Rodents, and their notorious reputation for causing damage and spreading disease, are a common nuisance in many homes. The varying temperatures that occur in NYC can drive these pests indoors. Handling a rodent infestation isn't just about eliminating visible problems; it's about ensuring your home is safe, hygienic, and rodent-proof.
Health Risks and Property Damage: Why Immediate Action is Necessary
Rodents are known carriers of various diseases, and their droppings and urine can contaminate food sources and surfaces. Furthermore, rodents can cause significant property damage by gnawing on electrical wires, wooden structures, and insulation.
Every home is unique, and so are its pest control needs. It would help if you considered the layout of your home, the extent of the infestation, and your family's specific needs to create a customized treatment plan.
Strategies to Rodent-Proof Your Home
Sealing Entry Points
Caulk cracks and holes on the interior and exterior of your home using silicone or steel wool. Pay close attention to areas where utilities enter the home.
Install weather stripping around doors and windows to close any gaps.
Use copper mesh, concrete, or metal kick plates to seal openings beneath doors.
Managing Food Sources
Store dry goods like flour, cereals, and nuts in airtight glass, plastic, or metal containers.
Use lidded garbage cans and empty trash frequently.
Clean up pet food dishes and sweep up any spilled food after meals.
Controlling Moisture
Fix dripping faucets and leaks.
Eliminate sources of standing water in the yard.
Install vapor barriers in crawl spaces.
Use dehumidifiers to control moisture.
Deterring Entry
Try using electronic, battery-powered ultrasonic repellers that emit high-frequency sound waves in conjunction with other methods. These products will rarely be effective on their own.
Place natural repellents like peppermint oil or mothballs near entry points.
Install physical barriers like copper mesh around gardens.
Trim back vegetation and clear clutter near the home's perimeter.
Preventive Measures by Season
Spring: As the weather starts warming up, ensure that all potential food sources are securely stored. Clean up garden areas and ensure compost heaps are well-contained.
Summer: While rat activity might be less evident in the hot months, it's a good time to rat-proof your home. Seal any gaps or holes in walls, attics, or basements.
Fall: This is a crucial time for prevention. As rats start seeking shelter, make sure your home isn't inviting. Check for cracks, gaps, or any other entry points, and seal them promptly.
Winter: Continue monitoring for signs of rat activity. Droppings, gnaw marks, or unusual noises can indicate their presence. Ensure food, including pet food, is stored in airtight containers.
When to Seek Professional Help
While the above strategies can be effective in preventing rodent problems, there might be times when you need expert intervention:
Persistent Issues: If, despite your best efforts, you notice signs of rodents like droppings or gnaw marks or hear noises indicative of their presence, it might be time to call in the experts.
Safety Concerns: Rodents can carry diseases. If you're concerned about the health risks of a rodent infestation, seeking professional help is advisable.
Tailored Solutions: A locally owned and operated pest control company in NYC can offer solutions tailored to your home's specific needs. They can thoroughly inspect, identify potential problem areas, and suggest targeted interventions.
With its bustling streets and towering skyscrapers, New York City is always evolving. With this constant change comes the need for big and small construction projects. However, the city's recent legislation has added a new layer of responsibility for those in the construction industry: rodent control.
Understanding the New Legislation
Why the Need for a New Law?
Rodents have long been a concern in New York City. Their population can surge in areas with ongoing construction as their habitats get disturbed, leading them to seek new homes and food sources. Recognizing the potential health hazards and nuisances these pests pose, the city has introduced a new law mandating specific rodent control measures before any construction project begins.
What Does the Law Entail?
The new legislation requires developers and contractors to undertake comprehensive rodent control measures before initiating construction activity. This means that before any ground is broken, steps must be taken to ensure the site is free from rodents, preventing migration to neighboring areas.
The regulations apply to projects that involve 50% or more of the floor area of a building.
Projects where the proposed vertical or horizontal enlargement increases the building's floor area by more than 25%.
Partial demolition projects that involve more than 50% of the floor area of a building.
Complying with the New Rodent Control Law
Initial Assessment
Before starting any construction project, it's crucial to thoroughly assess the site to identify any existing rodent infestations. This involves checking for signs of rodent activity, such as droppings, burrows, and gnaw marks.
Implementing Control Measures
Once an assessment is complete, appropriate control measures must be implemented. This could involve setting up traps, using rodenticides, or employing more advanced methods like ultrasonic devices. The key is to ensure that the site is rodent-free before construction begins.
Continuous Monitoring
Even after initial control measures are implemented, continuous monitoring is essential. Regular checks should be conducted to ensure that the site remains rodent-free throughout the construction process.
The Impact on the Construction Industry and Pest Management Efforts
A Collaborative Approach
This new law necessitates a more collaborative approach between the construction industry and pest management professionals. Contractors and developers will need to work closely with pest control experts, like Positive Pest Management, to ensure compliance with the law and the effective elimination of rodent populations.
Boosting the City's Pest Management Efforts
While the law adds an additional layer of responsibility for those in the construction industry, it also bolsters the city's broader pest management efforts. By ensuring construction sites are rodent-free, the city can more effectively control and reduce the overall rodent population, leading to cleaner, safer streets and neighborhoods.
The introduction of New York City's new rodent control law is a testament to the city's commitment to public health and safety. While it does present new challenges for the construction industry, it also offers an opportunity for greater collaboration and innovation in pest management.
If you're in the construction industry and are looking for expert guidance on complying with this new law, Positive Pest Management is here to help. With years of experience and a deep understanding of the city's pest control needs, we can ensure that your construction site is rodent-free and fully compliant with the new regulations.
Don't let rodents derail your next construction project. Contact Positive Pest Management at 800-294-3130 and let us help you navigate this new legislation effectively.
Mouse traps have gone a long way from just a piece of cheese and a trigger mechanism - now, you have several lines of mouse traps to choose from. While the usual wooden mouse trap can work for the odd mouse or rat that just wandered by, you might be looking for something more heavy-duty for a severe infestation. This is where premium mouse traps come in.
So what are some of the premium mouse traps you can get? Premium mouse traps include electric mouse traps, catch-and-release mouse traps, and bait traps. Depending on the brand that you choose, you can also opt for extra features like Wi-Fi connectivity, no-touch disposal, and even have refillable baits.
You might be wondering what exactly makes a premium mouse trap deserve its title - or in most cases, the price. Their primary difference lies in the three separate factors: comfort, convenience, and catch rate. Let's discuss them more in detail.
Comfort
This is arguably one of the most significant reasons why "premium" mouse traps are priced accordingly - unlike snap traps, glue traps, or other conventional mouse traps, premium mouse traps also prioritize the user's comfort and safety. Conventional mouse traps can be difficult to handle and may even injure the person setting the trap if handled improperly. Premium mouse traps are designed to be as unobtrusive as possible to both humans and their pets, which makes them easier to deploy around your home.
Convenience
Convenience is another significant factor for premium mouse traps. Many conventional mouse traps need to be set, refilled, or even monitored manually before confirming a pest has been caught. Most premium mouse traps don't need this oversight - all you need to do is get it out of the packaging, fiddle with it for a few minutes, then put it in the mouse's path. Some types of mouse traps even make disposal a breeze, which can be extremely useful for people who are squeamish about handling a dead rat.
Catch Rate
Premium mouse traps are designed to be almost irresistible to mice, which means their catch rate is higher compared to your usual mouse trap with cheese. Because mice can quickly figure their way around conventional mouse traps, premium mouse traps are geared to catch multiple mice before needing either replacement or repair. Some models go even further by being designed as "mouse friendly" traps, which can safely catch the pest then remove it.
Overall, a "premium" mouse trap has a lot more versatility and features compared to your regular mouse trap. While the features may not always be what you're looking for, they’re all geared towards making the trap more efficient with catching mice.
While there are different types of traps that someone can use to catch mice, only a few have the features necessary to be considered a "premium" mouse trap. If you want to get rid of a small mouse or a stray rodent in your home (and are willing to spend a little extra), then these are the types of traps you should look out for:
Electric Traps
Electric traps are undoubtedly one of the more effective - and expensive - ways to catch a rat. The design of most electric traps is simple - by luring the rat to a chamber, it closes itself on them and delivers a high-voltage electric shock, killing the pest instantly. While others consider it a more "humane trap" compared to other methods like glue traps or snap traps, some people may still find the use of electric shocks too damaging or ruthless to the rodent.
The advantage of using electric traps is that the features that come with them work well with areas that have small children and/or household pets. Electric traps can often be configured to turn off on demand, or have safety switches that depower the unit when it’s not in use. This is particularly useful since the trap space that you'll most likely choose for your mouse trap is fairly close to high-traffic areas around the home like the kitchen.
Live-Catch Traps
Live-catch traps vary widely depending on the brand, but they all function the same way: by catching the mouse instead of killing it. This can be useful if you can't use chemicals or baits to catch mice, especially if you happen to be allergic to certain chemicals and have children around. Live-catch traps are easy to set, with some models alerting you remotely that a mouse has already been caught. You can even get a model that has the option for you to remove the trapped rat without ever having to make contact with it.
Most people will argue that the catch-and-release method of getting rid of mice doesn't really solve the problem, since you're just removing the mouse from your property. This may be the case especially if the owner doesn't take the necessary steps to prevent their house from hosting another mouse infestation. Combined with pest prevention strategies, live-catch traps are a friendlier alternative for humans, pets, and the mouse itself.
Bait Traps
Bait traps often dance on the line between conventional and premium mouse traps - but the difference between the two lies in the effectiveness of the bait and how easy it is to set. Most conventional bait traps require multiple baits in multiple places to maximize their efficacy at killing mice. However, premium bait traps are self-refilling, tamper-resistant, and only need a few trap spaces around your property to work.
While effective, bait traps are arguably some of the most troublesome of all premium traps to use, since it leaves behind the body of the mouse that you need to find and clean up. The toxin used in bait traps is also extremely potent, which means that you need to be careful with using it around small children and pets. But if neither of those is a concern, bait traps can be an extremely effective way of getting rid of small to medium mice infestations.
Keep in mind that no amount of premium mice traps will help you if you're dealing with a severe mouse infestation. In these cases, looking for a professional to help you is always the best call, and is more likely to give you better results than simply trying to take on an infestation by yourself.
Positive Pest Management: Your Partner For Rodent And Pest Control
Positive Pest Management provides long-term and effective pest control services in New York and Long Island. We use a mixture of traps, baits, and other pest control methods to make sure that unwanted pests and animals are safely and quickly removed from your property. For more information about our commercial and residential services, contact us at 1-800-294-3130 today.
Covering a mouse trap might seem like a counterproductive idea - won't that mean that fewer mice will fall for it? However, you need to remember that while mouse traps aren't designed to be fatal to humans, they can still cause serious harm to people, and especially to children and household pets. This is why getting covered mouse traps can help you save a lot of time and potential injuries even as you're trying to remove the odd mouse in your house.
So what exactly is a cover for a mouse trap? In most cases, this means using mousetraps that have built-in covers with them - these are usually electric or catch-and-release type traps. But if you want to make sure that you don't need to cover your mousetrap at all, you should be careful where you place them, and call a professional if you're dealing with a particularly stubborn mice infestation.
There are several reasons why you'd want to get mouse traps with covers: you want your trapped area to remain sanitary, there are pets and/or children in the vicinity who might make contact with traps you've set, or you just don't like seeing a trap in your home. Whatever your reason is, there are plenty of products out there that can help you get the trap that you want without having to expose itself.
There are two particular types of traps that you can use for this purpose:
Electric trap
By its very design, this type of trap isn't open to the elements or exposed at all. This makes it an excellent product for anyone who's looking for mouse traps with covers. The cover isn't just for protecting their electrical components or making it child-resistant - it also helps with disposal.
Electric traps are almost always lethal to mice, so you need a way to keep the corpse inside the trap without it attracting scavengers. The cover of these traps helps mask the scent of dead mice, which can allow the trap to be used again after being cleaned out. Some models are even packaged as a Wi-Fi electronic mouse trap, allowing you to customize everything from bait options to opening the bait tray or bait slot remotely.
However, one significant drawback of this trap is that it can be somewhat expensive compared to bait traps and glue traps. But while they're far from the cheapest traps that you can get, they're excellent alternatives to the classic wood-and-wire snap traps that can get you a lot of dead rodents and mice.
Catch-and-release trap
Catch-and-release traps (or live-catch traps) are also designed to catch mice and not let them go: but the goal of the trap is to capture them with the intent of releasing them later. This is particularly useful to people who feel like regular traps are too inhumane for mice. Since they're supposed to hold mice in place until they're released, these mouse traps will always have a covering that keeps out unwanted animals - or prying fingers.
Catch-and-release traps are easy to deploy, with some premium models even allowing contactless release. Some allow storing more captive mice at a time, since it's a no-kill trap that can be reused instead of buying multiple mice traps. But If you want to play it safe, you can use two traps per mouse to ensure their capture.
One thing to remember when using catch-and-release traps is that you need to be quick to release any captured mice in the trap. This prevents other mice from picking up on the nature of your trap and makes it easier to reuse in the same area if you're dealing with more than one mouse.
While these two traps are not the only effective trap that you can use against mice, they're the type of traps that you should be looking for if you want your mouse trap to be covered. They're affordable trap options that can fit in almost any trap space, and are great alternatives for spreading a bunch of traps around an area.
But what if you don't have a mouse trap with a cover? You might be tempted to DIY your own mouse trap cover, but there are several reasons why this is a bad idea:
Your cover might be incompatible with the design of your trap
Mice may use your cover to avoid the trap entirely
Your cover might affect how your trap works, reducing its efficacy
Other people, children, or pets may not recognize that you're covering a mouse trap
Modifying your mouse trap can void your recourse against the manufacturer because the product has been tampered with
However, this doesn't mean that you can't get a cover for your mouse trap. If you really want to get a mouse trap cover, your first search for answers in product info pages or on the actual product packaging of your mouse trap. Some brands like Snap-E mouse traps have compatible covers with their open-air traps, and they even include useful features like inspection holes to make the checking of traps easier.
Ideal Mouse Trap Placement
If you can't use covers at all, then the best option would be to place your traps where they're more likely to catch mice and less likely to attract attention from anything else. Here are some things you can keep in mind to make sure that your trap areas are a success.
Understand the behavior of your mice: a mouse hole isn't always the place to put your traps. Mice always look for three things - food, shelter, and warmth. Check for signs of mice activity, then put your traps there.
Avoid leaving traps in the open: mice are naturally afraid of wide-open spaces and will often stick to the nooks and crannies of your home when traveling. Putting traps near walls or under cabinets works well to catch them.
Use gloves when setting traps: mice have a keen sense of smell and can sniff out human contact with a possible trap. If you don't want to spook away mice from your trap, wearing gloves can keep away your scent.
Change placements every so often: mice can change their habits if you tamper with their routine in any way, especially if trapping is involved. If you don't want them catching on to your traps, move them regularly.
Ensure that your traps are maintained and cleared regularly: if your traps are designed to stay long-term or catch more than one mouse, clearing and cleaning them can help catch more mice unawares.
Proper placement will depend on where exactly the mice have been feeding, and where you suspect they're making their dens. Good places to check would be your kitchen, along the walls, upstairs in an attic, or downstairs in a basement.
While you can have the best possible bait station or electronic mouse trap to use when dealing with mice, there's only so much that quality products can get you if you're dealing with a sizable mouse infestation. Because they're prolific breeders, it's extremely easy for a small mouse problem to spiral out of control if you don't deal with it early enough.
If you're seeing signs of frequent mouse activity - or actually seeing them in the daylight - it could be a sign that your mouse problem is a bit bigger than you'd think. Mice usually keep out of human sight as much as possible, so if they're starting to venture out in the daylight, it usually means there's a sizable colony nearby.
For these occasions, hiring a professional pest removal service is your best option. Not only will they have more effective products and strategies to take care of your mouse problems, but they'll also help you with long-term pest removal and prevention. Even if your mouse problem only involves one mouse, it's always a good idea to get a professional to come by and check out the situation, since they can pinpoint how the mouse got in and prevent any more from finding their way inside your property.
Positive Pest Management: A Trusted Name In Rodent Control And Pest Removal
Positive Pest Management specializes in providing commercial and residential pest removal services to New York and Long Island residents. We make sure that our rodent control solutions are long-term and child-safe, while using the best product and bait possible for the best results. Contact us at 1-800-294-3130 today to get your quote.
Mice and rodents are some of the most persistent pests that you'll ever encounter in urban environments. While there's a lot of options to catch and get rid of them, traps aren't exactly the option for everyone. Fortunately, there are a few non-trap options that you can look into to remove mice from your property - just make sure that you use these methods properly.
So how do you get rid of mice without traps? By far the most effective method of getting rid of a mouse invasion would be to use mouse repellent - which can range from artificial barriers to natural compounds. If these methods are done correctly, rodent infestations can be successfully kept at bay. Nonetheless, keep your eye on signs of rodent activity. If these infestations persist, it’s time to seek the help of pest control professionals.
Mouse Repellents: Trap-Free Alternatives For Pest Control
For many people, a snap mouse trap is their go-to when they think of methods to get rid of mice. While this certainly works sometimes, mice are clever rodents with an excellent sense of smell, as well as small and agile bodies that make your conventional traps - or at the very least, a wooden snap trap - difficult to use against them.
