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How to Get Rid of Rodents

Several nuisance wildlife species are technically rodents: squirrels, flying squirrels, even groundhogs. But when people talk about getting rid of rodents, they most typically are referring to rats and mice. Rodents can contaminate your food, chew on various items in the home, and cause general destruction. Because of this, you want to eliminate them from your property as soon as possible, preferably in a humane and permanent manner. The ideal situation is preventing the rodents from ever invading, but if they are already there, you can still take action.



Snap Traps Are Ideal

There are two main categories of traps: live and lethal. In the case of rodents, live cage traps tend to be less than ideal since there will be such a large number of the rodents present. Additionally, mice and rats tend to do poorly when relocated, meaning that trapping and relocation is essentially a drawn-out death sentence for the rodent.

Among lethal traps, the best and most humane option is a traditional snap trap. These will kill the rodent instantly so it doesn’t suffer and they are even reusable. For the best results, just be sure to set out enough traps the first evening to catch a large proportion of the rodents present. Otherwise, you give them a chance to realize what the traps do and avoid them once you get around to resetting the traps.

Don’t Let Them In

After you remove the rodents from your property, it is time to take steps to ensure that none can get inside, if you haven’t already done so. (Ideally, you should do this before trapping the mice or rats so you aren’t faced with an endless influx of more as you trap them.) Start by giving your home a thorough inspection and sealing up any gaps or cracks in walls or siding, paying close attention to the areas by vents and pipes.

Get Ready Of Food And Shelter Sources

This is also when you should make your home as unattractive as possible to the rodents. If you leave food sitting outside, start storing it in airtight containers so it doesn’t appeal to the animals as a food source. Keep your home clean and clutter-free to get rid of potential hiding spots for the rodents.

Hire A Professional

Of course, the best way to get rid of rodents and keep them away for good is to hire a professional. Remember that if you miss just one or two rodents, you will quickly find yourself with a full-blown problem again because these animals reproduce so fast. A professional has the tools and experience to catch all the rodents right away and can point out the changes to make to your property to prevent their return.

Read more topics about rodent removal:
How to Get Rid of Rodents
How to get rid of rodents in the attic
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Do rodents chew pex pipes or other water pipes?
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How to inspect a house for rodent entry holes
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What are the types of rodent snap traps?
What are the types of rodent snap traps?