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How do I Solve Rodent Problems?

Anna T.
Anna T.

If you want to solve rodent problems, there are typically two steps you can take: rodent prevention and killing or relocating existing rodents. The methods that you use for rodent removal will likely vary depending on whether rodents are invading your house or causing problems in your yard. Almost all types of rodents, including squirrels, rats, and moles, may be dealt with in the same ways. Some popular methods of rodent elimination include the use of poisons, traps, and live traps. It may be necessary to call in a professional rodent removal service if your rodents are particularly out of hand.

When dealing with rodent problems, you need to first figure out why rodents are attracted to your home or yard. If rodents are getting inside your home, you'll need to find exactly where they are entering and close that space off. Sometimes rodents become problematic in yards because of garbage, food scraps, and possibly pet food that may be left out, which attracts them. If you take away a rodent's food source and block off all entrances into your home, you will probably start to encounter them less often.

Some exterminators use rat poison to eliminate rodents.
Some exterminators use rat poison to eliminate rodents.

Once you have determined why rodents are attracted to your home or yard and have taken steps to prevent more rodents from entering these areas, you can focus on killing or relocating existing rodents. Most people deal with rodent problems inside the home by using rodent poison or traps. Both the traps and poisons could be dangerous if you have children or small pets around, so if you use these methods, take care to keep them away from areas that children or pets frequent in your home. Most traps and poisons are designed to kill rodents, but there are live traps available for sale that you can use if you would prefer not to kill your rodents and instead catch them and relocate them to an area a good distance away from your home.

Brown rats are a common rodent pest.
Brown rats are a common rodent pest.

If you're trying to deal with rodent problems in your yard, you can also use traps and poisons, but you'll have to be mindful of where you put them if you have pets living outside. Rodent poisons can be fatal when consumed by animals or people, so you probably don't want to use the poison if you are afraid your outdoor pets will find it. Traps designed to kill rodents could also harm smaller animals, like cats or puppies, so you will need to be careful about where you place these as well. Keeping rodents out of your yard might prove to be more difficult than keeping them out of your home because the space is not confined, but the use of traps, poisons, and preventative measures should go a long way toward effective rodent control. If your methods for dealing with rodent problems fail, you can always contact a professional rodent removal service to help you.

Discussion Comments

anon189929

If you spot these rodents around the outside of your home or business, the easiest way to discourage them from returning is to make the area as unappealing as possible. Even during the darkness of night these species will be hesitant to cross a wide open space if other routes are available, so cut back any high grass at least twenty to thirty feet from your home.

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    • Some exterminators use rat poison to eliminate rodents.
      By: jaggat
      Some exterminators use rat poison to eliminate rodents.
    • Brown rats are a common rodent pest.
      By: Ilia Shcherbakov
      Brown rats are a common rodent pest.
    • Removing woodpiles, where rodents often build nests, may help with rodent control.
      By: mema
      Removing woodpiles, where rodents often build nests, may help with rodent control.