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Rodent Control (Rat & Mice)
Rodents are one of the most abundant mammals on earth. Rats and mice began to live with humans over 4,000 years ago. Even in today’s advanced world, they are adept at thriving among human settlements and even have more options than ever before when it comes to food and shelter. In the United States, there are three major rodent species classified as pests. They include Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus), roof rats (Rattus rattus), and house mice (Mus musculus).
Rats and mice are commonly associated with filth. Moreover, they are notorious for the problems they cause for homeowners. Some of which include:
- Residing and breeding in the attic of a house.
- Scampering inside the walls of a house.
- Entering living spaces to get access to food crumbs.
- Chewing on insulation material, electric wires, wood, and pipes.
- Polluting the house with their droppings.
- Series of health risks including, Rat-bite fever, Hantavirus, Leptospirosis, Salmonella, and more.
For these reasons, many homeowners feel very uncomfortable when they discover that these nasty creatures are residing in their home or property. For many, getting rid of the problem as soon as possible becomes a top priority. At Wildlife X Team Memphis, we can help you eliminate your rodent problems.
But before we delve into the rodent control methods we implement, let’s explore the reasons you might be having rodent problems in the first place.
What Attracts Rodents?
Rats and mice are attracted by two major things: food and shelter.
Food
Both mice and rats are omnivores, which means they eat plants and animals, but they tend to enjoy different food items. In the wild, rats are limited to eating foods like fruits, plants, and seeds. However, city rats have developed a penchant for garbage, meat, and just about any human or pet food they come across. If there’s easy access to food on your property, then it’s an open invitation to rodents.
Shelter
Who doesn’t like to live in a safe, comfortable, and warm place? That explains why rodents love living in walls, attics, and other hidden spots on human properties. Moreover, it provides easy proximity to food from the trashcans. A house with entry holes or great hiding spots for rodents will surely attract them.
Rodent Control Methods
Dealing with a rodent infestation problem requires an adept understanding of the behavior of rodents. It starts by identifying the source of the problem and designing and implementing an effective control strategy in place. We can help you come up with that at Wildlife X Team Memphis. But here’s how to go about it:
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Find and Block Potential Entry Holes
If you don’t want rodents in your house, then you have to make sure that there’s absolutely no way of them getting in. This means you have to carry out a thorough inspection of your homes to identify tiny gaps through which they can wiggle their way in. Just bear in mind that an adolescent mouse can fit its body through a hole the size of a pen (6 – 7mm in diameter), while a rat can get through a 20 mm hole. These holes should be sealed with caulk or non-chewable steel. Other common entry locations include:
- Overlapping and tile roof
- Spaces between the roof jacks and vent pipes
- Broken sewer systems… and more
Remember, without this step, any attempt to trap them will be futile because they will easily be replaced. Due to the technicalities involved in locating these potential entry holes, it’s best to get a professional wildlife company like Wildlife X Team Memphis involved.
Trapping
Traps can be an easy and inexpensive way to get rid of rats. While peanut butter is the preferred bait, you can also make use of whole nuts, bacon, berries, or dry fruits. Most importantly, make sure you check the traps regularly so you can dispose of the body on time.
Here are the common types of rodent traps:
Snap traps
This is one of the most effective ways of capturing rats and mice. It makes use of a snap mechanism to deliver a devastating impact on a rodent that tries to pick up the bait. The problem with snap traps is that they may fail to kill the rodent and instead inhumanely injure them.
Electric traps
This is a relatively newer type of trap. It works by delivering a lethal electric shock to the captured rat. It is a humane way to kill rats.
Glue boards
Glue traps contain a strong adhesive that prevents a rat or mouse from getting away once it steps on it. Because it doesn’t instantly kill the rat, the boards must be checked regularly so all captured rodents can be humanely killed and disposed of.
To increase your chances of capturing rats and mice, it’s best to set multiple traps. Moreover, they should be placed at strategic locations. With our robust expertise at Wildlife X Memphis, we know how best to help you set traps that will yield optimal results.
What About Poisons?
Although there are several rodent poisons available, they are not recommended for a couple of reasons. First, they put other animals and even children at risk, if consumed. Second, rat poison is an inhumane way to kill rodents. It causes internal bleeding, which will cause the rat or mice to retreat to a hidden location in your house. Once it dies, locating the carcass may prove difficult and you will have to deal with the awful smell.
Decontamination & Repairs
After the rats and mice have been eradicated, their remnants including droppings, hairs, food crumbs, and nesting materials must be removed. Make sure to wear gloves to avoid contracting any disease. The infected space must then be disinfected to kill all bacteria. Finally, all damaged materials, walls, insulation materials, pipes, wires, and more have to be repaired.
At Wildlife X Team Memphis, we also provide decontamination and repair services. We take a holistic approach to solving your rodent infestation problem and putting measures in place to ensure that you do not face a similar problem again. If you live in the Memphis area, call us today to get rid of your rodent problem once and for all!
