Controlling, Preventing, and Detecting Rodents
Transcript from the video “Rodent Infestation Detection, Prevention and Control
Pest Expert Matthew S. Hess
Throughout history, the signs of mice and rat infestation have often been ignored. Both mice and rats have been some of the most common pests to infest human settlements and result in serious complications. Due to the benefits they gain from coexisting with humans, rodents tend to follow us wherever we go. Because of this, over ten million deaths from rodent-borne illnesses have occurred in the last century alone. Even today, many cities around the world, including the U.S., are struggling with serious rodent infestations. The adverse effects of rodents on property and health are very real and often very dangerous and costly. Additionally, there are also modern health concerns of rodents, which we should not ignore. It is puzzling why the E.P.A. would consider limiting access to or restricting the use of rodent baits in light of this ongoing problem. However, this is a reality that is currently being faced. If their goal is reached, rodent baits will become more scarce and rodent infestations will begin to rise once again.
Rats and mice thrive where humans inhabit. We offer a nearly unlimited supply of food.
Detecting Rodents Early is Key
Detecting and controlling rodent infestations can be a challenge due to their high level of intelligence. These pests can easily stay out of sight and are mostly active at night, which makes it difficult to spot them early on. However, with some rodent education and a little experience, it is possible to detect the signs of an infestation before it becomes a major problem. Early rodent infestation detection can help to prevent a potential disaster, and prompt treatment can be implemented to eliminate the issue.
Early detection of rodents helps reduce unnecessary damages and the cost of repairs. Mice infested the insulation in this home and ruined it. To remove, decontaminate and replace the insulations was above $5000.00.
Mice
In rural areas, mice are the most encountered rodent problem. Both house mice and deer mice can be dense in this setting and potentially invade your home. They are stealthy and resourceful enough to infiltrate buildings through minuscule openings nearly undetected. However, they always leave behind telltale signs of their presence. You can learn how to detect their presence through our informative blog “How to know if I have mice.”
Among the evidence mice may leave behind is:
- A rodent nest is an obvious sign of a nearby infestation. Soft materials like plastic bags, cardboard, paper products, fabrics, packaging materials, and other similar items can be used to make their nests.
- Rice-shaped and around 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, rodent droppings are a clear indication of infestation. If they are moist and soft, they are very fresh and warrant immediate attention. Dry and hard droppings should prompt further investigation. Odors you might describe as musky can be a sign of the presence of rodent urine and feces.
- Faint scratching and scuffling sounds at night. These usually come from the attic, walls, cabinets, or crawlspace/basement.
- Rodent-sized gnaw marks on food or other household items indicate the presence of rodents.
- Unexplained missing pet food. Mice love dog and cat food and will often move large amounts to a food cache tucked out of sight.
Rats
In urban and suburban areas, rats are more active than in rural areas. Because of their larger size, more extensive damages can result from their infestations. Both the Norway Rat and the Roof Rat can be seen in urban areas. Norway Rats are spread throughout the country whereas Roof Rats are only seen in select areas. The Norway is a burrower and will be seen mostly in the lower portions of buildings, although they can be found in attics. Their burrows will have openings the size of a golf ball and up to the size of a baseball. The Roof Rat gets its name from their tendency to prefer higher elevations such as roofs, treetops and other similar areas.
Both the Norway and Roof Rat will leave behind similar signs with the exception of their feces. Norway rats produce plump droppings with blunt ends whereas the Roof Rat produces a more pointed dropping. Besides this, the area of infestation can be a tell-tale sign as to which species is present.
Evidence rats might leave behind include:
- Like mice, noises and scuffling sounds at night are signs of rats.
- Droppings left behind by rats are much larger than mice droppings and are cylindrical shaped, unlike mice droppings, which are tapered on the ends.
- Dark-colored grease markings at rat entry/exit points and areas well-traveled by rats.
- Burrows in the ground along the foundation. These will typically be tennis ball-sized openings.
- Similar to mice, rats also chew and leave behind tooth marks. However, rat gnaw marks are much larger and potentially more destructive than those of mice.
Any of these signs, whether mice or rats, warrant the prompt attention of the homeowner or business owner and the skills of a professional pest company that can confirm an infestation, quickly eliminate it and prevent it in the future. Serious health risks are possible in rodent infestations, including modern health concerns. Because of our many years in the industry, combined experience, and willingness to advance with modern technologies, Four Seasons Pest Solutions has very effective rodent programs that can be tailored to any situation.
