How to get rid of Rodents
Noticing a problem with mice and rats in your home can be worrying, but there are lots of things you can do to rid your house of rodents and make sure they're gone for good. We also offer a full range of products that will effectively solve your rodent problem.
Just like us, rodents like to live somewhere with warm shelter and a source of food. Where there are holes or gaps in our houses' walls, frames or doors, they can get in and start to make themselves at home. if you're aren't looking to harm any animals but just don't want them sharing your house, there are a lot of humane solutions and long term deterrents that are completely safe and won't cause harm to your children, your pets or the pest.
Remove the Attractions
The key to keeping your home and garden pest-free is to keep it free of rubbish. You can get rid of the existing rodents, but more will return if your house or garden is a source of food or shelter for them.
Birdfeed should be put up in specialised containers, and never on the ground. Similarly, tidying around the bottom of a fruit tree is a worthwhile activity to prevent rodents. Rubbish should be kept in a secure bin, with the lid closed. Food shouldn’t be left out on the floor for other animals either as this can attract rodents. They'll eat almost anything!
Overgrown gardens provide a source of shelter in which many pests thrive. It's also worth checking for holes that rodents will use as a nest.
Secure your house
Rodents are both adept climbers and extremely nimble, able to enter through small cracks from the foundation to the attic. It's worth checking your brickwork as well as going into the loft.
Ultrasonic deterrents
Ultrasonic devices are the most effective method to rid your house of rodents. Unlike traps and poisons, which make room for new rodents, ultrasonic devices function as a permanent deterrent. They also allow you to forgo learning about the different types of rodents and avoid handling dead, diseased carcasses.
Ultrasonic devices work by emitting ultrasound, which is inaudible to humans, but disconcerting to rodents, who use such frequencies to listen for predators. The ultrasound causes them to leave the area and is henceforth completely humane.
Unlike with traps and poisons, it is best to install a device before sealing your house, leaving a space for the rodents to escape.
Traps & Poisons
Unlike ultrasonic deterrents, it is important to seal your house before using traps and poisons, which can act as an attractant.
There are three types of traps: snap, electric and glue. Snap and electric traps are the most humane and usually kill instantly. Glue traps are extremely effective due to the attractants. Traps have an advantage over poisons in that carcasses can be found in the vicinity of the trap, while poisoned rodents can be hard to find.
Poisons have an advantage in that they can be used in communal areas, provided they are secured in bait stations, safe from pets and children. You should use different active ingredients for different situations. Alphachloralose is a must for mice, while for rats both difenacoum and brodifacoum can be used, although the latter shouldn’t be used in areas with non-target species.
Rodents are initially wary of new introductions, so traps and poisons take time to take effect. Rodent tracker dust can be used to identify where rodents are coming from, which helps with the placement of traps.
Be sure to use gloves when handling dead rodents and use rodent carcass disposal bags.
