Many people view issues in the home as a learning opportunity to add a new skill set to their collection of DIY talents. When a rodent problem rears its ugly head, you may be wondering if this is another issue you can fix on your own. It is certainly possible to get rid of a rodent or two on your own with much success. But if the process is taking a long time or if you don’t see any improvement in the problem, the infestation may be larger than you realize. While getting rid of a rodent problem on your own is possible, don’t hesitate to call a professional pest control company if you are getting clear signs that the rodent problem is not being eliminated in a decent amount of time. Living with rodents can introduce diseases into your home, cause damage, and can be quite stressful for you and your family.
Setting traps
Most big box stores or local hardware stores have several different mouse or rat traps to choose from. Setting a traditional, spring loaded trap can be reusable if you should need to use it again. Getting the trap set can be a little tricky so read the instructions carefully so you don’t suffer a painful snap of the trap.
- Place the trap in a known path of the mouse or rat. You may have been finding droppings or chew marks in certain areas. Putting a trap in these areas makes it more likely for the rodent to come across it.
- Use a food product that won’t easily come off of the trap as bait. Peanut butter works well when trying to trap a rodent. The mouse or rat spends time licking the peanut butter, making it more likely to trip the trap.
- Be sure to let all adults or older children know where the traps are so that no one accidentally steps on a trap or gets their hand caught in it. Traps should always be out of the reach of young children who may want to pick up the trap. The tension is enough to break a finger so exercise caution.
Putting out poison
A simple way to kill rodents is by putting out poison in places like under the house or up in the attic where you know a mouse or rat will come into contact with it. Be careful to keep your pets away from the area. Never put poison in places your children may have access to. This includes the poison you put out for rodents and where you store the bag of poison.
Calling a pest pro
Rodents can be difficult to eradicate because they can cleverly avoid your traps or poison and they also multiply quickly. If you find you are not having success getting rid of rodents on your own, a trusted pest control pro is just a phone call away who is ready to help you out. A rodent control pro knows where to look for nests or rodent activity, how to bait the rodents out of your home, and how to determine that they really are gone for good.
If you are in San Diego County, give the experienced team at Nixtermite a call to begin eliminating rodents from your home today.
