Rodent Control - How to Safely Remove Mice and Rats

Dealing with mice or rats is more than just annoying. It can be really dangerous. These little troublemakers can cause real damage to your property, spread diseases, and turn your food into a contaminated disaster. If you have a rodent problem, it's important to act fast.

Now, the burning question is, how do you safely and effectively get rid of rodents?

Yes, many DIY methods and products out there claim to be the saviours for rodent control, but here's the thing: they're not always the most dependable, humane, or eco-friendly options. Some might even come with risks to your health, pets, and the environment. So, navigate the quest for the ultimate rodent eviction plan with caution.

What You Can Do to Get Rid of And Prevent Rodent Infestations

Here’s a breakdown of what you should do:

1. Inspect for Signs of Rats

This is going to be the first thing you’ll do. One thing you need to know about rats is that they’re sneaky creatures. Frequently, it’s weeks before homeowners are aware that they’re dealing with a rat problem in their yard. By then, it’s probably turned into an infestation.

Rats like living a low-key life. They’re introverts. Some areas where they may hang out are the wall voids and crawl spaces; rats’ nests may be in trees, firewood piles, shrubs, and vines.

Some additional signs to look out for:

• Rat droppings (they look like black-brown cylindrical pellets)
• Damaged door at the bottom that seems like it’s been gnawed on (yep, that’s the damage we’re talking about)
• Food packaging that’s torn; bite marks on food containers
• Tail drag marks
• Dirt burrows
• The stench of ammonia
• Dead rodents in your yard (if they’re dead, chances are, there are some alive buggers out there too!)
• Unexplained sounds (you’ll usually hear these at night: scratching, squeaking, digging, running sounds)

2. Use Rat Traps

The most straightforward solution is traditional snap traps. It's all about getting the bait and location right. Rats are nuts about nuts; seeds work too. You can use peanut butter as bait on the trap to lure them in.

When it's cold outside, these critters focus more on making cozy nests. You can take advantage of this by adding materials like cotton balls or twine to your traps. A quick tip: always wear gloves. Rats have a keen sense of smell and might pick up on your scent, which could make them think twice about going for the bait.

Just a heads up, though: be cautious about where you place the traps. You don't want unintended visitors getting caught up in the action.

Another option is live-catch traps. Both these methods are eco-friendly and catch rodents before they attempt to enter your home. Make sure to check your traps daily. If something gets caught in it, you’ll want to dispose of dead rats immediately before they spread diseases.

Our team at Buzz Boss always recommends non-lethal traps to avoid causing unnecessary pain or suffering.

3. Maintain Things Neat and Tidy

Rodents excavate oases that provide food, cover, and an endless water supply. Keeping your yard super clean makes it less inviting for rats. If you’re eating outside, make sure to clean up well after. Don’t leave any food remnants. Take out the trash often, and quickly clean up any spills or crumbs.

4. Get Rid of Overgrown Shrubs in Your Yard

Rats love clutter and messy areas. It makes hiding super easy, and they can go weeks without being detected.

Clear away weeds, grass, leaves, branches, and other mess that rats could use as hiding spots. Remove piles of wood, debris, and compost piles. Seal up your storage shelter if you have one.

5. Seal All Openings and Holes

These smart little creatures—as small as a penny for mice and a quarter for rats—can wiggle through the tiniest openings. Eliminate any openings that rats may be using. To repair cracks or holes in walls, floors, ceilings, doors, windows, pipes, vents, or wires, get creative and use caulk, foam, steel wool, or mesh. Don't forget to install door sweeps, screens, and chimney caps to slam the door on possible entryways.

6. All-Natural Repellents

Natural repellents that rats find repulsive include peppermint, clove, eucalyptus, and citronella oils. Place some soaked cotton balls or rags in rodent hotspots, such as cupboards, corners, and access points. Mint, lavender, and marigolds are also powerful rodent repellents. Feel free to plant some of these in your yard. You should be able to keep the creatures at bay without turning your home into a battlefield.