Some people think that traps in themselves are too aggressive to use on a mouse infestation, including the more “humane” traps that function as an alternative to your conventional mouse traps. Regardless of personal preference, some homeowners will just opt for a no-trap approach to getting rid of mice especially because there are children or household pets in the vicinity.
This is where mouse repellents come in handy. Since these methods focus on keeping mice out instead of capturing them after they come in, they're a more humane alternative even to non-lethal traps to keep mice at bay. You also have the option to choose between natural repellents and physical barriers aside from chemical products, which can be extremely useful for people who may have problems with artificial compounds.
Ways To Get Rid Of Mice Without Using Traps
Keep in mind that while these traps are effective at getting rid of the one or two odd mice, they're no match for when a severe infestation has already settled in your home. But if you're looking for an affordable option to get rid of a particularly small rodent problem, then these methods should work for you.
Peppermint Oil
By far one of the most common mice repellents used for pest management is peppermint oil. The strong smell of the peppermint might be pleasing to the human nose, but it's absolutely irritating to mice.
Simply put some peppermint oil on a cotton swab and place it around areas that you know can attract mice, like a food source or somewhere with water. You can put additional cotton balls if needed, especially on a larger space.
Tabasco And Hot Sauce
Spices like Tabasco and cayenne peppers contain a compound called capsaicin, which is responsible for the burning sensation that most spicy food gives. Unsurprisingly, they're also extremely effective mice repellents, since their sensitive smell makes them even more vulnerable to the scent of pepper compared to other animals.
There are various mixes and recipes of spice-based mice repellent that you can find online, so mix and match between recipes until you find one that works the best. Like the peppermint oil above, putting some of your spice mixture on a cotton ball can be a strong enough deterrent for some mice - you may need to spray them on surfaces if you want to cover a larger area.
Used Cat Litter
This may sound a bit gross if you don't have a cat, but hear us out: mice are naturally afraid of the scent of cats. They recognize that it's a predator, and will actively avoid any areas with the smell of cat urine on them. Simply place the kitty litter in shallow containers without any lid, and put them around the entry points in your home.
If you do have a cat and a mouse has made their way inside your home, you can reasonably expect your furry friend to track it down - or at the very least, chase it away. Cats are more likely to hunt down mice because of their smaller size, compared to rodents that may put up a fight.
These repellents work well to make sure that your unwelcome furry guest quickly finds a new place to scarper off to, but they're less effective for long-term methods to keep away mice and pests in general. For urban areas where living spaces are so close together, mice can survive reasonably well on things like food debris and pet food. As a prolific breeder, mice populations can quickly escalate if you leave them unchecked.
But like all infestations, the best way to avoid a mice infestation is to prevent one from happening to begin with. If you've tried any of the methods above and want to increase your chances of never having to use them again, you should do the following:
Seal all entry points into your home: mice can crawl through ducts, pipes, and other unsealed pathways into your property. Using balled-up aluminum foil or steel wool to block the entrances can serve as a good deterrent for the smaller species.
Don't make your home mouse-friendly: by this, we mean making sure that your property doesn't have the three things that make mice move in - shelter, warmth, and food. Keeping your food in an airtight container, checking if there are any leaks or puddles in your ceiling or yard, or simply keeping a clean house can be enough to deter mice.
Get your home checked: if you're really worried about getting mice anyway, you should get your home checked by a professional pest remover. Not only are they able to give recommendations on the best ways you can prevent a mouse from getting in, but they can also help you with any other pest problems that you may have.
Overall, keeping mice out of your home needs to be an active decision that you need to make consistently, just to make sure that you don't need to deal with things like traps and repellents ever again.
Contact Positive Pest Management For Mice And Rodent Control Today
Positive Pest Management has been a long-trusted name in New York City for rodent extermination and for the removal of other animals. Serving both commercial and residential properties, we help our clients with quick and long-term pest control solutions at affordable prices. Contact us at 1-800-294-3130 today to get your quote.
Because of their keen sense of smell, mice are exceptionally sensitive to the scent that you leave on any trap that you set out for them. This can make all but the most appetizing of traps almost useless especially if you have a sizable mice problem or a particularly clever critter on your hands. Luckily, there are ways that you can even the odds by masking your scent from mouse traps.
So how exactly can you remove the human smell from a human-set mouse trap? An effective trap can lure in mice, but it only takes one caught mouse or one skin-to-skin handling of the trap itself to serve as a warning to other mice in the area. Aside from masking the signs of human activity on the trap itself by minimizing your contact with it, you should also take into account non-human scents that can also act as warning triggers for mice.
Mice may have a subpar vision in the dark, but their sharp sense of hearing and a keen nose for scents allow them to evade most predators - and in this case, most traps if you aren't careful. Fortunately, the rule for lessening the "human" scent from your traps is very simple: avoid skin-to-skin contact.
Humans have a unique scent that mice can easily distinguish from anything else - this is why they feel comfortable going through the areas at home with the highest foot traffic while also keeping close to the dark recesses where they can easily retreat. Anything you touch, come into contact with, or are nearby most of the time are all triggers for mice and can be more than enough reason for them to run.
So if you're looking to avoid that when it comes to your mouse traps, the easiest way to do it is to minimize your contact with your trap entirely. You can do this in the following ways:
Wearing gloves while you set the trap
Make sure that the trapped area is free of things that may carry your scent
Not checking on the trap unless absolutely necessary
Mice can easily smell where you've come and gone, and if you draw attention to an area where you've set a trap, they're more likely to be a little cautious around any traps you might have set. This doesn't mean that your traps don't work anymore even if you touch them once - there are some types of traps that are almost irresistible to mice infestations - but it significantly lowers your chances of getting a catch.
But what if you live in a small space, or are in a home where human scents are everywhere? What exactly can you do then? The simple answer is to get creative.
A mouse infestation can seem overwhelming at first, but it doesn't take a lot of observation to note that all mice are creatures of habit. They like to frequent certain places while avoiding other areas, and they're almost always after three things in a home: food, shelter, and warmth.
Once you've figured out the behavior of the mouse that you're dealing with, it becomes a little simpler to make the issue less of not leaving your scent on your traps, but rather making sure that the mice come to the trapped area either way.
There are a few ways you can do this:
Pick A Bait Trap
While putting cheese in the trigger of snap traps still works for rodent infestations, mice tend to be faster, lighter on their feet, and just as clever as their rodent counterparts. This makes conventional rodent traps a little difficult to use on your average kitchen mouse.
However, there are some types of traps that work better than others when it comes to catching mice, the foremost being bait traps. While human foods like peanut butter, foodstuffs like pet food, or any other food debris are attractive to a mouse, it's the specially-formulated mix that you find in bait traps that can be the most successful.
For these traps, the mice may smell your scent but continue towards the trap either way because the bait is just that appetizing. If you see frequent signs of mice activity (especially around areas where you keep food) bait traps are far more likely to give you successful results, since the mice are already conditioned to go after things that smell like food.
Understand The Best Places For Trapping
Most homeowners make the elementary mistake of leaving their traps exposed in the middle of the kitchen or in the corner of the dining room, trusting the bait to be attractive or enticing enough to catch mice. While this approach isn't wrong, it's definitely prone to a lower catch rate since the mice will notice the trap long before it gets caught by it.
This is why some experts recommend trapping specific areas where the mice already feel comfortable going in and are therefore less likely to be on guard. This includes recesses in your walls or ceilings, behind your cabinets, or underneath your drawers. Since these are the places that mice often run to when they feel threatened, you can essentially drive them there when you see them and force them to run into your traps.
Traps along walls, traps with a trigger plate, or even glue traps are excellent ways to catch mice using this strategy. While they’re not exactly the easiest methods, they're undoubtedly effective and should help you catch the odd mouse or two that's managed to sneak their way inside your house.
Maintain Your Traps
A mouse trap that successfully catches a mouse is more than a sign that it's worked - it's a potential warning to other mice in the area that you're taking action against them. A spooked mouse is almost impossible to capture, and trapping it will require a lot of time, patience, and effort - all things you might not have the time for.
So if you're facing a sizable mouse infestation, always make sure to maintain your traps when necessary. If your traps catch and kill a mouse, replace or clear it out immediately as mice can sense the smell of death on a trap that hasn't been maintained. Even a no-kill trap should be maintained and checked once in a while to make sure that bait or the trap itself hasn't been moved or ruined by mice activity.
You should also use this opportunity to make your traps more difficult to detect. While it's generally a good idea to place traps along with places where mice like to travel, they'll catch on if it's left there for too long. It's an ever-developing race of you understanding your mice's behavior as they change it, and making sure that your traps are set to take advantage of those behavioral changes.
Overall, making sure that your mouse traps do their job isn't just limited to reading the instructions and setting it down properly - it's to integrate how your particular mouse is behaving to give yourself the highest chance of catching it. For the single mice inside your cupboards, the above strategies work just fine - but for a full-on infestation, you'll need the help of a professional to get that work done.
Positive Pest Management: A Trusted Name In Pest Removal
When a mouse trap isn't enough, Positive Pest Management is there to bring the best and latest innovations in pest control to New York and Long Island. Specializing in both residential and commercial pest control, we remove insects, unwanted animals, and other pests from properties while implementing long-term solutions to prevent them from returning. For more information about us and the services we provide, contact us at 1-800-294-3130 today.
Glue traps, also known as glue boards or sticky boards, are often made of plastic trays or sheets of cardboard that have been coated with a ultra-strong adhesive. Mice, rats, and other small creatures that come into contact with the glue become immobilized and unable to move without assistance. While this is great if you’re trying to trap little insects and pests at home, this can be a problem if your cat gets caught in the glue.
So how do you get mouse trap glue off cat paws? You’ll have to cut the cat's hair that has become stuck to the glue in order to free it. If the actual paw is still stuck, then you’ll have to use oil to remove the adhesive completely. This will soften the hardened glue on the paw and you’ll eventually be able to remove it without hurting your cat.
If your cat's hair is still stuck to the trap, you can cut the hair off with scissors. Only the hair that is adhered to the trap should be trimmed. Make sure that you’re not cutting too close to the surface of your cat's skin.
Pick up your cat and place it on your lap or on a flat surface such as a table or a bed for the time being. Some mousetrap glues contain poisons that could be toxic to cats if ingested. A towel will keep your cat from licking the poisoned area and becoming accidentally poisoned as a result of it.
Use Oil
To remove the glue, you can use a variety of oils such as vegetable, canola, olive, sunflower, or maize oil. To massage the oil into your cat's fur, use your fingers to do so. Check to see that the glue is completely covered with oil before continuing. Alternatively, you can massage peanut butter into your cat's fur to remove the adhesive from its coat.
It’s best not to use eucalyptus, tea tree, or citrus oil to dissolve the adhesive because these oils are harmful to cats. Avoid utilizing solvents such as paint thinner or acetone as well.
Allow the oil to sit for 5 minutes before using. As the glue hardens, the oil will begin to soften it. When you allow the oil to sit for a longer period of time, it’ll be easier to remove the glue.
Wipe the Residue Away
To remove the adhesive, wipe it away with a clean, dry towel. Wipe the affected region with the cloth in a gentle manner. Wipe the surface until all of the adhesive has been removed. If adhesive is still visible on your cat's fur, continue rubbing your oil of choice until the glue has been completely removed from the cat's fur.
Is Mouse Trap Glue Poisonous
Glue traps aren’t generally poisonous to animals unless the glue is ingested by the animals. In contrast, you should consider glue traps to be hazardous to the health and safety of your pets.
Because these glue traps use extremely strong adhesives, it’s probable that any cat that becomes entangled in one of these traps would suffer severe injuries as a result of the adhesive ripping and tearing the animal's skin or fur. The imprisoned cat will then sustain more injuries as a result of their desperate attempts to escape the trap by scratching or biting at their own flesh.
According to how the cats come into contact with the traps, they may be stuck on their side or face down, by all of their legs or just one, and they’ll most likely scream in distress. Cats trapped in glue may try to release themselves and may become increasingly entangled in the adhesive as time passes. In an attempt to free themselves, some cats may attempt to bite through their own limbs. The result of a hopeless effort is that they become exhausted, collapse face down in the glue, and die as a result of asphyxia as the glue lodges in their nasal passages. Fatalities are most frequently caused by a combination of tiredness, dehydration, and malnutrition.
Despite the fact that they appear to be practical, mouse glue traps are perhaps one of the most brutal methods of capturing a mouse. A trapped mouse may panic and have a heart attack, get its nose stuck in the glue and drown, or starve to death if the glue is not removed quickly enough. If you aren’t comfortable with glue traps, there are less cruel methods of capturing these rodents available.
Snap Traps
This is the most popular type of mouse trap, and also the most dangerous. Nevertheless, they’re quite effective. A spring-loaded metal bar clamps down on the mouse when it takes the bait. For individuals who want a more compassionate method of getting rid of the nuisance, certain snap trap types don’t kill the mouse but instead keep it caught.
All you have to do to bait a snap trap is place the bait on the pressure-sensitive switch and wait for the mouse to try to eat it. Be prepared to cope with the consequences, since the mouse may be severely damaged but not killed outright, which may be unpleasant to some.
Electronic Traps
These traps are relatively new on the market, but they’re already proving to be rather popular. They're simple to use and incredibly effective at immediately killing mice. The mouse is given a deadly electric shock as it enters the trap to obtain the bait, which kills it nearly instantaneously. The mouse is dead in a matter of seconds, yet the corpse is still intact, making it lovely and easy to dispose of.
Although they’re fatal to mice, they aren’t harmful to other creatures such as pets or children who accidentally stick their fingers in them. They’re battery-powered and are available in two types: multi-use and single-use.
Live Traps
These traps are ideal for those who don't want to damage or kill the mouse, but nevertheless want to get it out of their house. Live traps are similar to a small cage with a door; when a mouse enters the cage, the door is activated, trapping the mouse within.
The biggest disadvantage of these traps is that you must inspect them on a frequent basis, especially if you don't want to injure the mouse. Otherwise, the mouse will starve to death if you keep it in there for too long. You must also transport the mouse far away from your home before releasing it or it’ll most likely return. It's possible that this may become a recurring cycle of trapping and releasing the same mouse if done haphazardly.
Get Professional Pest Control Only at Positive Pest Management
The best option for getting rid of those pesky rodents is hiring a professional pest control service. Allowing a professional pest control company such as Positive Pest Management to conduct the task on your behalf will save you a significant amount of time and effort. A professional pest management company identifies pests and their entry and departure points into your home, as well as other necessary details on how these pests operate and move about.
At Positive Pest Management, we provide industry-leading pest control service at competitive prices. We can offer customized pest control solutions that will meet the unique needs and challenges of your space. It’s time to solve your pest control problems for good. Give us a call today.
Spring-loaded traps are some of the most common types of traps that you can find. This is because they’re mostly affordable, can be bought in bulk, and effective. It does this by snapping down with its powerful spring mechanism. The problem that most people face is that setting up the trap requires you to pull back the bar and spring. Most people are afraid of doing this because if it’s done incorrectly, it can cause the trap to painfully snap on their fingers.
So how can a mouse trap be opened safely? You need to be very gentle with it. Place your bait before pulling back the bar. Once the bait is placed, pull back the bar. Hold it down with your finger. As you do this, place the hold-down bar (the long bar at the other end of where you place the bait) right on the notch of the small bait platform. Slowly release your grip on the bar so that there's tension on the bait platform. Once that’s set, gently place and position the trap wherever you plan on placing it.
How to Open z Snap Mouse Trap Without Hurting Yourself
Prior to understanding how to set up the mouse trap, it's first important to know the actual parts of the mouse trap itself. That way, it makes it easy for you to follow along.
Parts of a Mouse Trap
The mouse trap is a very simple device, with each part being vital to how it works. While other mouse traps over its long history have sported a more experimental design, we’re mostly dealing with the most common type of mouse trap: the spring-loaded, snap trap. This is the most popular way to kill common house mice, which are a breed of light grey or brown mice that may be causing you distress.
According to a scientific article on the history of the mouse trap, there are 4 main components of a mouse trap, namely: striker, set/release mechanism, power source, and the base or framework.
1. Hammer (Striker)
Another common name for this among trappers is the "kill-bar." This is essentially what is going to swing around the mouse trap, trapping the mice, and ideally breaking their back or neck, killing them instantly. The hammer is essentially a small metal bar that doesn't hurt -- until it smashes down with full force.
2. Hold-Down Bar (Set/Release Mechanism)
On one end of the mouse trap platform, there’s going to be a long bar with a hook at the end. This is the hold-down bar. It's important to not tamper with this as much because its length is just right to reach the notch of the catch.
3. Spring (Power Source)
Where the mouse trap gets all its snapping power from is the spring in the middle, which is known as a torsion spring. As opposed to a spring that you see used for pogo sticks or car suspensions that go up and down, this spring rotates. Think of it like twisting a rubber band around a pole; the more you twist, the more energy it releases when you let go.
The torsion spring extends on either end of the mouse trap, with one end holding down the hammer. If you notice, when it isn't set, each end of the spring faces opposite sides. Only when they face the same direction is there force.
4. Platform (Base or Framework)
This is where all the parts of the mouse trap are nailed down on. The most common material that's used for the platform is wood, which helps make it so lightweight.
5. Catch
On the other end of the mouse trap is the catch or bait platform. This is where you can place whatever bait you prefer to use. The catch usually has a portion of it going up. On top, there will either be a hole, lip, or protruding notch, and this is because the hold-down bar needs something to hold on to. When the hold-down bar slips its grip on the catch, that's when the hammer flings forward.
