Having a rodent infestation is one of the worst things that can happen to any homeowner. According to Pest World, over 37% of homeowners in America have encountered rodents in their homes in the past year. The problem with seeing one rodent is that there are probably more, especially since rats and mice breed very fast. If you're tired of hosting these rodents, the best option is to hire the services of a pest control company. Before you do that, you may be wondering exactly how a pest control company does the job. Keep reading for information on how a pest control company can help you achieve a rodent-free home.

Set Traps

There are many different types of traps that a pest control company can use to eliminate rodents. For instance, snap traps can be effective if you have a mild infestation. When a mouse or rodent moves close enough to the trap, this triggers a bar to snap down and catch the rodent. There are also sticky traps, which, as the name suggests, use glue to trap rodents once they walk onto the adhesive pad. Sticky traps are more effective at catching smaller rodents like mice, while electric traps consist of an enclosed chamber that can zap any rodent with a fatal electric shock. Electric traps are a great alternative if you don't want the pest control company to use poison.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's essential to set traps throughout the interior of your home to eliminate rodents that may still be inside. Keep setting traps until there are no rodents being captured for a week. However, if you continue to see new droppings, urine spots, and gnawing, this is evidence that you still have an active infestation on your hands. The good news is that experienced pest control professionals know how to choose the right trap and place them in strategic locations for the effective elimination of rodents.

Use Bait Stations

Professional rodent exterminators also use bait stations together with traps to keep your home rodent-free. Simply put, a bait station is an enclosed box that contains rodent poison inside. The rodent killer is placed inside the box so that it's out of reach from kids and pets. Bait stations also protect the bait from moisture and dust while providing a secure place for rodents to feed and consume more bait. Using bait stations along with other rodent control methods increases the effectiveness and safety of rodent killer use. Usually, this is best left to the professionals because not all rodenticides work the same. Pest control professionals know how rodenticides work, so they're better able to ensure a higher level of control.

When it comes to the different types of rodent killers, there are anticoagulants, which interfere with blood clotting. On the other hand, non-coagulant rodenticides kill rodents by disrupting the function of the nervous system or by releasing toxic gas after ingestion. These rodenticides can also be classified as the first generation, meaning multiple feeds are needed before the rodent dies, or the second generation, meaning that a single feed can administer a lethal dose. If you need restricted pesticides to get rid of a rodent infestation, a license will be required, which is where a pest control company comes in.

Eliminate Rodent Access Points

If you see any evidence of rodents inside your home or property, it stands to reason there are access points somewhere that allows them to get in. Thus, you need to find these access points and seal them off to prevent future rodent infestations. Small rodents, like mice, can take advantage of even the smallest entry points to get into your home. Make sure you seal any cracks or weak points. Professional exterminators are familiar with all the interior and exterior points that rodents favor in homes. They know the best materials to use to seal these entry points, including wire mesh and sheet metal. If you have tried DIY methods like caulk and rubber, you're probably aware that rodents can easily gnaw through them.

Fumigate for Rodents

Keep in mind that fumigation is a pest control measure of last resort. It's a control method that can only be administered by a professional. There may be rules and regulations that apply to fumigation in the state where you live. That's why it's a good idea to hire a local pest control company that's aware of the legalities involved. If you schedule residential fumigation, you'll likely be required to evacuate your home for a few days. That's because the exterminator needs to spray poison all over your home, and this poison is strong enough to wipe out entire colonies of rodents for good.

Fumigation is usually done in a sealed or closed-off environment. After the poisonous gases have done their job, your home is ventilated to allow the gases to escape, making it safe to enter for humans and pests. Fumigation kills rodents instantly as the gaseous pesticides or fumigants suffocate or poison all the rodents it comes in contact with. It's effective for severe infestations, which pose health risks to you and your family because rodents are known to spread diseases like salmonella. Additionally, having colonies of rodents close by can result in significant property damage since rodents like rats can gnaw on support beams and other features.

Provide Pest Control Advice

With the help of an experienced pest control company, you can learn about the things you can do to keep pests at bay. You can get the best advice about how to prevent a rodent infestation in the future. For instance, rodents are attracted to food scraps and leftovers, so it's essential to take care of trash and garbage. Where possible, keep trash and garbage containers away from buildings and entrances to minimize the risk of rodent entry. Be diligent about securing sources of food and water as rats need these to survive. Be sure to store all food items in containers. Declutter your home and get rid of excess materials that can attract rodents for nesting.

Ideally, your garbage bins and compost containers should have a top that seals tightly. It's important to clean your garbage bins regularly. There are also landscaping improvements you can make to prevent a rat infestation. For starters, keep compost piles as far away from your home as possible and keep firewood off the ground, so it doesn't provide shelter for rats. Look for anything that can act as a rat "ladder" into your home and get rid of it. This could be ivy on your walls or a tall tree with branches overhanging your roof.

If you're wondering how to get rid of rodents in your home, there's no doubt that an experienced and qualified pest control company can do the job. When dealing with rodents, the idea is to have many tricks up your sleeve. The good news is that pest control companies take a multi-faceted approach when dealing with rodents. Besides asking the company if they're licensed and insured, ask them about the methods they use to keep rodents at bay. Cross-check their answers with what you have learned here, and this should give you an idea of whether they know what they're doing.

Get in touch with us at Mares Exterminating to find out more about the rodent removal techniques we use to keep your home rodent-free. Contact us today! We offer solutions to your problems.