Rodent Infestation Prevention is Better than Elimination
It’s easy to miss a small rodent infestation simply because of their crafty, almost silent nature. While we sleep, rodents thrive. This is when they will be most active, and we will be least likely to notice. Numbers can therefore continue to prosper before we realize there is a problem. By the time we realize a problem exist, it can be too big for the average homeowner to tackle and may therefore require professional help. But if prevention measures are in place, there should be little chance of this happening.
Effective prevention of a rodent infestation is always the best option. Not only does prevention stop the chances of damage to your home, but also eliminates potential threats to your health that come with rodent infestations. You can help prevent rodent infestations by ensuring proper sanitation. For instance, removing food sources, controlling moisture, and making structural exclusions. By eliminating their access to food, water, and shelter, rodents will have no reason to invade your home. Unfortunately, most people neglect prevention measures, and many end up with rodent infestations.
Removing Food Sources
There’s no shortage of potential food when you’re a rodent. Seeds, nuts, berries, insects, carrion, garbage, human foods, pet foods, fruits, vegetables, and more, make their way into the diets of many rodents. It’s no easy task to completely eliminate food sources. However, simple measures can be taken to reduce their access to food sources and thereby reduce population growth potential. See our blog “Sanitation: Removing food Sources” for a more detailed explanation.
Acorns and other fruits and nuts from trees can provide an ample food source for rodents.
Controlling Moisture
Moisture is the leading cause of all pest problems. Where there is moisture, there will most certainly be pests. Although rodents do not require a great deal of water, they are attracted to areas where moisture is present. Typically, where moisture is present, food and shelter are not far away. This means the three essentials for life to flourish will likely be found where there is moisture.
To control moisture around a building, a few key elements must be observed.
- Gutters and downspouts
- Runoff
- Indoor humidity/moisture
Most moisture problems around a building can be eliminated by proper gutter and downspout use and proper runoff dispersion. When rain falls onto the building’s roof or on the ground nearby, that water must accumulate somewhere. Once accumulated, the water will begin to move to the lowest point. Ensuring that your home or business has gutters and downspouts which disperse water into the area of runoff which takes the water AWAY from the building is fundamental in moisture control and will remedy more than 90% of all moisture problems in a building.
If the runoff from your property is properly planned and executed, the only remaining problem is indoor moisture. Indoor moisture comes in a variety of forms:
- Structural leaks
- Plumbing or drainage leaks
- Indoor produced moisture (breathing, showers, cooking, etc.)
If the building has no structural leaks and all plumbing and drainage is in good repair, indoor moisture should then be minimal, depending on your habits. To combat indoor moisture produced by humans, HVAC units and dehumidifiers can be used to maintain adequate equilibrium between humid and dry air. If your home is too humid, Four Seasons Pest Solutions offers a variety of options to reduce humidity. Additionally, our Handyman Service is available for many home repairs.
Structural Pest Exclusions
If there’s no door, how do you get in? That’s why we have doors on automobiles, homes, business and other similar structures. Doors allow us access in and out of a buildings or other man-made structures. Rodents require entry and exit areas as well, albeit they are not at all restricted to doors. However, any opening which allow pests entry should be viewed as if it is an inviting doorway with a welcome mat. Holes and gaps as small as 1/4 of an inch will allow house mice access to your home or other building. Such holes and gaps can be found around:
- HVAC penetrations
- Plumbing penetrations
- doors in disrepair
- Poorly maintained windows
- Around soffit
- Gaps in foundation walls
- Crawlspace doors
- Crawlspace vents
- Damaged siding
- and more
Four Seasons Pest Solutions offers a variety of exclusion options which block out pests. You can watch our video “Quick Chat On Exclusions” for more information. Additionally, our blog and vlog pages discuss how pest exclusions work, the importance of pest exclusions, how pest-proofing is an eco-friendly approach to pest control, and exclusions on attics. Each of these resources give a little more insight on just how important and effective pest exclusions are.