Setting Up the Mouse Trap
The important thing to remember about setting up a mouse trap is that you need to be very careful and gentle with it. The average weight of an adult mouse is anywhere from 20 to 35 grams. This means that mouse traps have to be really sensitive so that something so light can trigger the mechanism. It's also important to be confident. If you're nervous and shaking, worried about whether the mouse trap will snap on you, then it most likely will.
It’s also recommended to wear a pair of gloves. When holding a mouse trap with your bare hands, you unintentionally rub some of your scent on the platform. Mice have excellent sniffing abilities. That means they can tell if a predator -- i.e. you -- has been handling the mouse trap.
1. Release the Hold-Down Bar
Upon unboxing, the mouse trap will have the hold-down bar stapled onto the platform. This is so that the hold-down bar doesn't move about in the mousetrap package. When attempting to remove the staple, don’t simply pull the hold-down bar up. Doing this might deform the hold-down bar, making it unable to reach the notch of the catch. Instead, it's recommended that you use a pair of pliers to pull it out gently.
2. Place Your Bait
While the trap hasn't been set is the best time to place your bait. While movies and TV shows might suggest that cheese is the ideal bait for mice, it’s actually wrong. The problem with cheese is that it's far too easy to swipe away from the catch. Instead, smear bread spreads like peanut butter or Nutella on the catch to make it harder for the mice to snag the bait food and force them to stay a bit longer. The longer they interact with the catch, the more likely they’ll get trapped.
3. Pull Back the Hammer
This is the part that can bring the most anxiety for people. The most important thing to remember when pulling back the hammer is to hold it down with your fingers, pinching the base and the hammer down together. Make sure your grip here is secure. New mouse traps will have fresh torsion springs, so it’s going to want to fight your grip; don’t give in.
4. Tuck the Hold-Down Bar Under the Catch's Notch
While you’re holding down the hammer with one hand, use the other hand to set the hold-down bar. Place the hold-down bar over the hammer to hold it down while hooking it to the catch. Only a small portion of the hold-down bar is actually going to reach catch. This is so that even the slightest movement will make the bar slip, releasing the hammer down. Think of it like pulling a long rubber band only with the tip of your fingers; one small movement could make the rubber band slip from your fingers.
5. Slowly Release and Position
Once the end of the hold-down bar is tucked under the lip or notch of the catch, slowly release your grip from the hammer. This is so that there’s a force acting on the hold-down bar to secure its position at the catch stronger. But still be very careful. There’s no need to rush.
Place your fingers on the side of the base. Very gently place it on the ground where you intend to position it. Avoid placing your fingers anywhere near the catch area to avoid accidentally triggering the trap on your fingers.
Mouse Trap Safety Precautions
Although mouse traps are small, they can still inflict a lot of pain on those who don’t handle it well. The force that the torsion spring acts on the hammer is meant to be powerful enough to break the bones on their neck or back while their head is at the catch area. Compared to your adult finger bones, mouse bones are tiny; that doesn’t mean that it still can’t hurt.
Children are naturally curious, without understanding the inherent danger of certain objects, including the usually brightly colored mouse trap. When they go to reach for the mouse trap, the force of the snap can actually do serious damage on the child. Especially if you have infants or toddlers at home, the force of mouse traps has the potential to break their finger bones, or damage their entire hand.
Since mouse traps are usually on the floor, accidentally stepping on a mouse trap may break their toes or damage their entire foot. Given this, it’s important to keep these devices out of reach of children. Instruct them regarding the mouse traps around the house and place it in areas where they’re either difficult for children to reach or where children aren’t allowed to roam around in.
A similar mouse trap concern is if you have pets. Much like children, they’re also curious beings that have no understanding about the harm that mouse traps can do to them. While larger animals like dogs or cats may walk away with injuries, it’s the smaller pets such as gerbils, hamsters, or guinea pigs that you need to be watchful of. Since these animals are roughly the same size as the light grey or brown mice that mouse traps are meant to catch, it has a high likelihood of killing your pets especially if they run around freely, unprotected from your traps.
If you aren’t willing to risk having mouse traps in your home because of your children or pets, there are other ways to help deal with your pest infestation. Glue traps and rodent poisons are potential no-snap pest control options that you can use. However, if the infestations persist, then by all means, you can contact the professionals to deal with your rodent infestations.
Another reason to call the professionals is the fact that mice tend to reproduce fairly quickly: a female mouse can produce 32 to 56 pups every year. If you don’t act on your rodent problem as soon as you can, there’s a high chance that it will become an even larger problem for you. They can also be carriers of diseases like Hantavirus, which is highly dangerous for children.. Lastly, with professional help, you can better understand where mice scurry around the house. Since mice are too small and fast for ordinary folks, the professionals can step in and form an analysis of the whereabouts of mice, and deal with them effectively.
Contact Positive Pest Management for Your Pest Control Needs
Positive Pest Management provides the highest quality rodent control and extermination services in New York City, as well as in the Nassau County, Long Island area. We specialize not only in residential pest management but commercial pest management as well. For highly effective pest control, contact us at 1-800-294-3130 and get a free quote.
Rodent problems are universal, and people around the world address these problems through using mouse traps, which have proven effective and even more innovative through time. The heart of an effective trap is the spring, what is called a helical torsion spring, or simply a torsion spring. It's a spring that operates on a twisting motion, which tends to bounce around and be ineffective in turn. Some people are bothered by this, which is why they want to stiffen the springs of their mouse traps.
So can mouse traps springs be stiffened? Yes they can, but it can be tedious. You can try using a pair of pliers and manually twisting one of the ends of the metal spring around the bar of the trap. This adds another coil to the spring, making the torque and tension even greater, which will make the snap more powerful, leading to more chances of killing mice.
Before understanding how to make the spring of the trap stiffer and stronger, it would first be helpful to know what a helical torsion spring actually is.
What Is a Torsion Spring?
A helical torsion spring, simply called a torsion spring, is one of the different types of springs that people commonly use in daily life. Other types of springs are the compression spring (found in pogo sticks and mattresses) and the extension spring (found in trampolines). The torsion spring can be found not only in different types of traps but also in a common garage door, except it uses a much larger version of the spring. Another name for the torsion spring is "clock spring", because it's commonly used for analog clocks.
What Makes a Torsion Spring Stiff?
The torsion spring is essentially a metal rod that’s spun around a bar to create coils. The ends of the torsion spring generally don’t face the same way. Using Hooke's Law, it will show that the greater the end of the spring rotates around, making a coil, the greater the force. More coils tend to mean more force. Think of it like twisting a rubber band. It can only twist so much; the more you twist it, the greater the force that it releases once unwound.
How Torsion Springs Work on a Mouse Trap
Common types of mouse traps -- flat snap traps, catch-and-release traps -- use the force released by the tension spring to hold back the bar, or the "hammer", until it's time to kill.
When looking at the common trap, you’ll notice that the spring in the middle has its two ends facing opposite sides of the trap. One end of the spring is usually twisted around the hammer, while the other end lies flat on the base of the trap facing the other way. When you pull back the hammer, you're simultaneously twisting the spring once more. These springs are already wound so tightly that when you release your hold of the hammer, the tension you generated from twisting the spring once more finally gets released, flinging the hammer forward with a powerful force.
Stiffening the Torsion Spring
Note that tampering with the spring of a mouse trap may permanently alter the spring itself. The more coils on a torsion spring, the greater the force output. That's because the more that you twist it around, it's as if you're building and storing energy. To stiffen a torsion spring and make it more powerful is to add more coils. This can be difficult and tedious done alone and caution is advised.
Take a pair of pliers and pull the end of the spring that isn't attached to the bar. There should be an excess amount of it protruding outward from the spring, laying flat on the mouse trap. What you can try doing is pulling that and twisting it around the hammer. The spring tends to “fight back” if you try to twist it around the hammer, so make sure that you have the mouse trap clamped down securely.
Pull the end of the spring over and under the spring to make another coil; it must twist around completely or else the spring may not be as effective anymore.
As time goes on and you use the trap more and more often, the spring is bound to loosen up. There are a few things that you can do to prevent this from happening.
Always Check the Spring's Condition
To check if the spring is still wound tightly, try setting up the trap once more. This time, use a straw to trigger it. If the trap lifts off the ground, it means that it's snap is still powerful. Checking up on how your traps are prior to using them will help you catch if there's something that needs to be cleaned or if it needs to be replaced already.
Always Keep It Clean From Rust and Dried Mouse Blood
Blood can spew from dead rodents caught in the trap. It's also possible that peanut butter or hazelnut spread used as mouse trap bait can be left over in that area.
To clean a mouse trap, it's recommended that you use a cotton swab and warm water. People tend to also use cotton balls as part of the mouse trap bait, so make sure that those pieces are gone as well.
Try to be as thorough with cleaning the mouse trap as possible. Mice have excellent senses of smell. If they detect blood on the trap, it will make them avoid it even more. Mice can also urinate on the trap which signals to other mice to avoid the trap altogether.
Additionally, while cleaning or handling a mouse trap that you plan on reusing, use gloves. Kitchen gloves or dishwater gloves -- even putting a plastic bag over your hand as you place the trap can help. This is because as you touch the trap, you unintentionally rub some of your scent on the trap as well. When mice get a whiff of the scent of a predator -- i.e. you -- they’ll avoid the trap even more.
Knowing When to Replace a Mouse Trap
After some use, the mouse trap will begin showing signs of wear; there will be rust, the wooden platform may not be as clean, or the spring may not be as tight as before. In either case, it’s still recommended practice to replace traps at least once every year -- or more if you use it often.
Since mice tend to urinate on the trap itself, it will begin to build up in the wooden platform. It will get harder and harder to wash off, making the trap less and less effective. When you notice that the trap is no longer catching mice, or if the spring mechanism is no longer working as effectively, that's the sign that you should think about replacing your trap.
Additional Simple Non-Spring Mouse Traps to Set Up
Since spring traps can become tedious to maintain, there are different kinds of mouse traps that are simpler and don't have a spring in them. You can use these along with your spring-loaded traps to further deal with your mouse infestation.
Glue Traps
This is one of the types of no-kill traps that people often use. As one of the trap kinds that don’t kill mice, it has led to multiple ethical and moral concerns about the mice. A glue trap won’t kill a mouse immediately nor is it the kind of trap that allows you to relocate the mouse to a different location. A glue trap will keep the mouse on it for as long as they starve or gnaw their limbs off just to get out alive, making it less humane than other traps. Still, this is a springless alternative that's available in the market.
Electronic Traps
This is one of the more modern traps for getting rid of mice. Electric traps tend to be easier to set up because all it takes is a few batteries and switching it on or off.
Electric traps kill mice much faster since it administers a fatal shock when mice trigger it. Since it comes in a box, it can be much easier to dispose of the mouse carcasses without having to touch them with your hands, which is always ideal.
Live-Catch Traps
This is one of the kinds of no-kill traps that you can find in the market. Live-catch traps come in different shapes and sizes but all serve similar purposes: capturing mice to be relocated later. These traps tend to be more humane in the sense that there is no killing involved. When you're relocating the live mice that you've captured, take them as far away as you can. Mice have been known to return back to their nests when they're as far as a quarter of a mile away from them.
Relocating mice is going to depend on your state's laws. In some states, it may actually be illegal to relocate mice. Relocating mice may also have effects on the local wildlife, which aren’t the regular habitat of certain house mice.
When to Contact Professional Pest Control Services
A female mouse can produce about 32 to 56 pups in a year. If you aren't able to contain your pest problem, it may lead to a mice infestation. Aside from having frustrating pests scurry around the house, they also pose another problem if left by themselves. Mice are common carriers of dangerous viruses that could harm adults or be highly dangerous to children.
If the traps simply aren't working, then it may be time to call a professional. Professional pest control services are thorough with their procedures. This is to ensure that there are no mice nests left behind, and to prevent recurrences of rodent infestations. Having professionals take a look at your house will also help you gauge how serious your pest situation is. For professional pest control services, you can look into Positive Pest Management.
Contact Positive Pest Management for Your Pest Control Needs
Positive Pest Management has the highest-quality pest extermination tools, techniques, and methods carried out by our team of experts in New York City.We offer our services to New York City and Nassau County in Long Island , as well as nearby areas.
We understand how big of a hassle it is to have a mice infestation, and we'll take care of it for you to set your mind at ease. We don’t only handle rodents but insect infestations as well. To know more about our services, visit our website or contact us today.
Rodents are a common household pest that often lurk in the shadows in the cracks, crevices, and small crawl spaces inside your home. Unlike termites that can be difficult to detect and control on your own, rodent control at home can be easily done by placing mouse traps. These bait stations or traps are one of the most effective and cheap ways to capture and eliminate them from your property.
So what are the things you need to know about using mouse traps? You have to know first the benefits of using a mouse trap, where to best set up a mouse trap, the best baits to use for trapping mice, what kinds of mouse traps are available, how to properly dispose of mice and clean the trap after. Knowing these things can keep you motivated to set up a sturdy and well-planned mouse trap in your home and even make some necessary tweaks so that you make the most out of your mouse trap.
The mouse trap that features a rectangular flat base, wire fasteners, and a spring-loaded trap was designed and patented by William C. Hooker. This mouse trap design is the classic house trap that many homeowners are likely using for mouse control.
The invention of the mouse trap certainly paved the way for the management and control of multiple mice infestation. Here are some of the things and facts you need to know about using mouse traps:
Benefits of Using Mouse Traps
One important thing to note about rodents is that they multiply and reproduce at a fast rate. If you don’t place traps at home, the rodent population indoors can grow very quickly and you can have an unwanted multiple mice infestation. Here are the several advantages of using mouse traps for rodent control:
Unlike rodenticides, house mouse traps are safe and non-toxic for children and other members of the family since it uses natural food baits.
Depending on the type of mouse trap that you’ll use, the captured rodent will either be killed or unable to escape which can prevent further contamination in the area.
Snap traps are also easier and safer to use in areas where a rodenticide or rat poison cannot be used or placed.
Not only are mouse traps easy to use but they are also simple to maintain so you can monitor rodent activity all year round.
Best Baits to Use for Trapping Mice
Unlike mouse bait stations that use rodent poison or rodenticides, you only need food baits for a mouse trap. Most of these food baits are readily available in your pantry and can be easily restocked so you can regularly put out your live-catch mouse trap. The most common irresistible baits for mice are the following:
Peanut butter - this is one of their favorite foods and it has an attractive scent that mice and rats can smell from a distance
Cheese - make sure to choose the cheese product that has a strong smell so they can walk right into the trap
Chocolate - mice love to nibble on small pieces of chocolate so you can also use them as appropriate baits
Oats, meat/beef jerky, and bread - mice also like to feed on carbohydrate-rich and protein foods so they can be placed in the trap
Nesting material - mice are also attracted to items such as shredded paper, tissues, and cotton balls which they can take to build their nest
What Kinds of Mouse Traps Are Available
Over time, there have been innovations added to the classic spring-loaded bar trap to make them easier-to-use and more effective at killing and trapping mice and other small animals and pests. There are humane traps whose sole purpose is to capture live mice so they can be later released in the backyard. There are also no-touch traps that can usher mice to their slow death once they are captured. Other specific types of traps for capturing mice are the electric trap, snap trap, live trap, lightweight traps, and glue traps or glue boards. Most mouse trap products today can be bought at hardware stores and even grocery stores.
Where to Best Set Up a Mouse Trap
Inspecting your home for areas of high mouse activity is important for setting up spring mouse traps. Like most household pests, mice like to dwell and move around dark places such as behind furniture, appliances, storage cabinets, and the attic. They can also be seen moving and sticking close along wall corners.
For effective control, a mouse trap should be set up at a decent distance from areas where there’s high activity. It’s ideal to place traps at least 2 to 10 feet away from their location since they have a good sense of smell and may avoid them if they instantly notice them.
How to Dispose of Trapped Mice and Clean The Trap
Upon successfully trapping a live mouse or seeing dead mice left at the trap, you also have the responsibility of disposing of them to avoid possibly spreading diseases at home. Here are some tips on how you can safely dispose of the captured mice and clean the trap:
Before coming into contact with the used mouse trap, make sure to wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and a HEPA face mask to protect yourself from other bacteria that may cling to your person
Spray a disinfectant solution to the dead rodent, mouse trap, and the surrounding area where they were captured
Remove the dead mouse and place them in double trash bag before putting in a trash can
If you don’t want to throw away the mouse trap, you can clean it by properly rinsing and washing the trap with water and soap. Use a sponge to scrub the device and remove any mouse residue and fluids to avoid direct contamination
What to Look Out for to Know if You Have a Mouse Infestation
Although mice and rats are small creatures, they can still deal a great amount of damage to your objects and property. The most common house mouse (Mus musculus) is very troublesome and they can contaminate the surfaces they walk and live on with their feces, urine, and mouse droppings. Mice infestation can also compromise your family’s health and safety, or even cause illnesses such as food poisoning, asthma attacks, and leptospirosis.
Here are the things that may be attracting mice into your home and their common signs of infestations:
Mice can enter homes through small holes, gaps, and vents that are accessible from the outside.
Similar to any other household pest, rodents primarily enter homes in search of food and shelter. They may also be found infesting areas with unwanted and unorganized clutter such as storage spaces.