Why You Need Professional Rodent Control

Choosing expert rodent control is a wise decision for the following reasons:

Property Hazards

Equipped with formidable teeth, rodents are capable of chewing through cables, pipelines, plastic, wood, and insulation without hesitation. Their destructive inclinations might affect your ceilings, floors, appliances, furniture, and electrical systems. Their propensity to bore holes and establish nesting places in your crawl space, basement, attic, or garage may result in structural damage, water leaks, mould development, and fire dangers.

Disease Carriers

In addition to being annoying pests, rats pose a major risk to the well-being and health of individuals. Rats may carry and transmit a wide range of illnesses to humans, some of which are lethal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Therefore, rats are dangerous animals that seriously endanger humans and their environment, making them more than simply ‘irritations.’ These tiny creatures can transfer parasites to both you and your animals.

Rapid Reproduction

Rats are the animal kingdom's master family planners, so hang on tight. A single female mouse may give birth to five or six pups in each of her ten litters yearly. A single female rat can give birth to up to six litters a year, each containing an astounding eight or twelve young.

Ignoring a minor rodent issue is like planting a seed for a major headache garden.

FAQs for Rodents and Rodent Control

Why should I be concerned about mice and rats in my house or yard?

These tiny troublemakers are dangerous to your well-being. An infestation on your property could lead to contamination, resulting in diseases such as Murine Typhus, Bubonic Plague, and Hantavirus.

Don’t take these critters lightly. They can wreak havoc in your yard, and when they get inside, they're not just interested in one cozy corner. They'll go after your doors, attic, kitchen, and cables like they're on a mission, putting your property at serious risk.

Where do mice hide during the day?

Rats are nocturnal creatures. If you’re seeing them during the day, that’s unfortunately an indication of a bigger infestation, and you’ll have to call in the cavalry much sooner.

If you’re not seeing them during the day, it’s because they’re hiding in piles of debris, in trash cans, among large trees or untidy shrubs. They’re also great biters and climbers, so it’s also possible that they’ve bitten through doors to make a hole, climbed through cracks, climbed up drains, and into crawlspaces and attics.

Why should I consider proactive pest control for rodents?

Proactive pest control is crucial to defend your home before rodents invade. Unlike many pest control services focusing on extermination after the fact, we at Buzz Boss aim to shield your home proactively.

Our licensed technicians are equipped to identify potential threats and provide resources to maintain your home's protection between treatments. Regular monthly check-ins ensure ongoing defence against rodents.

How does Buzz Boss differ from DIY methods for rodent prevention?

While there are DIY methods for rodent prevention, Buzz Boss offers a comprehensive and professional approach. Our technicians bring extensive training and knowledge, ensuring preventative treatments that save time, enhance safety, and avoid potential cleanup hassles. Partnering with reputable companies and using top-quality products guarantees your family's safety.

Are Rodents Taking Over Your Yard? We’re Here to Help!

Buzz Boss has your back if you're dealing with a pesky rodent situation! We get it; nobody wants unexpected roommates of the furry variety. At Buzz Boss, we're all about making sure your home is rodent-free and cozy just for you.

Our team of experts is like Sherlock Holmes but for rodents. We'll turn your place into a crime scene investigation (minus the drama) to figure out exactly what type of rodents are stealing your peace of mind, where they're hanging out, and how big the whole situation is.

We're all about being effective and humane. There's no need for rodent drama – we've got traps, baits, and exclusion devices like a VIP escort service for rodents. We'll capture and remove them without causing any harm to them or the environment.

And because we're the cleanup crew, too, we won't leave you hanging. We'll tidy up the affected areas using sanitizers.

Contact Buzz Boss. Whether it's mice or rats, we're your reliable pest control buddies, prepared to tackle any rodent problem. We’re now in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Okanagan.