Rodent Control

There are many good ways to rid your home of a rodent infestation. The method you choose will depend on how humanely you want to treat the pests. Another key factor in your decision making should be whether or not you have children or pets.

The first method is to lay out poison. The poison works quickly; however, there are drawbacks. Poison has the potential of getting into the wrong hands or even mouths. A beloved pet or a child could come in to contact with the poison and this makes for a dangerous situation. There is also the possibility the rodent will die in a place that you cannot get to and cause a stench while it decomposes.

There are standard wooden snap traps. These are highly effective, but not humane. They work by snapping down on the rodent thus, killing it.

Glue boards are another not so humane option. Glue boards are thin slabs of either wood or cardboard. They are then covered with extremely sticky glue. When a rodent travels across it, it gets glued to the surface and either suffocates or starves to death.

Multi-catch traps are used to catch more than one rodent. They are very humane because they simply catch the rodents and contain them. You will be left with a trap full of live rodents to set free or dispose of.

You can also purchase single-catch traps. They are also humane. Single-catch traps only catch a single rodent at a time. When an infestation is noted, it is not likely there is only one rodent about.

There is nature's way too. If you have a pet cat, they love the hunt and play of catching a rodent. You will, however, be left with the mess of cleaning it up.

Whichever method you choose, you have to make sure to firmly anchor the trap. Rodents have been known to drag a trap away as they are trying to escape. Baiting the trap is fairly easy. Most people have great success with pieces of fruit, small bits of raw bacon, or even crackers. Almost anything will do. Place the trap near where an infestation has been shown.

If you are handling a dead rat, you must remember to wear protective gloves. Place the rat in newspaper or even a resealable plastic bag. Then, you can place it into a tightly sealed trash container. When letting a live rodent go, use extreme caution. Put on your protective gloves and keep as far away from the rodent as you possibly can. Whether you've handled a rat that is dead or alive, it's vital to wash your hands when finished.