Mouse droppings and nests in hidden or sheltered areas are a common tell-tale sign of rodent infestation
Fresh gnawing on furniture or plastic materials or actual mouse sightings in open spaces are also indicative of rodent activity
Pets pawing or scratching at walls and cabinets can also indicate that there are mice hiding inside
House Mouse Control and Prevention Tips
Enlisting a professional pest control team can help in eliminating rodents and ensuring that your home is mouse-free. But before calling for their assistance, here are some precautionary tips that can help control mouse activity at home:
Regularly clean your home and avoid having indoor and outdoor clutters so that these rodents will not have any hiding or living spaces
Keep surfaces dry and eliminate water and food sources to prevent mouse contamination
Mouse-proof your home by sealing cracks, spaces, pipes, and holes where they can easily enter
Store all food supply in tightly-sealed containers and glass jars to avoid attracting mice
Be proactive in pest control and rodent inspection to solve and prevent an existing mice problem from getting worse
Trust The Rodent Control Experts at Positive Pest Management
While it’s easy to set up rodent traps at home, nothing can bring you better peace of mind than having pest control experts take care of your rodent problem. At Positive Pest Management, we perform safe and effective rodent control and elimination to ensure the safety of your family at home or your business.
We are proud providers of quality pest control services such as pest inspection, extermination, and prevention measures to keep unwanted pests from infesting your space. Call us today to know more about our rodent control services and get a free estimate for your property.
It’s easy to confuse a field mouse for a house mouse, especially when you don’t know their differences. However, learning about the differences between the two rodents can help you come up with better solutions to eliminate them during an infestation.
So what are the differences between a field mouse and a house mouse? The two rodents differ in the following:
Physical characteristics
Behavior
Life cycle
Damage caused
Droppings and urine
Identifying Field Mice Vs. House Mice
A field mouse isn’t a specific species, and the name can refer to different types of mice. When talking about field mice in the United States, it’s usually referring to deer mice. While it’s easy to confuse a house mouse from a field mouse or deer mouse, here are some significant differences between the two that can help you identify the kind of rodent you’re dealing with:
1. Physical Characteristics
Body: A house mouse’s body measures around 2.5 to 3.2 inches long. On the other hand, an adult field mouse is slightly bigger than the house mouse with its body measuring around 3 to 4 inches.
Tail: One of the most apparent differences between the two rodents is that house mice have hair on their tails, while field mice or deer mice have shorter tails that don’t have hair.
Fur: House mice have light brown or gray coats that are usually a single color, while deer mice have a darker fur (usually brown or gray) on top of their bodies with white or lighter underbellies.
2. Behavior
Eating Habits: House mice are opportunistic eaters which means they eat almost any kind of food that they can find. On the other hand, field mice tend to gather food and then store it in tree trunks or bird nests.
Nesting Habits: House mice create their nests in fields and beneath shrubs when they’re outdoors, and in undisturbed places like attics and garages when they’re indoors. Field mice or deer mice tend to build their nests in hollow trees or underground when the temperature falls during the winter season.
Movement: A house mouse usually explores new territory because they are curious creatures, while a field mouse or a deer mouse is a less social creature that creates nests that are out of your way.
Habitat: House mice are more likely to live in urban areas, while field mice are usually found in open fields, forests, and farms.
3. Life Cycle
A field mouse’s average lifespan is around one and a half years, while the house mouse lives around 2 years. However, both rodents live longer in areas that provide them with better resources so it’s why mice that are kept as pets live longer. A female mouse can have 5 to 10 litters per year, with around 6-8 babies per litter.
4. Damage Caused
When they infest your home, both rodents can bring serious damage and carry a variety of illnesses that can be health hazards for you and other humans. Field mice or deer mice are known to carry hantavirus, which is a respiratory disease that can be fatal. A person can get hantavirus when they inhale the virus from infected mouse urine or droppings.
On the other hand, house mice can bring in diseases like Lymphocytic choriomeningitis and leptospirosis. Both mice can also bring in other pests like fleas and ticks into your home. These parasites can also carry other illnesses like Lyme disease, which can cause other problems.
5. Droppings and Urine
The last factor that can help you determine whether you’re dealing with a house mouse or a field mouse is to look at the droppings and urine they leave behind. Field mice or deer mice usually have droppings with pointed ends, while house mice droppings typically resemble a grain of rice. A house mouse also tends to have urine that has a strong, ammonia-like odor.
Field Mice Vs. House Mice: Summarized
Characteristic
Field Mice
House Mice
Body
Around 3 to 4 inches long
Around 2.5 to 3.2 inches long
Tail
Short tails without hair
Long tails with hair
Fur
Have lighter coats on their underbellies that are usually light brown or gray
Coats are one color, brown or gray
Eating Habits
Tend to gather food and store it in their nests
Opportunistic eaters and eat almost any kind of food
Nesting Habits
Build their nests in hollow trees or underground during the winter
Create their nests in fields and beneath shrubs or in undisturbed places
Movement
Less social creatures
Explore new territory
Habitat
Usually found in open fields, forests, and farms
More likely to live in urban areas
Life Cycle
Lifespan is around 1½ years
Lifespan is around 2 years
Damage Caused
A known carrier of the hantavirus
Can carry diseases like Lymphocytic choriomeningitis and leptospirosis
Droppings and Urine
Droppings have pointed ends
Droppings typically resemble a grain of rice and urine has a strong, ammonia-like odor
Pest Control at Positive Pest Management
Whether you’re dealing with a field mice or a house mice infestation, the best solution to eliminate rodents in your property is to call for professional services. Positive Pest Management serves both residential and commercial properties in All of NYC and Lower Westchester County.
We have experts who are highly trained in eliminating different kinds of pests, and we’re eager to help you with your exterminating needs. Our team also creates better solutions because of our proactive communication with our clients. To know more about Positive Pest Management and the services that we offer, you may give us a call today.
Aside from damage to property and health problems, one problem homeowners commonly face during a rodent infestation is the smell of dead mice. The foul odor from the decomposing body reeks throughout the entire home, causing several problems and nuisances for those who experience them.
So how do you get rid of a dead mouse’s smell? Here are some methods you can try out effectively get rid of the foul odor:
Dispose of dead mice properly
Use proper cleaning methods and tools
Air out your home
Call for professional services
How to Get Rid of Dead Mouse Smell
A dead mouse smell is a difficult situation to deal with because it can’t be simply solved using traditional cleaning methods. There are several steps you have to take before you can effectively remove the bad odor. Some tips on eliminating a dead animal’s smell are the following:
1. Dispose of Dead Mice Properly
When you find a dead mouse in your property, it’s important to dispose of the dead carcass immediately and properly. Disposing dead mice properly helps eliminate the smell coming from their dead body and helps prevent other problems as well. The following steps ensure that you have properly disposed of the dead rodents:
Wear gloves and protective gear like masks and goggles to prevent cross-contamination and catching diseases.
Spray the dead animal and the infested area with a disinfectant or a bleach and water solution.
Place the dead rodent inside a plastic bag.
If there are any rodent droppings or nesting sites, you may place these items inside the bag as well.
Seal the plastic bag properly. Don’t push out any extra air inside the bag since viruses can stir up in the air and cause health problems.
Place the sealed bag inside another plastic bag and also seal the second bag properly.
Throw away the plastic bag with the dead body in a trash can. You may also segregate it from other non-biodegradable or recyclable items.
Wash gloved hands with soap and water then dispose of the used gloves properly.
Wash your hands with soap and water again and spray disinfectant on your hands.
2. Use Proper Cleaning Methods and Tools
After disposing of the dead rodent’s body, you want to clean up and deodorize any contaminated areas of the house. Here are some products or items you can use to deodorize and sanitize the infested area:
Vinegar: To use vinegar as a deodorizer, fill up several cups with vinegar and place them around the home. This absorbs the dead animal’s foul odor and makes the area smell better. Take note that this might leave a vinegar scent around your home, but the scent is usually tolerable and can be eliminated in a few days by airing out your home.
Baking Soda: Baking soda is another kitchen ingredient that’s great for deodorizing the dead rodent’s smell. Create this deodorizer by mixing baking soda inside a spray bottle and regularly spray the area.
Bleach: You can also use a bleach solution to deodorize the foul odor from the animal’s decomposing animal. To make this bleach solution, mix 1 part bleach with 10 parts water and let the solution sit in the contaminated area for 10-15 minutes before wiping it down.
Charcoal: Place some charcoal briquettes around the house to eliminate the foul odor. It’s better to choose natural briquettes that have no additives instead. There are also charcoal deodorizer bags you can purchase to filter the dead animal’s scent from the air.
Commercial Disinfectant: Choose a commercial disinfectant that’s recommended for the area you’re cleaning. For example, if you’re cleaning hardwood floors, then choose a product that’s recommended for cleaning hardwood floors. Before using any product, carefully read the instruction label to prevent any unwanted problems or accidents.
3. Air Out Your Home
Before and after cleaning your property from a dead rat or mouse smell, it’s important to air out your home to let the air ventilate. Open doors and windows to allow fresh air to come inside the house and prevent any air pollutants from harming humans and pets.
To make airing out your home easier and more effective in eliminating the foul odor, you may place an electric fan near the open doors and windows to blow the air out. Place another fan in the other end of the room to help circulate the air going inside the room. You may also install an air-ventilation system to better circulate air and eliminate the foul odor.
4. Call for Professional Services
Calling for professional services is a great way to eliminate any remaining dead mouse or rat smells. You can call for professional cleaning services once you’re sure that there are no remaining rats inside the property. They thoroughly clean the house, going through all areas including crevices and crawl spaces. You can also call for professional rodent control since they are able to eliminate the rodents in hard to reach locations like inside the walls. They also help clean up any rodent droppings and urine the pests leave behind.
How to Identify the Dead Mouse Smell
When a mouse or rat dies in enclosed locations like inside the walls or attics, it’s difficult to determine where the foul odor is coming from. The reason why a decomposing body emits a pungent smell is because when it dies, it creates a “mixture” of toxic gases. Toxic gases like sulfur dioxide, methane, and ammonia create the scent while the body decomposes.
Rodent Control at Positive Pest Management
One of the best and most effective methods to eliminate the smell of dead mice is to call for rodent control services. Positive Pest Management guarantees to eliminate rodents and help clean up the mess they leave behind. We serve the New York City area and Nassau County Long Island.
Our team is more than eager to answer any questions or inquiries to help serve you better. We promise to provide the best service possible to eliminate the problem quickly and effectively. You may give us a call today to know how we can help you.
Every year during winter, around 21 million American households report rodent infestations. These rodents are difficult to exterminate without the help of pest management professionals, which is why it’s better to stop them from entering the house in the first place.
So how do mice get inside the house? These pesky rodents utilize any opening they find to get into different buildings. Some of their common entry points are through open garage doors, window and wall cracks, chimneys, sewer lines, crawl spaces and basements, vents and air ducts, gutters, foundation cracks, and holiday decorations.
9 Common Ways Mice Enter the House
Mice enter homes in search of shelter, food, and water. Although they’re small in size, these rodents are a huge headache for many homeowners. Mice steal food from the kitchen, damage the house’s structure, and contaminate anything they touch. One of the best ways to stop a mice infestation from occurring in the first place is to prevent mice from entering the house.
Mice don’t get inside homes by knocking on the front door. These pests utilize every vulnerable opening in the house to enter. While there are natural ways to keep them out of the house, such as adopting pets who are good at hunting mice, sealing the rodents’ possible entry points are still the better solution.
Keep an eye out for these nine areas that are common entry points for mice:
1. Open Garage Doors
Mice are attracted to garages because of the shelter, warmth, food, and clutter. Most homeowners store their bird seed and pet food in garages, which makes the place all the more attractive for mice. Garages are also a goldmine for mice who are looking for nesting materials, such as cardboard, cotton, leaves, and other material.
They’re usually the first place that mice visit before entering the house and building a nest there. If the garage is left unchecked for months, the infestation becomes a more serious matter that only a pest management professional can handle.
Always remember to close the garage door when it’s not used. Here are four other fixes to ensure that the garage is secure from mice entry:
Install rubber sweeps or weather stripping on the garage door.
Fix or replace the garage door threshold.
Repair the damages on the garage door.
Seal any access holes for air vents, plumbing pipes, and air conditioner hose connections.
2. Wall and Window Cracks
Mice are small enough to squeeze through gaps and holes that are just the size of a dime. They take advantage of any cracks on the wall or near windows. Old buildings are especially vulnerable to mice entry because more wall cracks develop due to aging.
Windows frames exist to seal the space between walls and glasses, but they’re imperfectly installed most of the time. They leave small gaps in the corners that mice use to enter the house. Typical home sealants may not be enough to keep rodents out because their strong teeth easily chew through different materials.
Steel wool is an effective home remedy to prevent mice and other rodents from getting through wall and window cracks. The hole is typically plugged with steel wool and sealed with caulk. Even with their strong teeth and jaw, rodents find it difficult to chew through steel wool.
3. Chimneys
Many birds and animals get inside the chimney for different reasons. Some of them might be trapped, but others are there because chimneys are a good nesting place or entry point. Watch out for occasional scratching and squeaking noises, as well as other signs of rodent activity on the chimney.
To prevent mice from entering the house through the chimney, here are a few precautions to follow:
Clean the chimney regularly.
Keep the damper closed.
Install a mesh-covered chimney cap.
Seal all cracks and crevices on the chimney pipes and soffit vents.
4. Sewer Lines
Rodents like rats and mice love the sewer. The place provides the best conditions for these filthy rodents to thrive. It’s where washed down food from the sink and flushed excrements with half-digested nutrients from the toilets are found.
As scary and gross as it sounds, mice can learn to enter the house through the toilet and sewer lines. They’re excellent swimmers and climbers that easily fit through tight spaces. Here are some tips to keep these rodents out of the house:
Always close the toilet lid.
Cover the drains with tight-fitting screens grates or screens.
Replace leaky pipes and repair all sewer lines.
5. Crawl Spaces and Basements
Crawl spaces are structures similar to basements that allow outside air to circulate under the house. They can be around a few feet high or as big as a basement. They’re also a handy place to install HVAC units and pipes. But with the convenience that crawl spaces bring is the huge chance of mice infestations occurring in the house.
Rodents like mice find that crawl spaces are ideal places to live in – it’s a dark place where they stay hidden, but it’s also near holes they use to get in and out of the house. Mice in crawl spaces also attack the house’s water barrier, which leads to the formation of mold and fungi in the area. Mice-proof the house’s crawl spaces with these steps:
Avoid leaving food that mice might eat in the crawl space.
Install a light in the crawl space.
Keep the crawl space dry.
Seal any gaps or holes in the crawl space.
6. Vents and Air Ducts
Air ducts and vents are common pathways for mice. These rodents travel through the air ducts and vents because they want to hide from humans. These are also excellent places for mice to build a nest in.
The biggest problem with mice staying in vents and air ducts is that they cause structural hazards. These rodents chew through everything to collect nesting materials or trim their continuously growing teeth. Protect the house’s vents and air ducts with these tips:
Get the ducts professionally sealed.
Install vent and flue covers.
Repair damages that were previously caused by other rodents.
7. Gutters
Mice have paws that grasp almost any kind of surface. This allows them to climb the gutters and other roof openings to get inside the house. Gutters are also a great place for mice to gather twigs, leaves, and other nesting materials. However, removing the gutters and downspouts in a home isn’t a viable option because they’re a place for excess rainwater and melted snow.
The best way to ensure that mice won’t climb the gutter in the house is to keep it well-maintained. Several companies offer gutter cleaning and repair services if you’re too busy to do it. Gutter spikes and gutter guards are effective in preventing mice from climbing and staying in the gutter without interrupting the water flow.
8. Foundation Cracks
In addition to being excellent climbers and swimmers, mice are also great at burrowing. These rodents dig under manmade structures to build nests or hide from humans and other predators. Since they burrow the ground near the house, it’s highly likely that these rodents eventually find their way inside the house once they spot a crack in the foundation.
These rodents also cause the foundation to weaken directly and indirectly. Their constant burrowing habit negatively affects the concrete’s stability. Some of them also chew through the construction material.
To keep these pesky rodents out of the house, make sure to frequently check the yard for signs of burrowing. It’s also crucial to repair any cracks in the house’s foundation before they become bigger; remember that mice only need a hole in the size of a dime to invade a house.
9. Along with Holiday Decorations
When the holidays roll around, many people design their houses to look festive. It’s time to open cabinets and boxes upon boxes of holiday decorations from the unused shed in the yard. But this time is also the perfect opportunity for mice to move from the shed into the house.
Holiday decorations stay unused in cabinets and storage rooms for months, which is why mice tend to burrow in them. Before moving these boxes of decors into the house, carefully inspect them first for signs of mice nest or activity.
How Do Mice Entry Points Look Like?
In the cartoons, mouse holes are nicely cut semi-circle entrances along the baseboards of the walls. But in reality, mouse holes aren’t easy to find because they might look like any of the following:
Damage wall section
Gap between building materials
Space between mortar
Crack in the foundation
Mice easily squeeze through the smallest crawl spaces and holes as small as a dime. And even if you managed to find these holes, they don’t automatically lead to mice nests. They only serve as a door or a pathway for the pesky rodents to get in and out of the house.
Blocking mice entry points is a good preventative measure to keep the rodents out of the house. But if they already managed to get inside, it’s better to eliminate them completely first before sealing all possible entrances around the house.
Rodent control devices like traps and bait stations are effective for catching mice. Make sure to plug the holes with caulk and steel wool so that the rodents will have a hard time chewing through the material and returning to the house.