Controlling Rodent Infestations
If you have already been facing a rodent infestation and prevention is now a secondary priority, there are a few ways to potentially gain control and reclaim your property. Among them are:
- Sticky Traps
- Mechanical Traps
- Rodent Baits
Although most homeowners find that serious infestations are best left to the professionals here at Four Seasons Pest Solutions, minor ones can sometimes be eliminated successfully. If you’re seeing or hearing several rodents on a regular, daily basis, you’ve probably passed the threshold of minor and crossed over into major infestation. If you’re still in the minor infestation stages, let’s take a look at the three major control efforts you can take.
Rodent Sticky Trap (Glue Board) monitoring
If you suspect a small infestation, monitoring tools can help discover them. Glue boards (sticky traps) can be placed in strategic locations where mice might be commonly found. Look for small holes, gaps, and cracks where mice might enter a building. Doors, windows, garage doors, plumbing penetrations, pet doors, and other similar areas allow free access. When using glue boards, folding them to form a box (directions are usually on the board) can help prevent a pet or small child from finding themselves stuck! However, vegetable or other food-friendly oils will help dissolve the glue should such a situation arise.
Place the boards against the wall (or another object) so mice will be enticed to run straight through them. Along baseboards, under furniture, inside garages, attics, crawlspaces, and basements are also good spots. In the kitchen, place them behind the fridge or stove, under the stove, under cabinets, in the pantry, or on the counter behind appliances, and anywhere else you might suspect activity.
Remember, sticky traps are not going to be a viable solution for larger infestations, especially rats. It won’t take long for the populations to become familiar with the sticky traps and begin to completely avoid them. Use these ONLY for monitoring purposes of a very light infestation.
Rodent Trapping
Once an infestation is found and it’s determined whether mice or rats are the invaders, trapping might be a viable option for control. In situations where only a few rodents are present, specialized traps designed to capture rodents may be effective. There are two main types of traps: live traps and body-capture traps. As the name indicates, live traps catch rodents alive, while the others do not.
Live traps are well suited for anyone who has a very light rodent population and does not want to kill them. However, a problem arises in these situations. Rodents that are trapped and released are likely to reenter the home. However, once reentered, they may avoid the traps altogether, making it difficult to remove them again.
Body traps (or snap traps) work much differently since their goal is to kill the rodent. These traps work well when used in small populations of only a few mice or rats. Nevertheless, even these traps can eventually become useless if the rodents become trap-shy. Trap shyness simply means that the rodents have learned that the traps are dangerous and avoid them altogether. In such cases, control efforts may become too difficult for the average person and, instead, require the expertise of a professional.
Rodent Bait
If you have a rodent infestation that is severe enough to require the use of rodent bait, there are some important things that you should know. Firstly, there are two main types of bait available: 1st generation and 2nd generation. These two types of bait differ significantly in that 1st generation baits generally require multiple feedings over several days, while 2nd generation baits typically kill rodents in a single feeding. It is worth noting that 2nd generation baits are increasingly restricted by the EPA and are less accessible to homeowners. Therefore, most homeowners will likely use 1st generation baits, which are more readily available over-the-counter.
Second generation rodent baits are more effective and easier to use compared to first generation baits. The use of first generation baits requires a well-thought-out plan to successfully eliminate rodent populations. If the first generation baits are not kept easily accessible to rodents until all of them are dead, the rodents may consume too little bait and only become ill, but not die. This can make them bait-shy, and they may refuse to consume any newly placed bait. To avoid this, it is crucial to keep a constant supply of first generation bait readily available until the entire population is eradicated. Failure to do so may result in bait-shy rodents and make it challenging to achieve control.
When To Seek Professional Rodent Control
Long before you have a rodent problem, you could prevent one from occurring, or at least Four Seasons Pest Solutions could do that for you by implementing one of our Four Seasons 4×4 Packages. It’s never to early to contact a pest control company to address pest problems or potential pest problems and eliminate them.
Our team of inspectors are available five days a week to inspect your property and make recommendations and implementations for effective rodent control efforts. By trusting our extensive knowledge and control measures, you can avoid pest problems in the future. Plus, our rodent control programs are the most effective in our area and backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee!
If you’re already experiencing a pest infestation, now is the time to address it with our ZeRo Program; Zero Rodents. Zero Fuss. Zero Worries. Waiting can cause the issue to become more difficult to control, may cause damage, and could potentially be hazardous to your health and the health of your family, friends, and colleagues. Give us a call and see why everybody says that it’s good to have Four Seasons on your side!
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