Self Help Rodent Trapping Notes
The first thing to do when you think you may have a rodent problem is to determine if you are having a rat or mouse problem. A thorough inspection of the entire structure for rodent entry points, and identifying signs to identify what type of rodent you may have a problem with in your home.
Look around your air conditioning pipes from condenser going up wall covered by metal covering. This is a common way rodents get into a house. Look up under the soffit, at the roof where the valleys join together, look at the vents on the gables, even the chimney of the fireplace can be an entry area. Look around the weather stripping of all doors. Any hole larger than a dime or 1/2 inch can let a rat in and any hole larger than 1/4 inch can be an entry area for mice.
You need to look for rub marks on the sides of surfaces to see how much activity you may have around your home. Looking in the attic could tell you where the rodent is hiding and if there is any droppings left in the attic you can tell by the size of the dropping what type of rodent you may have in your home.
If the dropping is large about a 1/2 long and pointed at the ends you have a roof rat. If the dropping is smaller about a 1/4 of an inch and pointed you have mice.
Once you have determined what type of rodent you are dealing with, now you can successfully start to eliminate it from your home.
If you have mice you can use either an old fashion spring trap for mice or a glue board to catch the mice. If you have root rats you need only use a spring trap for rats.
When placing the traps to catch a rodent you can place them in the attic and other areas where the rodent has be active. But, be careful not to set the traps where any person or pet could get in contact with the trap. Place the traps on firm surface so it will work effectively. Use some kind of bait to lure the rodent to the trap. Maybe what they have been eating already in the house or peanut butter, soft candy, chocolate, or dried meats will work effectively.
Check the traps daily. If you don't the trap could be tripped and not able to catch the rodent or if you did catch your rodent you will start to smell the decaying rodent soon. If you do catch a rodent in a trap, we suggest throwing the rodent and the trap away together. If any blood gets on the trap from the rodent another rodent may be very couscous not to feed off the trap.
If may be necessary to control these rodents from the outside of your home with rodent bait stations placed up against your home and trees. These baiting stations will let the rodent eat rodent killing bait outside and then go off and die somewhere else. This is much easier to handle than throwing away a trap with a rodent in it.
After you have caught all the rodents in your home and you know where the rodents are coming into the home, you need to seal up those entry areas with mortar, steel wool, wire mesh, or some kind of material that the rodent cannot eat through again. Do not seal the holes up with foam filler. The rats will chew through it quickly again.
If you do not wish to deal with a rodent problem in your home or business yourself or do not have the time, call us to handle all the elimination of the rodent problem for you.
Call, 239-455-4300, Collier Pest Control today for a free estimate and complete explanation on any of our services, or look us up on our web site at collierpestcontrol.com. Don't let unwanted pests spoil your beautiful Southwest Florida lifestyle. Remember, Florida does not have to be shared with pests!
Posted via OnFast - http://www.OnFast.com
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