Keep Your Home Rodent-Free with Positive Pest Management
Finding the mice entry points around the house is only the first step in keeping it rodent-free. If you suspect a mice infestation at home, call Positive Pest Management to eliminate the filthy rodents quickly and effectively.
Here at Positive Pest Management, our professional staff is experienced in handling any rodent extermination situation. We utilize IPM-based practices to ensure that the family and the environment is safe as we get rid of rodents on the property.
When rodents like mice enter the house, many homeowners depend on the ever-reliable mousetraps to get rid of them. But sometimes, people might find that their trap takes too long to catch mice. In most cases, it’s because they’re using the wrong kind of bait on the trap.
So what kind of bait effectively lures mice out of hiding? Peanut butter is the most effective bait because the strong nutty smell is enough to attract rodents. Other baits like chocolate, seeds and nuts, marshmallows and gumdrops, deli meat, pet food, fruit jam, and soft cheese are also effective in luring mice out.
What Kind of Bait Do Mice Like?
Mice are filthy creatures that cause structural damages to the homes they invade. They are also known carriers of different diseases, such as the plague, leptospirosis, hantavirus, and more. Because of these reasons, mice should be eliminated from a home using the safest methods.
In 2019, there were a total of 8,734 cases of rodenticide poisonings in the country. Because of this high figure, it’s understandable that many homeowners are inclined to utilize other poison-free methods like mousetraps to get rid of mice.
Whether it’s a snap trap or a live trap, baits play an important role in attracting and trapping mice on a property. Here are three main types of baits to use at home:
Food Baits – When using food bait to lure mice out of hiding, it’s better to choose sweet or fatty food. Sticky food like spreads and jam also work better than solids because the mouse is more likely to trigger the trap while attempting to remove it.
Nesting Materials – Yarn and cotton are also used to attract and trap mice. If the rodents are still building their nest inside the house, they’ll gather any nesting material they get their hands on.
Specialty Baits – If the usual food bait and nesting materials aren’t enough to attract mice, specialty baits might do the trick. These commercially available baits are specially formulated to lure mice out.
Peanut Butter vs. Cheese: Which Food Bait Attracts Mice Better?
Almost all cartoons and television shows portray mice as cheese-loving creatures. But in real life, cheese doesn’t do much when it comes to attracting mice out of hiding. Although they’re opportunistic feeders, cheese is far down the list of rodents’ preferred food.
On the other hand, peanut butter makes for an excellent bait. Its nutty taste is something that mice love. The strong smell is also attractive for mice. The little rodents are guaranteed to have a hard time trying to eat the peanut butter without getting caught in the trap.
8 Effective Baits to Use in a Mouse Trap
There’s no need to spend more on specialty mouse baits just to catch mice. Just pick out any of these food baits in your kitchen to save more money:
1. Peanut Butter
Mice love eating seeds and nuts, which makes the flavor of peanut butter attractive for them. It also has high calorie and fat content that the mice need when living inside houses. Hazelnut spreads are also a good food bait if there’s no peanut butter at home.
When using peanut butter as food bait, avoid spreading too much peanut butter on the trap. Just put about a pea-sized amount of the peanut butter on the trap to attract mice.
2. Chocolate
Chocolate is another high-calorie food that mice love. It also has a strong smell that attracts mice out of hiding. Since there are different varieties of chocolate, it’s important to find out which one works best when luring mice out of hiding. Most homeowners find that milk chocolate and regular chocolate do well in baiting mice.
3. Seeds and Nuts
Mice love eating seeds and nuts. These rodents wouldn’t pass up the chance to eat them if there are seeds and nuts in the house. When using seeds and nuts to attract mice, go for bird seeds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds.
4. Marshmallows and Gumdrops
Marshmallows and gumdrops are cheap options used as mouse baits. They work well in luring mice out because of their high sugar content. Just put a piece or two on the mousetrap and let it do its trick.
5. Deli Meat
Mice are willing to risk their lives for a few slices of deli meat like bacon and sausages. It doesn’t matter if they’re raw or cooked – the rodents take any deli meat that’s open for the taking. Some homeowners even use the cooked bacon’s grease because its strong smell lures mice out.
However, the main problem with using deli meat is that they spoil easily at room temperature. When using this kind of bait, make sure to check and replace it regularly.
6. Pet Food
Cats are useful in keeping mice at bay because they are the natural predator of mice. Their strong senses allow them to detect mice presence around the house. However, the pet food left in their feeding station attracts mice.
These opportunistic feeders like eating leftovers of pet food because it’s rich in nutrients that rodents need to survive inside the house. Although they prefer wet food, these rodents also eat dry pet food that’s scattered around the house.
If the cat in the house likes to leave out food after they eat, make sure to clean up after them. Other homeowners utilize this chance to catch mice. Instead of cleaning the leftover food, they place traps near the cat feeder instead.
7. Fruit Jam
Fruit jam is also effective in attracting mice for the same reasons as peanut butter and hazelnut spread – they’re sweet and sticky. Just make sure to only put the right amount of jam on the trap’s far end so that the mouse is forced to set off the device.
The downside in utilizing fruit jams as mousetrap bait is that it also attracts other pests like cockroaches and ants. Check the mousetrap frequently to make sure that the bait hasn’t been consumed by other pests.
8. Soft Cheese
Most kinds of cheese aren’t as effective in attracting mice as peanut butter is. But if you still want to use cheese as bait, it’s better to use soft cheese instead of cheddar blocks. Camembert, brie, and blue cheese have strong smells that effectively attract mice out of hiding.
What to Do When the Bait Isn’t Working
There are situations when the mousetrap isn’t catching mice as you’d expect it to. There are several reasons why this happens, but here are a few tips to ensure that the traps work better next time:
Use a Different Bait – Mouse traps are only as good as the bait used. If the device hasn’t caught a single mouse for days, it’s time to replace the bait with a new one. Peanut butter and chocolate work best in luring them out, but nesting materials are also effective during the infestation’s early stages.
Put Less Bait and More Traps – If there’s too much bait on the trap, the rodent might take some of it without triggering the device. A pea-sized amount is enough to attract mice and let them set off the trap. It also helps to put more traps in strategic areas to ensure that more mice are caught.
Switch to a Different Trap – Mice are intelligent animals. Some of them might recognize what a trap looks like and try their best to remove the bait without triggering it. If the snap trap has been used for weeks but hasn’t caught a single mouse yet, try switching to a live trap instead.
Use Traps with Sensitive Sensors – Mice are small and lightweight creatures. Their weight might not be enough to set off snap traps, which is why it’s better to try out other kinds of traps. Electric mouse traps are great for catching smaller and lighter mice because they have more sensitive sensors.
Place the Trap in Strategic Places – Many homeowners make the mistake of setting up mouse traps in the wrong room. Before deciding where to place traps, inspect different areas in the home to find signs of mice activity. Place a few traps in these areas to catch more mice. Other places like the back of cabinets, underneath stoves, and along walls are also good areas to put a mousetrap in.
Rodent Problems at Home? Let Positive Pest Management Help
Mousetraps are only effective when the mice population in the house is still manageable. But for more severe infestations, it’s better to call pest management professionals like Positive Pest Management. Our IPM-based services are guaranteed to get rid of mice in the property and keep them out for a long time.
Here at Positive Pest Management, we believe that our services must always exceed customer expectations. Our highly trained staff are experienced in handling all kinds of rodent exclusion situations. We also use the latest rodent control tools and techniques that are safe for the environment. For high quality and guaranteed extermination work for your NYC property, call Positive Pest Management at (800) 294 – 3130.
Rodents are a large family of diverse animals with different characteristics. Two of the most common species of rodents are mice and squirrels. They climb nearby trees, gutter, and utility lines to get inside the house and build a nest in the attic. But to eliminate them completely, it’s crucial to identify first what pest resides in the attic.
So how can you tell mice and squirrels apart in the attic? The best way would be if they’re seen since mice and squirrels have entirely different appearances. However, the kind of noises, type of entry hole, size of droppings, and track marks are also enough to accurately identify them.
How to Tell if it’s a Mouse or Squirrel in the Attic
About 29% of American homes have already had a rodent problem in their household at least once. While the majority of these infestations are due to mice and rats gaining access to the house, squirrels also become a nuisance when they decide to nest in the attic.
Mice and squirrels invade homes for the same reasons – food and warmth. Mice can die from hypothermia if they’re exposed to cold temperatures. Although squirrels are more tolerant of cold, they still need access to warm shelter and high-calorie food to survive through the winter.
If you suspect a rodent infestation in the attic, here are some of the ways to identify if they’re mice or squirrels:
Appearance
Mus musculus (or house mouse) are small rodents that commonly infest residential buildings. They have gray fur with cream-colored bellies. They have a rounded-shape body with four legs. They also have pointed muzzles and large ears. Their bodies grow up to 2.5” to 3.75” long with tails that measure around 2.74” to 4”.
On the other hand, squirrels have slender bodies and bushy tails. They are larger than mice but smaller than raccoons. They have four paws, but their hind legs are longer than the front limbs. Their fur color varies between species, but the most common ones are white, gray, brown, and red. Squirrels also have large eyes and small ears.
Noises
Mice communicate through ultrasonic sounds that aren’t heard by humans without using special devices. But sometimes, they also make noises that are audible to people, such as high-pitched squeaks. There’s also a chance you’ll hear them scurrying inside the walls or in the false ceilings.
Squirrels produce much louder sounds than mice. They also communicate with other squirrels through a sound range that’s audible to humans. These rodents produce chattering and chirping sounds when communicating. When they’re moving around, squirrels are heard chewing, scratching, and rubbing through pipes and wood beams.
Aside from the kind of noise in the attic, the time of the day you hear them is also a good indicator of what pest is inside. Mice are nocturnal animals so if there are squeaking and chewing noises at night, you might be dealing with these rodents. But if there are scurrying noises in broad daylight, then there’s a good chance that the rodents in the attic are squirrels.
Entry Hole
Mice only need small holes in the size of the quarter to gain access to the house. If they reach the attic, there’s a good chance that they climbed through nearby trees or the gutter. The holes they pass through are also likely to be greasy from all the dirt from their fur.
Squirrels require bigger holes to get inside the attic. If there’s not a gap big enough for them, they chew through the materials. Holes made by squirrels are around 2 inches in diameter with chew marks. Like raccoons, squirrels might also make use of the open doors they spot to gain access to the house.
Droppings
Mice leave droppings anywhere they go. They’re oblong-shaped pellets that are about a quarter-inch long. Each mouse produces around 50 to 75 pellets per day. Droppings are also a great indicator of the nest’s location – the more the droppings there are and the fresher it is, the nearer you are to the nest.
Squirrels' droppings are similar to how large rat droppings look. They’re barrel-shaped pellets that are smooth and dark brown. The droppings measure around 3/8” with a diameter of 8mm. Aside from the possible health hazards that squirrel droppings bring, their feces also attract flies and smaller insects if left uncleaned.
Tracks
Mice tracks are quite hard to identify if you only look at their paws. It’s easier to look for greasy tracks at the lower part of the walls or in other areas where mice might pass through. There’s also a chance that there are mice droppings in the place where there are greasy tracks.
If there are muddy tracks in the attic, check for the size of the paws to confirm if it belongs to squirrels. These rodents have five toes on all the paws, but their front paws are smaller than the hind paws. The front paws are around half-inch by half-inch, while hind paws are a bit longer at one inch with a width of half-inch. Squirrels are also considered “bounders” so there might be a foot or two between each set of paw prints.
The Dangers of Mice and Squirrels in the Attic
Although they’re small in size, mice and squirrels are destructive creatures that are capable of spreading severe diseases and causing serious structural hazards. Here are some of the damages they bring to a home:
Structural Damages
Both mice and squirrels have strong teeth that chew through everything. They ruin the insulation in the attic and the water pipes they pass by. They also chew on electrical wiring, which results in broken appliances and possible fire hazards. Although these materials aren’t edible for the rodents, they still chew on them to keep their teeth trimmed.
Diseases
Rodents like mice and squirrels are carriers of diseases. They transmit viruses, bacteria, pathogens, and other ectoparasites to pets and humans in different ways. Their urine, saliva, and droppings might contaminate the food and water. These rodents might also fight back when cornered; their bites and scratches are also another way to spread diseases.
Carried by Mice
Hantavirus – The most common way of hantavirus transmission to humans is when the rodent droppings, urine, or saliva are stirred up and become airborne. People may inhale the contaminated air, which is why it’s important to wear full protective gear when disinfecting rodent nests.
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis – This viral disease is transmitted to humans when they come in contact with the urine, saliva, or droppings of an infected mouse. It’s also transmitted through mouse bites. This disease occurs in two phases: patients experience flu-like symptoms in the first phase, but it might progress to a neurologic disease in the second phase.
Plague – The plague was responsible for the death of millions of people around the world during the Middle Ages. Humans might contract the plague if they’re bitten or when they handle an infected rodent.
Carried by Squirrels
Tularemia – This bacterial disease attacks the skin, eyes, lungs, and lymph nodes of the host. Tularemia is highly infectious and fatal, but it can be cured by antibiotics after an early diagnosis. There are different kinds of tularemia depending on where and how the bacteria entered the body.
Typhus – This is another kind of bacterial disease that’s transmitted when the infected ectoparasites from a rodent bite a human. Some of the symptoms of typhus include rashes, muscle aches, headache, fever, and chills. They’re also cured by antibiotics, but early diagnosis is needed.
Rabies – Although it’s a rare occurrence, some squirrels may be rabid. If the squirrel is infected with rabies, it displays out of character behaviors like unprovoked aggression, falling over, walking in circles, lethargy, and paralysis.
How to Get Rid of Pests in the Attic
Once the rodent is identified in the attic, there are different ways to eliminate them before they start causing more trouble. Here are a few steps to keep the rodents out of the house before calling pest management professionals:
Seal All Possible Entry Points – Rodents won’t have a chance to build a nest inside the house if they can’t get inside in the first place. Inspect the house carefully to check for gaps and holes that the rodent might access. Seal all these entry points with steel wool, caulk, and screens.
Use the Appropriate Trap – Because of their difference in size, usual mousetraps might not work for squirrels. Aside from considering their size, the type of trap to use is also important. Snap traps, live traps, electronic traps, and bait stations have their own advantages and limitations, so make sure to pick one that’s fit for your needs.
Trim Overgrown Plants and Trees Near the Roof – Both mice and squirrels are excellent climbers. Having overgrown trees that are connected to the roof serve as easy access for these rodents to get inside and build a nest in the attic.
Protect Your Home with Rodent Control Services by Positive Pest Management
Here at Positive Pest Management, we guarantee high-quality extermination work that completely eliminates rodents. Our exclusion work includes placing different preventative measures in the house to keep the rodents from returning.
Trust us to provide safe and effective pest management services in residential and commercial buildings around New York City. Feel free to contact us at 1-800-294-3130 whenever the need arises.
Rats create nests in places that provide them with sufficient shelter and food, which is why it’s common to find these pests in residential properties. They burrow the ground under man-made structures because it’s a great hiding spot. However, this rodent habit damages the concrete and weakens the building’s foundation.
So what is the best way to eliminate the rats burrowing under the driveway? Once the presence of rats under the driveway has been confirmed, homeowners should keep the area clean, eliminate food sources, close any existing holes, and contact a professional exterminator.
How to Eliminate the Rats Burrowing Under the Garage
Among the 21 million American homes that report rodent infestations every year, around 24% of those occur in the attic and garage. These pesky rodents are excellent diggers that build extensive burrow systems and pathways to cater to their different needs, such as shelter and food storage.
When rats dig underground, most of their underground tunnels extend under concrete or man-made structures. Without solid earth under the concrete, the slab loses its support and develops cracks. This is a common occurrence under driveways and garages, which is why burrowing must be eliminated before they cause serious structural damage.
Here are some of the most effective ways to get rid of the rats digging under the driveway:
1. Check for Signs of Burrowing Rats
Rats leave droppings wherever they go. These filthy rodents also leave footprints and gnaw marks on different materials like wood and plastic. They also leave rub marks on several places, but these grease tracks are more noticeable on the lower parts of the walls near their burrowing holes.
What do Rat Burrows Look Like?
Most rat burrows are found under bushes and other dense vegetation. Each burrow has a main entrance that measures around 2-4 inches in diameter. The entire burrow spans around 18 inches deep and 3 feet long. These pests also create deeper burrows when they are near a concrete slab or under the house’s foundation.
As you explore the rat burrows further, soft debris like insulation, cloth, grass, and leaves are scattered in some areas. These parts of the rat burrow serve as the nesting area for the rodents. Living areas and food storage may be different parts of the same burrow.
In addition to the main entrance, rats also create one or two exit holes. This allows them to escape from predators quickly. Exit holes are more difficult to find than the burrow’s main entrance. They are typically filled with dirt or disguised as another object.
2. Keep the Area Clean
There are three important reasons to keep the driveway clean: it takes away important resources for the rodents, it lowers the family’s risk of acquiring rodent-transmitted diseases, and it disrupts their communication.
These smart creatures utilize their droppings and urine to send important messages to their kin. Make sure to sweep the droppings and clean the track marks against the walls. Mix one part bleach and ten parts water to create a cheap yet effective disinfectant.
3. Get Rid of Clutter
Even if they can’t find food under several piles of paper and other inedible materials, rats still find different types of clutter useful. Clutter provides them a hiding place, as well as materials to make a cozy nest underground.
Eliminate the clutter stuck in the garage by recycling newspapers, bottles, paper bags, and cardboard. If these materials are beyond recycling, make sure to segregate them first before leaving them in the nearest dumpster.
