Rodents are the last thing anyone wants in their house. These nasty, hairy creatures pose a danger of spreading harmful infections through their urine and droppings and can cause a significant health hazard for your family. Furthermore, rats and mice can wreak havoc on your home’s structure and landscape.
The Internet is full of misleading information when it comes to eliminating rat infestations, and it’s crucial not to fall for these popular rodent control myths.
Poisoned Rodents Search for Water
Rodent baits or rodenticides don’t cause dehydration in rats and mice. The poison reduces the rodent’s ability to coagulate blood and cause significant damage to their capillaries, resulting in internal bleeding. As a result, the rodent dies of internal bleeding rather than dying of thirst.
If rodents are nesting inside your home, chances are they’ve already located a food and water source nearby. The poison can’t make them thirsty, and there is no incentive for them to seek additional water elsewhere as long as the food supply is optimal.
Rodents Love Cheese
The fact that rodents enjoy feasting on cheese has become a thorny cliché. Many people have attempted to eliminate these pests using this useless bait. Instead, rodents prefer nuts and fruit over cheese, and it is a much better idea to use peanut butter as bait. Cotton balls can also be effective in luring female rats looking for nesting materials
Cats Solve Rodent Infestations
If you are suffering from rodent infestation, you might think of getting a cat to exterminate them. However, in reality, cats cannot eliminate all rats and mice in a household. Rodents can move and hide in numerous locations within a house that a cat cannot access. Another aspect worth highlighting is that rodents are frequently drawn to pet food, so having a cat in your home can attract even more of them.
Rodents Die Outside
When you use poison to get rid of rodents, they’re just as likely to die inside your house as outdoors. If they die inside, you have to deal with multiple health hazards and the revolting stench of decomposing rodents. The poison manufacturers will make you believe that the rotting rats won’t stink, but indeed they will. The claims that poison ingestion will cause dehydration in rodents and they will leave your house in search of water are also false.
Spray Foam & Packing Insulation Are the Solution
Spray foam and insulation are excellent nesting materials for rodents. With the help of their razor-sharp teeth, these rodents can gnaw right through these materials, leaving them worthless in rodent extermination.
Not Seeing Rodents Means No Infestation
When you don’t see any rodents, you might begin to think that they haven’t invaded your living space yet. However, the reality is somewhat different. Rodents have mastered the art of eluding human detection, and they prefer to appear at night, making it difficult to spot their presence. If you see any signs of rodents, such as droppings, you should get your property thoroughly inspected to rule out the possibility of rodent infestation.
Rodent Infestation Only Happens in Winter
During the harsh winter months, rodents get attracted to the warmth of your temperature-controlled home. Once they enter, they are unlikely to depart on their own no matter what the season. Therefore, hiring a rodent control service for their complete eradication is preferable.
4 Easy/Practical Steps to Get Rid of Rats & Mice
Nobody wants to live in a home full of rodents. Fortunately, these easy steps can help you figure out how to get rid of them.
Seal Any Holes & Gaps
Rats do not require a major entrance point to access your home. If you have any gaps or holes in the walls or roofs of your homes, rodents will squeeze their way in and start seeking nesting material to construct a home for their young ones. Therefore, never forget to seal any holes or gaps in your home’s internal or external walls. Fill these spaces with cement, wire wool, or caulk for long-lasting effects.
Keep Your House & Surroundings Clean
One of the most effective techniques to eradicate rats is eliminating their hiding spot. Remove items off the walls and clean up the clutter in and around your home. Keep your food in sealed containers, dispose of the garbage and clean your pipes and drains regularly.
Trap Rodents Instead
Trapping is the most effective method to exterminate rats as it kills them quickly without using any poison. Place your traps in areas where rodents are highly active and use unsalted seeds, bananas, and peanut butter as baits.
Call the Professionals
If you are suffering from rodent infestation, hire a pest management company to help you eradicate them. They will detect the entrance points of rodents and locate their nests to remove them efficiently. A pest control expert can also help you figure out what’s causing the infestation and how to keep rodents out in the future.