What Makes Rodent Control In The Bay Area So Difficult?

There is a large population of mice and rats in the Bay Area. If you have conditions on your property or around your home that put out an invitation for rodents, you're going to have trouble. The problem with getting control of rodent problems is that most people don't understand why rodents have chosen their property, or they only understand one piece of the problem. For instance, you might know that rodents will be drawn to your yard if you have a food source, but you might not know all of the many things rodents will eat. Did you know that rats, and sometimes mice, will collect and eat dog droppings? It is true, and it's disgusting. How about it we told you that mice and rats love birdseed. This one probably doesn't surprise you, but it is easy to overlook. This lack of understanding can also cause you to take action with DIY rodent control that falls short of achieving the results you want. Let's take a look at a few examples.

Exclusion

Are you familiar with this term? Pest professionals use this term to describe control methods that work to exclude pests from a property. If you find a gap or hole that clearly looks like a rodent has chewed its way in, it may seem like the answer is to seal the hole and call it a day. While it is certainly a good idea to address holes, it is important to consider:

• Using a material that mice or rats can easily chew through will not keep them from continuing to use that entry point.
• Sealing one entry point will not keep rodents from using other entry points.
• If you trap a rodent inside your home, it could chew a way out through another spot.
• Exclusions are only one piece to the rodent-control puzzle.

Traps

Are you aware that traps are the best way to get control of rodent problems? This is definitely true. Traps help with monitoring rodent activity and they work to reduce rodent populations. But, what you might not know is that poorly deployed traps can be ineffective, and incorrect placement of traps can lead to an ongoing infestation.

Wrong Trap — There are many traps available. Some work and some don't. Some that can work don't work because they aren't deployed properly. There are many ways mice and rats can outsmart traps, far too many to list here. One example is the use of an incorrect bait. It is often assumed that cheese is the best bait for rodents. It isn't. Not only is cheese easy to get off a latch without setting off a spring-loaded trap, it isn't a preferred food source. You'll have more success with peanut butter, rice, or a mixture.

Wrong Strategy — Let's say you catch a mouse or rat—or several. If you use an incorrect strategy, you can continue to have rodents infesting your home, while thinking that your problem has been solved. This will expose you and everyone living in your home to the ongoing danger of illness. It will also allow rodents to continue to damage your home, belongings, and plants.

Poisons

There are products that promise to eliminate rodents by getting them to eat a food substance that has a poison in it. When this rodent-control method is attempted by property owners, many undesired results can occur, not the least of which is the likelihood that the rodents don't take the bait at all. It is best to have a licensed professional select and deploy baits.

Rodent Control In The Bay Area

If you're dealing with mice or rats (and it will be one or the other; rarely both) contact Bay Pest. We use trusted methods to locate rodents, exclude rodents, eliminate rodents, and monitor for rodent activity to make sure all the rodents are gone. We select appropriate products to directly address your specific rodent problem. During the process, you'll learn why mice or rats are becoming a problem for you, and you'll be given tips for keeping rodents from continuing to be a problem for you. Reach out to us today for immediate assistance.