4. Trim Bushes and Shrubs
Most rat burrows are hidden under bushes, shrubs, and other dense vegetation. Prevent these rodents from digging in the yard or near the driveway by trimming the plants regularly. Ensure that no ivy, brush, or shrub grows too close to walls. It’s also crucial to keep the garden free of trash and weed.
5. Eliminate Food Sources
Rats eat anything they get their grubby hands on, including pet droppings, meat scraps, small insects, nuts, bird seeds, pet food, and more. They won’t hesitate to invade the nearest garbage can in search of food, which is why it’s essential to keep the garbage bags sealed tightly. Using garbage cans made of metal or thick plastic prevent rats from feasting on the trash.
6. Close Burrows
Once the burrow has been located, it’s time to fill it with dirt and seal it with steel wool or mesh wire. When closing the burrows, make sure that there are no rats in the nest. These pests might create more burrows as they attempt to escape. They might also die of suffocation inside which causes several problems including foul odor and numerous health risks.
If there are small cracks in the driveway caused by the rats, seal the hole using metal filler and cement. However, it’s better to call a concrete raising company for their mudjacking services. They do a better resealing or leveling job for severe concrete damage caused by burrowing rats.
7. Contact a Professional Exterminator
Eliminating rodents for good is a complicated job that requires the right tools, skills, and knowledge. It’s better to hire a professional exterminator who’s equipped to get rid of burrowing rats in the driveways. Aside from the rat removal process, exterminators also perform preventive measures to keep the burrowing rats from returning.
Damages Caused by Burrowing Rats
Burrowing rats are destructive creatures that create tunnels and nests underground. They are excellent diggers that prefer burrowing near man-made structures. However, this habit results in several different property damages, such as:
1. Damaged Concrete
Concrete is typically utilized as the foundation of many buildings and properties, but this material is also vulnerable to rodent consumption. Rats have constantly growing teeth that are trimmed by chewing on hard materials, such as wood, plastic, and concrete. Deteriorating concrete may serve as food for hungry burrowing rodents during desperate times.
2. Weaker House Foundation
Burrowing rats dig anywhere whenever they avoid predators or search for a new home. Since they prefer staying close to man-made structures, these rodents dig under driveway concrete and form voids there. This action threatens the concrete slab’s integrity and weakens the house’s overall foundation.
Voids created by burrowing rats are difficult to detect in their early stages, but cracks and gaps on the concrete are noticeable for serious cases. You need to contact a rodent exterminator to eliminate the burrowing rats and a concrete raising company for their mudjacking services.
Prevent Rat-Caused Structural Damages with Positive Pest Management
Positive Pest Management helps clients from different areas around New York City get rid of the burrowing rats under their driveways. Our 15 years of experience in the industry allows us to come up with the best rodent extermination solutions.
Ensure safe and effective rodent exclusion work with our IPM-based practices here at Positive Pest Management. Contact us at 1-800-294-3130 to get a free estimate for your home.
Rodents like mice and rats are filthy creatures that leave droppings and urine wherever they go. These rodent wastes are definite signs of rodent activity in the area. An area contaminated with rodent droppings and urine is a huge health hazard to anyone on the property, so it’s important to clean them up immediately.
So what’s the right way to clean up the rodent droppings in the attic? Clean up the area by removing the droppings and urine, disposing of any dead rodents, checking for exposed installation, removing contaminated materials, and disinfecting the attic.
Rodent Droppings: The Sure Sign of Rodent Presence in the Attic
Rodent droppings in the attic are a common issue for homes infested by rats and mice. You might find these droppings increase in number as you get near the nest. Among the 21 million American homes affected by rodent infestations every year, around 24% of those occur in the attic and garage.
One of the biggest reasons why rodents camp in the attic is because of the insulation stored there. The attic is also a preferred nesting location for roof rats – a species of rats that are excellent climbers. Rodent presence anywhere in the house is a huge health risk – their droppings alone contaminate food and water sources.
What do Rodent Droppings Look Like?
Other than spotting the rodent themselves, their droppings are another useful way to identify the exact species of rodents present in the house. Once the rodent has been identified, it’s easier for exterminators to come up with the best rodent control techniques.
Rodent droppings also reveal a lot about rodent activity and the possible size of the infestation. The number of droppings increase in areas where these rodents frequently pass through which is why there are more droppings in their nest. The color of the droppings indicate how recent the rodent has been on that spot.
Here’s how rodents are identified with their droppings:
Rat Droppings
If the droppings are found in the attic, it’s safe to assume that the culprits are roof rats. These pesky creatures build nests in high places, unlike Norway rats that stay close to the ground. Each roof rat produces around 40 to 50 individual droppings a day. They are also a lot smaller than brown rat droppings – roof rat droppings only measure around half an inch long while Norway rats produce droppings around ¾ inch long. Roof rat droppings are mostly scattered with a shape that resembles sausages with pointed ends.
Mouse Droppings
Like brown rats, most mice also stay close to the ground. But these small pests have a good grip on most surfaces which makes them excellent climbers. Mice colonies stay in the attic if they believe that it’s the best nesting place for them. The droppings found near their nests are around a quarter-inch long. Although their droppings are smaller, they produce more pellets every day at around 50 to 75 individual droppings.
How to Clean the Rodent Droppings in Your Attic
Before cleaning the rodent droppings in the attic, ensure that the rodents have been eliminated first. Mice and rats won’t care if the attic is newly cleaned – they still leave droppings everywhere and contaminate the places you previously disinfected.
Once the infestation is gone, it’s time to clean the attic to prevent the spread of diseases caused by rodent feces. Here is a step-by-step guide to clean up and disinfect the attic:
1. Remove the Droppings and Urine
It’s better to pick up the droppings and nesting materials instead of vacuuming or sweeping them. This prevents dust and rodent waste from getting everywhere. Wear rubber gloves and overalls when cleaning the attic. It’s also essential to wear a mask to prevent inhalation of dust and microscopic pathogens.
Spray the rat waste with a homemade disinfectant (one part bleach and ten parts water) and let it sit for about 5 minutes. If you prefer using a store-bought disinfectant, just follow the instructions on the label. Pick up the droppings using disposable rags or paper towels. Dump everything in a trash bag and seal it.
2. Dispose of Any Dead Rodent
While still wearing the protective gear, carefully remove the dead rodents from their location. Spray another round of disinfectant in its surrounding area and let it soak for about 5 minutes. Wipe the area with a rag or paper towel. Extract the dead rodent along with the nesting materials and put them inside a plastic bag. Seal the bag tightly before throwing it in a sealed garbage can.
3. Check for Exposed Insulation
One of the reasons why rodents build nests in the attic is because of insulation. Even if the insulation material isn’t edible for these rodents, they still chew on it to trim their constantly growing teeth.
When cleaning the attic after the rodent extermination, check the exposed insulation if it also contains urine and droppings. Remove the material carefully and place it into plastic bags. There’s nothing else to do for damaged insulation material except replace it with a new one.
4. Remove All Possibly Contaminated Materials
Attics also serve as extra storage rooms for some homes. But the clutter in that area is what exactly attracts mice to build nests there. Here are a few decontamination tips for objects that are still useful:
Clothing, Stuffed Animals, and Bedding – These objects are usually decontaminated by laundry detergent. Launder them in a washing machine and leave them to dry under the sun for a few hours.
Carpets and Upholstered Furniture – Use commercial-grade steam cleaner and disinfectant to kill the bacteria and other contaminants.
Non-washable Items – Ultraviolet rays from the sun turn hantaviruses inactive, which is why it’s best to leave all non-washable items under the sun for a few hours. These items should be wiped with a cloth doused with disinfectant.
5. Disinfect the Attic
After removing and disinfecting the smaller items little by little, it’s time to disinfect the whole attic. Mops the floors of the attic and wipe its walls with disinfectant. Make sure to decontaminate the whole area to remove the smell of rodent urine and droppings in the attic.
Once you’re done with the whole process, remove the rubber gloves and wash your hands with soap and water. You may also use an alcohol-based hand rub for added measure.
Different Diseases Caused by Rodent Droppings
Even if the rodents are gone, their droppings and urine may still contaminate food and water sources. It’s important to get rid of the unsanitary conditions at home to protect the family from rodent-transmitted diseases. Here are some of the diseases caused by rodent dropping contamination:
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome – HPS is a viral disease caused by direct contact with rodent wastes and inhalation of contaminated dust. Some of its early symptoms include muscle aches, fever, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and dizziness.
Leptospirosis – This bacterial disease occurs when a person accidentally eats food or drinks water contaminated with urine and droppings of an infected rodent. Individuals who came in contact with water or soil contaminated with rodent urine are also at risk of acquiring leptospirosis. Symptoms of leptospirosis include fever, chills, muscle ache, vomiting, rash, red eyes, and jaundice.
Salmonellosis – Like leptospirosis, this bacterial disease also develops after the consumption of food or water contaminated with rodent feces. Patients infected with salmonella bacteria experience diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever.
Rat-Bite Fever – Some cases of rat-bite fever occur after a bite or scratch from an infected rodent. However, this disease may also be transmitted when a person mishandles the disposal of a dead rodent or accidentally consumes food contaminated with rodent droppings. Early diagnosis and proper treatment for RBF is necessary because it may lead to severe organ complications in the liver, lungs, heart, brain, and nervous system.
Complete Rodent Removal Services by Positive Pest Management
Positive Pest Management is a trusted pest control service provider in different NYC areas. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, we already know what tools and techniques to use for different cases of rodent infestation. Our IPM-based practices allow us to perform safe and effective rodent exclusion work.
Trust Positive Pest Management to solve all your rodent problems at home. Call us at 1-800-294-3130 to get a free estimate.
Rodents like mice and rats are pesky creatures that chew on different things to trim their constantly growing teeth. They gnaw on materials like wood, insulation, and wires. But this destructive habit leads to short circuits and broken appliances. It also increases the chances of house fires in a home.
So what are the best ways to prevent mice from chewing wires? To lessen the risk of house fires caused by mice, homeowners must eliminate possible entry points, remove food sources for mice, catch them with traps, cover the wires with anti-rodent tape, and contact an electrician to check the wirings. For car owners, it’s best to start the car regularly, remove the food around the car, park in the garage, use mice deterrents, and install wire mesh in the engine bay.
Different Ways to Prevent Mice from Nibbling on Wires
Even if they’re small, mice are destructive creatures that cause mild to severe damages to a home. Aside from weakening the house’s foundation whenever they build nests, mice’s habit of chewing on wires leads to huge problems. According to a 2012 report published by PestWorld, around 20% to 25% of the house fires in the country were caused by rodents.
In addition to residential properties, mice also camp inside cars especially during the fall and winter seasons. Even if the car doors are closed and the windows are rolled up, rats and mice still gain entry to the vehicle through the small openings under the engine. From there, they travel through the different parts of the car while gnawing anything they sink their teeth on.
Here are a few ways to prevent mice from chewing on the wires and causing more damage to your home or vehicle:
At Home
Eliminate All Possible Entry Points – Mice can’t build a nest inside the house if they can’t get inside in the first place. Remember that these pests fit in small holes that measure at least a quarter-inch, so inspect the property for such gaps. Seal these entry points using materials that make it hard for them to chew through like steel wool.
Remove Their Food Sources – Like other rodents, mice consume anything available to them including grains, nuts, meat scraps, pet food, and more. Seal all the food in airtight containers or keep them inside the refrigerator to prevent attracting mice. Keep the sink and dining table free of leftover food that these rodents might take.
Catch Mice with Traps – It’s time to catch mice using traps once there are obvious signs of their presence in the house, such as droppings, urine, and scratching noises. Dealing with the infestation by yourself won’t immediately solve it but it puts a dent on their population before the exterminators arrive.
Cover the Wires with the Anti-Rodent Tape – Anti-rodent electrical insulation tapes are utilized by homeowners to protect their wires from gnawing mice. This special type of electrical tape is infused with capsaicin that leaves a spicy taste for the mice whenever they attempt to chew the wires. But it’s also important to remember that this material is not a permanent solution to keep mice from chewing wires – the appropriate extermination method should still be followed.
Call an Electrician to Evaluate the Wiring – The best way to check if the wiring around the house is still working is to call an electrician. Chewed wires are bound to turn up following a mice extermination in the house even if you didn’t experience electrical problems.
In the Car
Start the Car Regularly – Vehicles parked outside are a great nesting place for rodents because it has all the quiet and comfort they need. Starting the car regularly makes the vehicle a lot less inviting for these rats and mice because they are bound to get disturbed sooner or later.
Remove All Food Inside and Around the Vehicle – These little rodents won’t hesitate to live in a car if it’s parked near a food source or there’s food inside. Ensure that the vehicle is far from garbage cans or pet feeders when parked.
Park the Vehicle Inside a Garage – Cars parked inside a garage have less chance of attracting rodents. But this still won’t guarantee that rats and mice stay away. Check the garage for gaps and holes that mice use to enter the property. Seal all these entry points using materials like steel wool for added protection.
Place Mice Deterrents in the Car – Several natural rodent repellents work in keeping mice away without leaving an unpleasant smell. Peppermint oil is a popular choice for many homeowners that also works for cars. Just put the homemade repellent in the engine bay to prevent mice from entering the vehicle.
Install Wire Mesh in the Engine Bay – Another way to seal off the vehicle from rodents is to place wire mesh under the hood of the car. This material blocks the openings like vents and hood scoops without affecting the airflow around the car.
Effective Rodent Control Services by Positive Pest Management
Here at Positive Pest Management, we offer high-quality rodent extermination services for your properties in New York City. Our highly trained technicians utilize the best tools and techniques to ensure quick and effective rodent exclusion work.
For IPM-based rodent control services, call Positive Pest Management at 1-800-294-3130 now.
Rodent infestation is a common household problem that brings several health risks and structural hazards to a home. Once you spot a mouse or rat scurrying around the house, there’s a huge chance that there are already dozens of rodents nesting on the property. One of the most effective ways to get rid of these pests is using bait stations.
So how exactly do bait stations eliminate rodents at home? Unlike trapping devices that catch rodents or kill them instantly, bait stations only hold poisonous bait that attracts mice and rats. These pesky rodents don’t die inside the bait station – they only enter the station to eat the bait and die somewhere else within a few days.
Eliminate Rodents at Home with Bait Stations
Rodents like mice and rats are dirty creatures that carry diseases and cause damage to a home. It’s crucial to solve the infestation in its early stages to prevent these pests from causing further harm to the home and family.
Aside from trapping them, rodent poisons are also effective in killing these rodents. However, rodenticides are also harmful to pets and humans as they are to pests. In 2019 alone, there were a total of 8,734 reported cases of rodenticide poisoning in the country.
But thanks to bait stations, homeowners confidently use rodent poisons without worrying about the potential poisoning. This device produces dozens of rodent kills while maintaining a tamper-resistant feature. Homeowners only need to store the replacement baits in a secure place away from the reach of pets and children.
How Do They Work?
Although they both aim to get rid of rats in the property, traps and bait stations are two devices that operate differently. Rodent traps lure mice and rats out of their hiding and kill them instantly, but bait stations don’t trap these pesky rodents. This device only houses the bait block – a strong rodent poison that smells and looks like rodent food.
When the rodent smells the bait block from the station, it freely enters the device to bite a portion of the bait. It eventually leaves the station to turn up dead somewhere else within one to two days.
Since rodent baits are poisonous, they harm pets and humans who accidentally consume the bait. Rodent bait stations are designed to prevent tampering from pests and children. Most bait stations also have see-through tops that allow homeowners to monitor the amount of bait left.
How Effective Are Bait Stations?
Bait stations are effective enough that professional exterminators also utilize them. Unlike mouse traps that only catch one rodent at a time, bait stations work as long as there is enough poison for the rodents.
A single ounce of bait kills around twelve mice while four ounces is enough to eliminate ten rats. Once the rodent bites a bit of the poison, it only takes up to 48 hours before they die in their nest. Placing multiple bait stations around the house quickly solves the rodent infestation before they multiply further and cause more damages.
Advantages of Utilizing Bait Stations
The main advantage of using bait stations over other rodent control methods is because it kills multiple rodents at a time. The tamper-resistant stations also work well to protect the pets and children from accidentally ingesting the poison. Here are other key advantages that bait stations offer:
The device keeps the bait from different elements like moisture, dirt, and dust.
They help you monitor rodent activity when using non-toxic bait blocks.
Bait stations are safe to use in food facilities because they prevent product contamination and accidental spillage.
They effectively catch rodents because the box mimics what rodents prefer when exploring a new place – dark and enclosed.
Bait stations allow users to leave special warnings and instructions in visible spots.
They save you a lot of cash that is otherwise spent on single-use traps.
Disposable vs. Refillable Bait Station: Which is Better?
Pros
Cons
Disposable Bait Station
Single-use bait stations allow no-mess disposal. You don’t need to deal with replacing the bait block or finding a safe place to store them.
This type of bait station only works best for small rodent problems on the property.
Refillable Bait Station
For rodent problems that persist throughout the year, refillable bait stations are the better choice.
Bait blocks are harmful to pets and children when accidentally ingested, so make sure to store the extra bait blocks out of their reach.
Choosing between disposable or refillable bait stations depends on the severity of the infestation in the home. If you’re dealing with a few mice or rats, disposable bait stations effectively get rid of these pests. You won’t need to deal with a fussy setup or disposal process – just place it along the wall or in areas with recent rodent activity.
