaller domestic pets like gerbils or hamsters may be affected.
In extreme cases of infestation, it is always best to seek professional help. Not only will a pest controller alleviate your problem, but it will also offer advice on how to avoid future influxes.
There are various measures you can undertake when it comes to rat control. It is just a case of finding the one that is most effective for your situation. No matter what method of rat control you use, you can be sure there are plenty of ways to get rid of your rodent invaders.
