How Professionals Treat Rodent Problems

Serving Spokane Metro | Coeur d’Alene ID | Post Falls ID | Tri-Cities WA

Rodents are professional nuisances, which means that they require professional pest control methods to be exterminated. Not only can a single rat or mouse ruin the reputation of a business, but rodents can spread deadly diseases, cause unpleasant odors, and damage your property as well. 

If you have a rodent problem and want to know how a professional would deal with it, here are the basics of professional rodent control.

What Is Integrated Pest Management?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a comprehensive approach to pest control that emphasizes prevention, monitoring, and environmentally friendly strategies to manage pest populations effectively. By combining techniques such as biological control, habitat modification, and cultural practices, this approach aims to minimize the impact of pests while reducing reliance on chemical treatments. 

Experts use IPM to both eliminate active infestations and prevent future ones. The main steps in an IPM approach include:

1. Finding Out Where The Rodents Are Coming From

The first step in rodent control is to find out how the rodents in your house are getting in and where they’re hiding. Without this information, it’s almost impossible to create an effective treatment strategy. Rats and mice often get indoors by crawling through these entry points:

• Cracks or holes in your foundation
• Gaps around pipes or utility lines
• Open garages or broken screens
• Loose roof shingles

Try checking these areas and sealing up any potential entry points with things like caulk, metal mesh, or professional repairs. 

2. Addressing Environmental Factors

A lot of people associate rodent infestations with unhygienic spaces, but that isn’t always the case. There are a lot of easily-overlooked environmental factors that can attract rodents to your home or business. Here are some of the most common reasons why rats or mice enter your property and what you can do about them:

• Food Sources: Rodents are opportunistic feeders and will scavenge for any available food. Keep food stored in airtight containers, clean up spills and crumbs promptly, and avoid leaving pet food out overnight.
• Water Supply: Rodents require water to survive, so eliminating sources of standing water, fixing leaks, and ensuring proper drainage can help deter them from your property.
• Vegetation: Overgrown vegetation and dense landscaping provide rodents with hiding spots and easy access to the structure. Trim back trees and bushes, remove ivy and other climbing plants from exterior walls, and maintain a tidy yard to discourage rodent activity.
• Clutter: Rats and mice are drawn to areas with lots of nesting materials. From old scraps of fabric to cardboard boxes, there are all sorts of materials that can make your space more attractive to rodents. 

3. Placing Bait Stations Or Traps

Next, set up a line of defense with a combination of bait stations and traps. Bait stations lure rats and mice in with the promise of a tasty treat and give them a lethal dose of poison, while traps kill much quicker. 

It’s important to note that while traps cause a faster death, they’re only effective if you know the places rodents are frequently crawling through—and they may not be enough to battle a full colony. Rats and mice are very smart, so they’ll catch onto traditional snap traps quickly. 

Bait stations are a great choice if you aren’t quite sure where rodents are crawling around, or if you’re dealing with a large infestation. In a lot of cases, a rodent will carry some of the poison back to the colony, which can eliminate the problem over time.

4. Using Ongoing Prevention Tactics

Just because an infestation is gone doesn’t mean the battle is over. Rodents are year-round pests and they’ll invade if given the opportunity, so you need to stay prepared by investing in ongoing prevention. Luckily, it’s far easier to keep rodents out than it is to stop a colony that’s already taken over. Some ongoing prevention tactics you can use include:

• Secure Outdoor Trash Bins: Ensure outdoor trash bins have tight-fitting lids to prevent rodents from accessing food waste. Consider using rodent-proof containers or placing bins on elevated platforms to further deter pests.
• Seal Outdoor Structures: Inspect sheds, garages, and other outdoor structures for gaps or openings that may serve as entry points for rodents. Seal any cracks, gaps, or holes with durable materials such as steel wool or caulk to prevent rodent ingress.
• Install Door Sweeps: Install door sweeps on exterior doors to create a barrier that prevents rodents from entering the home. Make sure the sweeps are in good condition and snugly seal the bottom of the door.
• Monitor Bird Feeders: Bird feeders can attract rodents with spilled seeds and leftover food. Clean up any spilled seeds regularly and consider using squirrel-proof feeders or placing feeders on poles with baffles to discourage rodent access.
• Get Yearly Inspections: Schedule annual inspections by a professional pest control service to assess for any signs of rodent activity or potential entry points. Early detection can prevent infestations from escalating and minimize the need for extensive treatments.

Why Work With A Rodent Control Professional?

Now that you know the basics of professional rodent control, you can try and handle your infestation by yourself—although, considering the tenacity of rats and mice, and the damage they can do to your health and home, hiring pest control experts to inspect your house may be the safer route.

Rodent exterminators have years of training and advanced tools to protect their health and yours while still quickly eliminating even the worst of infestations. If you want to get rid of rodents without the hassle or risk, contact the experts at Eden Advanced Pest Technologies today!