But for homeowners that experience recurring rodent infestations in their house, it’s better to buy a refillable bait station and stock up on bait blocks. Just make sure to wear the appropriate protective gear when replacing the rodent bait and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to prevent accidental poisoning. It’s also crucial to store the bait block inside a tight container that’s out of children’s reach.
3 Tips to Effectively Catch Mice Using Bait Stations
Bait stations were created to provide quick results without harming anyone in the family. If the rodent population doesn’t seem to decrease even after days of using the bait stations, you might be using it wrong. Here are a few tips to optimize bait station efficiency in the house:
1. Select the Right Bait
Different classifications of rodenticides were decided based on how they affect rodents. It’s essential to learn how different baits work to find out which one works best for the rodents on the property. Here the three types of bait commonly used in bait stations:
1st Generation – Baits in this category disrupts the rodent’s ability to clot its blood. Mice and rats need to return to the bait station a few times before dying from the poison. If a rodent predator eats the dead rodent, it won’t be affected by the poison that the rodent ingested.
2nd Generation – These baits immediately kill the rodent after just one dose. The rodent predator who eats the dead rodent may also be affected by the poison consumed by the dead rat. However, most 2nd generation baits in the market have low levels of 2nd generation toxicity.
Non-Anticoagulants – Instead of disrupting the process of blood clotting in rodents, these baits affect the rodent’s nervous system. They elevate the calcium levels of the rodent’s blood after consumption.
2. Place the Bait Station in Strategic Places
The best placement for rodent bait stations is anywhere between their nest and usual food source. Check the area for different signs of rodent activity, such as track marks, gnaw marks, droppings, and urine smell. This ensures that rodents frequently stroll around that area, giving the bait station more chances to kill the pests.
Here are lists of optimal places for bait stations inside and outside the house:
Indoor
Along walls where there are greasy tracks, rodent droppings, and chew marks
Underneath appliances in the kitchen
In the dark corners of the garage, attic, and basement
Along rafters
Outdoor
Below windows
Near entry doors
Where utilities enter the house
Near vent exhaust
Around outbuildings and sheds
Near woodpiles
Near garbage cans
Another placement factor to consider is the spacing between two bait stations. This depends on the rodent species you’re baiting. Bait stations for mice should be around 8 to 12 feet apart from each other, while rat bait stations should be spaced around 15 to 30 feet away from the other. Professional exterminators typically recommend utilizing more bait stations for severe rodent infestations.
3. Check the Bait Station Frequently
Rodent control isn’t done yet after the bait stations have been placed. It’s important to monitor the device regularly to check if the bait needs to be replaced. If the bait disappears rapidly but there are no dead rodent sightings yet, the infestation might be worse than anticipated. Add more bait stations around the house to kill more rodents quickly.
Achieve a Rodent-Free Home with Positive Pest Management
Our rodent control services here at Positive Pest Management guarantees the safe and effective removal of all rodents on the property. We utilize different techniques and tools, such as traps and bait stations to ensure a rodent-free home for our clients. Our service areas include residential and commercial customers in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan.
At Positive Pest Management, we also take pride in our customer service that exceeds the client’s expectations. Our highly trained staff are prepared to answer all your questions about different extermination concerns. Feel free to call us at 1-800-294-3130 whenever you need excellent pest control services.
Mousetraps are one of the most effective devices that catch mice and put a dent in the rodent population at home. Reusable traps are preferred by homeowners because they are cheap and cost-effective. But it’s crucial to clean the mouse traps before reusing them because even the dead bodies of mice are still carriers of different diseases.
So what’s the best way to clean a reusable mouse trap at home? Once the trap managed to catch a mouse at home, it’s time to clean the device by gathering the cleaning materials, disposing of the dead rodent, cleaning off the residues and leftover bait, and disinfecting the area where the trap was placed.
Reusing Mouse Traps at Home
According to the 2014 study by the National Pest Management, around 29% of households in the country experienced rodent infestation at least once. But before calling a professional exterminator, many homeowners attempt to catch mice on their own using mouse traps and bait stations.
Most types of mouse traps available in the market are reusable. However, there is still an ongoing debate whether it’s really a good practice to wash a mousetrap and use it again. The familiar scent of the mouse attracts more rodents to venture near the used trap, but others claim that the same scent serves as a warning for other mice to avoid the area.
Cleaning the Mouse Trap
Since mouse traps are already proven effective, reusing them a few more times helps save more cash. Just make sure that it is thoroughly cleaned to avoid the spread of mouse-transmitted diseases in the home. Here is a detailed guide to clean a reusable mousetrap:
1. Gather the Materials Needed
Before picking up the used mousetrap, it’s crucial to wear protective gear first. This prevents the bacteria and other pathogens from the dead rats from clinging to the clothes. Use gloves when picking up the mousetrap. Here are other protective gears and cleaning materials to prepare:
Long-sleeved shirts
HEPA face mask
Trash bags
Disposable sponge
Disinfectant (one part vinegar and ten parts water)
2. Dispose of the Dead Mouse
When setting up traps at home, be prepared to clean up after the rodent carcass it produces. Before removing the dead mouse from the trap, spray the surrounding area with a disinfectant first. Pick up the mouse carcass carefully from the trap while wearing gloves. Put the dead mouse inside a trash bag and seal it tightly.
State policies about the disposal of dead animals vary per location. Residents of New York City may dispose of the dead mouse along with their other trash, given that the carcass is inside two layers of plastic with a note indicating the contents of the bag.
3. Clean Off the Residues and Leftover Bait
After removing the dead mouse from the trap, you’ll find that the trap is covered with leftover bait, blood, saliva, any other bodily fluids. Rinse the trap with water and lather it with soap. Make sure that you’re still wearing gloves to minimize contact with the mouse residues. Scrub the device thoroughly with a disposable sponge. Once all the residues are gone, let the mousetrap dry before reusing it.
Leftover residues like the rodent’s body fluids affect the trap’s effectiveness in catching mice. Even if the trap doesn’t catch rodents immediately, it’s still essential to keep an eye on the bait and replace it every now and then.
4. Disinfect the Trap and its Location
Despite removing the dead mouse and cleaning the trap thoroughly, an unpleasant smell may still linger in its previous location. It’s tempting to just sweep or vacuum the area, but these practices only kick up the dust and pathogens in the air.
Spray the entire area with an enzyme cleaner and let it sit for about 15 minutes. This allows the chemical to break down any biological material in the area. Wipe the site clean with disposable rags and paper towels to clean any fur or body fluids left by the mouse corpse. Spray the entire area once more with a disinfectant to get rid of the lingering foul smell.
The Benefits of Reusing Mouse Traps
Many people have conflicting opinions when it comes to reusing mouse traps. Some homeowners believe that these devices become less effective with continued use while others still trust a method that works well. If you’re undecided whether it’s alright to reuse mouse traps, here are a few benefits of reusing mouse traps to consider:
1. Cost-Effectiveness
You save money every time you reuse an item – this is also true for mouse traps. Most types of mouse traps found in the market are both reusable and disposable, giving customers the freedom to reuse the device or not.
2. Scent Familiarity
Mice have a keen sense of smell that allows them to find their kin. Used mouse traps maintain even a faint smell of mice that others may pick up. The familiar scent assures the other mice that the device is safe to approach. They are also likely to go near used traps instead of new ones that still have a human smell.
3. Reliability
There’s nothing wrong with using the same object that still works just fine. Homeowners tend to trust a used mouse trap that has caught several mice in the past rather than set up a new one that might not work as well. Just make sure that the trap is clean and fully functional before reusing it.
What Kinds of Mouse Traps Can be Reused?
Most mouse traps available in the market are reusable, but it’s best to choose one that only results in minimal bleeding. Live mouse traps are also great to reuse because they are easier to clean. Here are some of the best types of reusable mouse traps to utilize at home:
1. Snap Traps
This mousetrap is the traditional way of catching mice. Instead of choosing a wooden snap trap, it’s better to buy plastic snap traps because they’re easier to clean. Snap traps use a strong snapping force that traps and kills the mouse instantly.
However, snap traps aren’t a good choice for a home with pets and children. The strength of the snapping force is enough to cause injuries when the child or pet lingers too close to the mousetrap. Snap traps also require frequent monitoring because the snap is easily triggered by the slightest movement. It has to be reset first to catch mice.
2. Electronic Traps
These devices lure mice into a chamber and electrocute the rodents there. They are safe to use around pets and children because they were created with a no-see and no-touch feature. Most electronic traps come with a blinking light to signal that a mouse was caught inside.
Electronic mouse traps are quite expensive which is why it’s better to reuse them a few times instead of buying a new one every time. These devices run on electricity, so they need to be kept dry at all times. Avoid placing this device outside or in high-moisture areas because it may short-circuit.
3. Live Traps
If you prefer a more humane option of catching these pesky rodents, live traps are also reusable. Just place a good bait to attract them inside and the trap snaps the door shut. Remember that metal cages work better than tube-style live traps because they give the rodents enough room to breathe and move around.
The biggest drawback of utilizing live traps at home is that you must drive far away from the house before releasing the mouse in the wild. If they are released too close to home, they immediately return to their nest.
Leave Your Rodent Problems at Home to Positive Pest Management
You don’t need to worry about reusing mouse traps at home with Positive Pest Management. Our safe and effective rodent exclusion work ensures that the rodents are quickly eliminated. We also provide preventive measures to keep these pests from returning. Our extermination services are available for residential and commercial properties in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan.
Learn more about our IPM-based mouse control services by visiting our website. Contact us at 1-800-294-3130 to score a free estimate for your property.
There are different ways to keep rats away from your house and using ammonia is one of the most common methods. Some reasons why ammonia is so commonly used as a rodent-repellent is because it’s easily found on the market and it can be used in a variety of different ways.
But does it really work: will ammonia actually keep rats away from your place? The answer is yes, but it might not keep them away for long. This chemical has a scent that repels rats. If used correctly, you can keep the pests away for a significant amount of time.
Why Ammonia Keeps Rats Away
Ammonia is a colorless gas with an apparent smell. It is made of nitrogen, hydrogen, and water and is one of the most commonly produced chemicals in the United States. This chemical is usually used in fertilizer or as an ingredient in cleaning products.
One of the main reasons why ammonia repels rats is because these pests have a strong sense of smell. Rats are nocturnal animals, so their sense of smell can help them easily find food even in the dark.
Their strong sense of smell is also used to detect any danger that is around them. For these rodents, the smell of ammonia imitates the same scent of urine of their predators. This makes the rat think that a predator is nearby and so they avoid it, making ammonia an effective method to keep rats away. This strong ammonia odor is the biggest factor in making it a great rat repellent.
Aside from its strong smell, ammonia can also damage the respiratory systems of rats, making it an extremely toxic chemical for rodents. One study showed that its presence in an environment can damage the trachea of rats. Similarly, other household items like peppermint oil, castor oil, and onions can deter these pests, for the same reasons as ammonia: they have a strong scent.
Common Methods to Use Ammonia as Rodent-Repellent
Using ammonia is an excellent method to keep rats away for a while. Before using the chemical as a repellent, you should take note of the places in your house where rats are present. These rodents are commonly found in dark areas of the house, near the walls. This helps in preventing any more rats from entering and breeding in your home.
One of the common ways to use ammonia as a rat repellent is to simply use the chemical as it is and pour it around the perimeter of your house. But if this is unfeasible, then you can choose one of the methods below:
1. Homemade Rat Poison
To use ammonia in homemade rat poison, simply mix around 2 cups of ammonia, 1 cup of water, and 1 tablespoon of detergent in a bowl. You may leave this poison in places where you usually see rats. This is a great way to scare the rodents away and perhaps keep them away for a few weeks, giving you time to find other ways to protect your home.
2. Soaking Rags in Ammonia
If you don’t want to leave bowls of ammonia-mix around your house, you may want to consider soaking rags in ammonia instead. To do this, you can follow the ammonia solution stated above and then soak some rags or some cotton balls in it.
You can put these rags or cotton balls around your house. This is an excellent way to seal any entry points of these rats into your home. These should be replaced at least every few weeks to maintain its effectiveness.
3. Ammonia Spray
Since ammonia has a pungent smell that can leave an unpleasant odor around your house, you can also consider using ammonia spray. This method may be less effective but is more appropriate for those who don’t want to leave stronger ammonia solutions around their home.
To do this, simply put the ammonia solution stated above inside a spray bottle. You simply want to spray this in places where you find rats to deter the pests. It is important to keep in mind that ammonia can be dangerous, is you should be careful when using this chemical. You should follow all safety precautions before using ammonia as a rat repellent. Prolonged exposure to ammonia can cause eye damage and throat irritation.
When using ammonia, remember to place it in well-ventilated areas to prevent inhalation. You should also keep this chemical away from any flammable materials because it can cause explosions. It is also important to know which substances react badly with ammonia, such as chlorine bleach, other halogens, and heavy metals.
Rat Exterminator at Positive Pest Management
Using ammonia can only be a temporary fix to a rat infestation. This method can be effective but is not a permanent solution to the problem. For a more effective solution to ensure that all rats are eliminated from your place, you may want to call professional help. Here at Positive Pest Management, we provide professional rodent control services in all of New York City and Lower Westchester County.
Our team of professional staff is here to provide superb service at competitive prices. We serve many industries including apartment units, healthcare facilities, and hospitality establishments. You can trust us with meeting your diverse needs regarding rodent and pest control. Simply give us a call whenever the need arises.
When faced with a rodent infestation, it is important to act on it right away to prevent it from worsening. However, many rats and mice killers on the market include poison and can pose risks to your children and pets. Because of this, you might want to consider natural ways to fix your rodent problem.
So what are the natural ways to remove rodents in your area? To eliminate these pests naturally, you would want to:
Setting up traps like glue boards and snap traps
Making your house less appealing for rodents
Using household items that keep rodents away
Installing electric rodent repellents
How to Get Rid of Rodents Naturally
Before attempting to clear your house of any rodents, you should first learn where they usually enter and hide. This helps you eliminate the pests easily and prevent them from breeding. Here are some tips on how to get rid of rodents naturally:
1. Setting Up Traps
One of the most common methods to eliminate rodents like rats and mice is setting up traps. There are several varieties available on the market, so it will be easy to choose and use one that is the most convenient for you.
Snap trap: The traditional snap trap has improved over the years, with wooden and metal varieties available. It helps you easily catch these pests by killing them instantly. Snap traps are also fairly inexpensive and can be reused.
Electronic traps: Electronic traps use a humane, high-delivering shock voltage to quickly kill rodents. It does not require any poison or chemicals and can be placed anywhere inside your home.
Glue boards: Glue boards are another way to trap rats and mice because of its sticky surface. This method is one of the more effective approaches since glue boards have a low profile so rodents are less suspicious of it.
Catch and release bait: Catch and release bait is considered one of the more humane methods to eliminate rodents. You can use food like peanut butter or fruit as bait to lure them for an easier catch. After the rat or mouse is caught, you can release them anywhere you want.
2. Making Your House Less Appealing For Rodents
A natural way to clear your house of rodents is to make your house less appealing to them. This means making it difficult to find water and food sources. These creatures can survive on an ounce of food per day, so leaving plenty of food within their reach encourages them to stay and breed.
To do this, you have to store your food properly. Rats and mice tend to chew on the packaging, so it’s best to transfer your food into airtight containers and glass jars. You should also be mindful when throwing away your food, so they don’t rummage through your garbage.
It is also recommended that you remove any clutter that can be found in your house. Rodents don’t like the cold, and they search for warm places to nest and burrow. Clutter found in your attic or garage can provide favorable living conditions for rodents and urge them to reproduce.
It is also best to keep an eye out for any cracks or openings that can serve as entryways for rodents. Sealing these holes can prevent rats or mice from entering your house.
3. Using Household Items
Household items can also be natural remedies to rodent infestation. Rodents have a strong sense of smell, so they become sensitive to strong scents. Here are some household items that make great rat-repellents:
Peppermint oil, castor oil, and other essential oils: These items have strong scents that repel and keep rats away. To use these as repellents, simply soak a cotton ball in these items and leave it in places where you usually find pests.
Onions, garlic, and tabasco sauce: Foods with strong scents can help deter these rodents. Place these items in different places to keep rats or mice away. However, you should keep an eye on these foods because they can rot within a few days.
Baking soda: Baking soda can serve as a natural poison since it reacts with a rat’s stomach acid to produce a carbon dioxide gas. This eventually builds up and may cause their stomach to rupture. To make this, mix together one part flour, one part baking soda, and one part cocoa powder. The smell of the chocolate attracts rodents and masks the scent of the baking powder.
4. Installing Rodent Repellents
Another natural way to eliminate these pests is by installing electronic rodent repellents. When plugged in, these devices emit a high-frequency sound that rats and mice are sensitive to. Humans cannot hear this, so it’s a great way to deter rodents.
There is a variety of these available on the market, so it’s easy to get your hands on one. Here are some electronic rodent repellents you may want to try out:
BRISON 2 Pack Ultrasonic Pest Reject Repeller: This pest repellent can help protect your home from rats, bats, and insects. It has ultrasound control and a flame retardant body.
VEPOWER 2019 Ultrasonic Repellent: This ultrasonic repellent has no chemicals, non-toxic, and no radiation. It helps repel insects and rodents and takes 2-3 weeks to see results.
Bocianelli Ultrasonic Pest Repeller: This repellent comes in a pack of 6, so you can plug it in different parts of the house. It has less power consumption and wide coverage.
Even though these methods can help deter the pests in your home, they aren’t guaranteed to work for long. Because of this, you may want to look for more efficient ways to get rid of rodents, like seeking professional pest control services. This ensures that all the rats and mice in your home are gone.
Rodent Control at Positive Pest Management
Seeking help from professional services is a sure way to eliminate rodents in your area. Here at Positive Pest Management, we offer effective pest control services that cater to your needs.
We have a team of experienced staff that offers expert pest extermination for All of NYC, and Lower Westchester County. Our team is eager to help you and provide customized pest control solutions. Call us whenever the need arises to know more.
Nobody likes having mice in their home. Rodents inside your home can cause many problems since they can go through your food, gnaw on wires and furniture, and carry different diseases. When you notice a mice infestation in your home, it’s important to act on it right away. One popular way of eliminating rats and mice from a home is with the use of mothballs.
But do they really work: are mothballs effective for repelling mice? Even though mothballs can help control pests like moths and other bugs, it isn’t a very effective mice repellent. Aside from this, it also poses other risks to humans and pets.
Using Mothballs To Repel Rats
Mothballs are classified as a pesticide and are used to help eliminate bugs and insects. It is commonly used to kill pests on fabric and clothing. These are commonly made of active chemicals, either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene.
Mothballs work by slowly turning from a solid to a toxic vapor. As these items can be harmful to the environment, mothballs are actually regulated by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA). It is important to follow the instructions on the label when using it to prevent any unwanted accidents.
Since mothballs are classified as a pesticide, it is not uncommon to use it as a mice repellent. It is believed to drive rodents away because it has naphthalene, a chemical that can cause blood cells to lose its ability to carry oxygen when inhaled.
Naphthalene is also a strong-smelling substance. It emits a pungent scent that is sensitive to rats and mice. Since rodents have a strong sense of smell, some people think that mothballs can be used as a deterrent for these pests. Unfortunately, mothballs shouldn’t be used as mice repellents at all.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Mothballs to Repel Mice
Mothballs may be regarded as mice repellents, but it has not been proven effective. The amount of naphthalene found in mothballs is enough to eliminate moths on fabric like clothes and bedsheets, but it is not enough to repel mice.
To effectively repel these rodents, you would need higher levels of naphthalene. However, using higher levels can be toxic to humans and other animals as well. The required level of this chemical to repel mice is the same level needed for humans.
There have also been some instances wherein mice have walked past mothballs. When these are placed around the house and left alone for a while, rats and mice are generally smart enough to identify that it is a threat to them. They simply avoid the mothballs and take another route instead.
The use of mothballs can pose risk to children and pets, since they can accidentally consume these. They may mistake these for food and candy, and can cause worse problems in the long run.
Prolonged exposure to mothballs can also impose multiple health risks to humans. Some of the mild side effects are headaches and nausea, while some of the adverse effects include respiratory problems and kidney damage.
Additionally, the use of mothballs as animal repellents is illegal. The Environmental Protection Agency prohibits the use of mothballs to repel mice, rats, squirrels, snakes, and other wildlife, which is another reason why it is not recommended to use mothballs to solve your household mice infestation.
4 Safer and More Effective Alternatives to Repelling Mice
Since mothballs can cause harm to humans and pets, you may want to consider other methods to repel mice. Here are four safer and more effective alternatives to eliminate mice in your property:
DIY Rat Repellent Using Peppermint Oil: One method to help with a rat infestation is to make DIY rat repellents using household items with strong scents like peppermint oil. To do this, simply soak a cotton ball in peppermint oil and leave it in places that can serve as entryways or hiding places for mice.
Traps: There are different kinds of mouse traps you can choose from. Some of the common traps found on the market are the snap trap, the catch and release trap, the glue board, and the electronic trap.
Electronic Repellents: Electronic repellents emit a high-frequency sound that rodents are sensitive to. This sound cannot be heard by humans, but it can help repel mice, rats, and other pests.
Making Your House Unattractive For Mice: It is also recommended that you remove anything that will provide favorable living conditions for mice or rats. This can be done by storing food properly and removing clutter. Without a consistent food supply, these rodents will look for new shelter instead.
Effective Rodent Control at Positive Pest Management
Using mothballs to control rodent infestation inside your house is definitely not an effective method and can even cause more problems than you already have. Because of this, it might be best to consider professional help when it comes to eliminating rats and mice.
Positive Pest Management offers professional pest control services in All of New York City and Lower Westchester County. We have a team of expert staff that is highly experienced in extermination work.
Our team is eager to work with you and provide you with customized solutions based on your needs. We promise to deliver excellent service that will help you with your problems. Call us whenever the need arises to know more.
Rats can be a nuisance, and it is important to act on a rat infestation right away. However, many rat killers on the market include poison, and using these can come with unwanted risks and even cause more problems.
So how can you control your rat problem without the use of poison? There are many ways to eliminate rats without poison: setting up traps, making your house unattractive for rats, or even recruiting natural predators to eliminate the pests.
Non-Poisonous Ways to Eliminate Rats
1) Setting up Traps
Setting up traps is one of the traditional methods to eliminate rats from your house. It is a non-toxic way to eliminate pests from your area. There are several available on the market, so you can choose one that best suits your needs. Here are some of the most common traps:
Kind of Trap
What Is It
Why You Use It
How Long It Takes
Snap Trap
The snap trap kills rats using a quick trigger system. There are varieties of snap traps, with the bar trap being the most common.
It is inexpensive and can kill rats instantly.
The effectiveness of a snap trap can kill rats quickly, but it can only catch one at a time.
Glue Boards
Glue boards trap rats with its extremely sticky surface.
It has a low profile, so rodents are less suspicious of it.
Rats will not die when they are trapped on a glue board.
Catch and Release
A catch and release trap uses the help of a bait to trap rodents inside a small cage.
It is considered to be one of the more humane traps since you can release the rats wherever you want once they have been trapped inside.
These traps don’t kill rats instantly since it only traps the rodents inside the cage.
Electronic Traps
Electronic traps work by delivering a humane, high-voltage shock that kills rats quickly.
It is more effective when it comes to instantly killing rats.
These kinds of traps can kill rats in seconds.
2) Using Rat Repellents
Rat repellents can either be homemade or bought from the store. These are mostly cheap options that can eliminate rats without using poison. Here are some options that can help keep these rodents away:
What It Is
Price
How to Use
Ammonia
Ammonia is a colorless gas with a strong smell that rats will avoid.
A 500mL bottle of ammonia will cost around $15-$20.
Dilute ammonia in water and use it as a spray to deter rats.
Onions and Chili Flakes
These kitchen ingredients have a pungent smell that will help repel rats.
Onions cost around $1.94 per pound and Chili Flakes cost around $0.12 per ounce.
Leave some slices of onion and chili flakes in places where there is high rodent activity.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is a common household item that has a strong smell that rats will be sensitive to.
A 15mL bottle of peppermint oil costs around $5-$10.
Simply soak a cotton ball or a piece of cloth in peppermint oil and place it in places where rats can be found.
Electronic Rat Repellents
Electronic rat repellents emit a high frequency sound that rats are sensitive to.
The costs of electronic rat repellents range from $15-$50.
Simply plug these in to deter the rodents.
3) Recruiting Natural Predators to Eliminate Rats
Recruiting natural predators instead of trying to catch rats by yourself is an effective method to eliminate the pests. This approach is one of the best non-toxic and non-disruptive methods -- you’re just letting nature play its course.
Here are some pets you could turn into rat-eliminating machines:
Cats: One of the most obvious predators of rats are cats. Having a cat at home can help chase rats away or at least convince them to stay away.
Owls: Owls are another predator that can help eliminate rats in your area. These birds usually hunt at night and can eat up to 12 rats each evening. Some owls hunt in small groups which means they can eliminate more rats at a time.
Terriers: Some dogs, specifically terriers, are great rat catchers. Terriers were bred to hunt rodents and help control the rat population.
4) Removing Rat Resources
To eliminate rats in your area, you should remove their resources. This means storing and throwing your food away properly. With no food source, rats will move on and find shelter elsewhere. Kitchen items are not the only things equivalent to food for rats. They can also chew on stacks of paper, electrical wiring, and cardboard.
Removing clutter can also help reduce the number of rats around your house. Rats look for places that provide warmth because they like to nest and burrow. Clutter provides them with favorable living conditions which encourages them to hide in and further multiply.
5) Making Your House Rat Proof
To eliminate rats in your house, you should make your house rat proof. This means sealing all their entryways and access points to prevent them from entering. It includes cracks, gaps, and holes that provide easy access for rats into your house.
Here are some perfect materials to rat-proof your house:
Caulk: A mixture of steel wool and caulk can help seal any holes in pipes that rats can enter.
Concrete: You can seal cracks and gaps inside your home using concrete, but make sure it isn’t weak enough for rats to chew through.
Metal: Metal is one of the few materials that rats can’t chew through and you can use it to rat-proof your house.
Glass: Since wood, rubber, and plastic aren’t recommended materials for a rat-proof house, try using glass to keep rats away.
Why Consider Eliminating Rats Without Poison
Using poison to eliminate rats may be effective, but it might not be the best solution to the problem. First, using poison to kill rats can leave dead rat bodies around your home. If these dead bodies are not attended to quickly, they can decay and leave an unpleasant odor.
Additionally, leaving rat poison around your house can be unsafe for pets and children. When left unattended, children and pets can accidentally consume these, causing danger. It can lead to unwanted illnesses, or worse, death.
Rat poison also poses a risk to other animals since its use can disrupt the food chain. These creatures have an essential role in feeding other animals and can cause secondary poisoning when they are consumed by predators. These poisoned rats can also poison surrounding wildlife.
NYC Rodent Control With Positive Pest Management
If you’re still looking for more effective methods to eliminate rats in your house, then consider the help of professional services. Positive Pest Management provides expert pest extermination for All of NYC and Lower Westchester County.
We have a team of professional staff that is eager to help you with your needs. Our staff gets to know customers first so they can come up with customized pest control solutions. Positive Pest Management promises to provide excellent services that you will love. For more information about our services, you may give us a call.
There are many ways to eliminate rats in your house once you’ve had an infestation. Common methods to do so are setting up traps and using poison. But after catching a few of these pests, you might have not eliminated all of them yet.
So how do you know when all the rats in your house are gone? Some appropriate measures to know whether all the rats are gone is to conduct DIY confirmation tests for rat infestation. These include leaving crackers, powder or flour, and peppermint oil around your house to see if they are left untouched. Afterward, you may check for any remaining signs of these rodents on your property.
DIY Confirmation Tests for Rat Infestation
After attempting to eliminate rats in your house, you would want to do some confirmation tests to know if there are still a few remaining in your property. Since you have probably tried to eliminate the pests using different methods, it is important to take an extra step to know whether they are completely gone from your home.
Using household items is a cheap and easy way to help check if there are still rodents inside your home. Here are some do-it-yourself confirmation tests for rat infestation using household items.
1. Leaving Crackers
Leaving crackers around your house is a great way to confirm if there are still rats. These rodents can live on an ounce of food per day and are known to eat almost any kind of food that they find. Since they consistently look for food, this method could indicate whether or not there are still rats remaining in your place.
To do this, you would simply want to leave some crackers around your house. After doing so, check if the crackers have moved or if there are any bite marks on them. If there are, it might be a sign that you haven’t eliminated all the rats.
2. Sprinkling Powder or Flour
Another confirmation test is sprinkling powder or flour around the floor or areas where you might suspect rats move around. As rodents are known to scurry around your house to look for food and water, powder or flour can help you detect whether any tiny footsteps have been around the area.
Sprinkle some powder or flour around your house, and check whether there are tiny footprints on it. Since rats have small feet, they will likely leave some footprints when they step on talc or flour.
3. Using Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil can also be a great indicator of whether there are still rats inside your house. Simply put some peppermint oil on a cotton ball and place it on possible entry points of your house.
Rats are sensitive to strong scents like peppermint, so they would tend to avoid any areas where these cotton balls have been placed. Afterward, you should check for any marks on the cotton ball to know if a rat has come in contact with it.
Additionally, this method can also be a good way to keep the rats away for a while. These rodents have a strong sense of smell so they will tend to avoid items with strong scents. This goes for other items like citronella oil and castor oil as well.
Remaining Signs of Rats in Your Place
Lastly, it is best to check for any remaining signs of rats in your place. After doing confirmation tests, checking these will help you determine if you have eliminated all the rats in your place.
Before doing these confirmation tests, it is important that you also learn and identify the different places that these rodents enter and seek shelter to make tracking them easier and more efficient. This includes any pipes or vents that they will want to hide in. Here are some signs to look out for:
1. Smell and Sounds of Rats
A musky odor can indicate that there are still rats present inside your property because these pests tend to leave urine and droppings behind. These rodents urinate in many places to “mark” their territory. Over time, the urine and droppings that rats leave behind break down and start to smell like ammonia because it contains nitrogen-rich urea.
Constant sounds of squeaking, scratching, and scurrying can also mean that rats are still present in your house. You may hear these sounds in the walls or in the attic because these places provide a dark area for rats to nest.
It is also important to remember that rats are nocturnal creatures, so they are mostly active at night. This means that you should pay attention to these sounds more during the night time.
If you see any rats during the day, it could mean that their nest has been disturbed or they are hunting for food. It can also mean that there is a bigger infestation inside your home.
2. Signs of Gnawing
Gnaw marks are important signs to look out for when checking for rat infestation. Rats tend to chew on food packaging, electrical wires, paper, and cardboard. These rodents are known to travel by chewing through almost any type of material to travel and to obtain food and water.
They also create entry holes by chewing through pipes, walls, and floors.
Rats also have to constantly gnaw on something because this is their means of survival in the wild. These rodents have incisors and powerful jaws that enable them to acquire food and nesting materials. They also have to chew on things all the time because it helps wear their teeth down.
3. Grease Marks
Grease marks around the house can be a sign of an active rat infestation. Since rodents scurry around to look for food, they follow a usual trail to help guide them around. Because of this, they tend to leave around grease marks caused by their oily fur. Unexplained grease marks around your house might mean that you have not eliminated all the rats.
4. Unusual Pet Behavior
Unusual pet behavior may indicate that there are still remaining signs of rats in your place. If you own a pet, you may want to pay attention to the way they act. For example, a dog may start barking out of nowhere or tend to be more alert. They may also paw at places where rats can be found, like under the fridge or stove.
Rodent Control at Positive Pest Management
If you want to effectively eliminate all the rats from your home, you may want to consider professional services instead. Here at Positive Pest Management, we offer professional rodent control services in the New York City area and Nassau County Long Island.
We have a team of professional staff that will take care of your rodent infestation. Our team is eager to help you and will quickly handle any bug and pest problems that you may have.
Positive Pest Management promises quality extermination work that will suit your needs. We get to know our customers first to create customized pest control solutions. Feel free to contact us whenever you need professional help.
Rat infestations are a devastating occurrence. Aside from exposing you to different pathogens and health hazards, the presence of these rodents in a home can also cause serious structural damages. Preventing these pests from entering your home is much easier than eliminating them, which is why the focus should be on following preventive measures.
So how can you scare rats away from the property? You keep these rodents out by sealing all the gaps on the walls, storing the food in thick containers, keeping the yard clean and garbage bins closed, and setting up traps. Other effective but short-term ways to prevent them from entering the home is by using homemade deterrents and adopting rat predators.
6 Ways to Prevent Rats from Entering Your Home
Rodents like rats and mice are the nastiest unwanted guests that can plague a home. If you live in New York – the third most rat-infested city in the country – it’s only a matter of time before rats decide that your home is a cozy place to build a nest in.
This is why it’s important to keep a rat exterminator’s number saved on the phone. But instead of relying solely on professional help, there are a few preventive measures you can follow to protect the home from a rat infestation:
1. Seal All Gaps on the Walls
Rats can easily slip into holes as big as a quarter. Regular home inspections should be performed to find holes that can serve as entry points for mice. They can also enter through damaged drains, so make sure to repair them immediately.
To ensure that the rats won’t easily enter the home, seal the gaps using the right materials, such as caulk, wire wool, cement, or metal kick plates. These materials make it harder for rats to chew through and get inside the property.
2. Store Food and Leftovers in Thick Containers
These furry pests are attracted to open food sources more than anything. Although most of them prefer nuts, seeds, and grains, rats are opportunistic feeders that will consume anything available to them. This long list can include smaller rodents, tiny insects, and meat. They will also eat pet food, which is why it’s important to clean up the leftovers after the pet’s mealtime.
Keep the rats out of your home by eliminating their potential food sources. Store all food in thick containers or put them inside the refrigerator. It’s also important to clean the dishes to prevent the rats from feasting on the leftovers from the dirty plates.
3. Keep the Yard Clean and Garbage Bins Closed
Aside from being another food source, the vegetation in the yard also serves as a good cover for these rodents, which is why it’s important to regularly trim the shrubs and trees adjacent to the home. For roof rats that are excellent climbers, they can use the tree branches near the roof to get inside the attic and build a home there.
One more simple but effective way to keep rats away is to cover all the garbage bins at home. Leaving them unsealed is like inviting the rats to feast on the trash. It’s also important to keep them out of the sun to slow down the garbage decomposition and reduce the smell.
4. Set Up Traps and Baits
Trapping rats is a method utilized by rodent control services to put a dent in the rat population. To maximize its effectiveness, the type of trap to be used should be carefully considered. The traps should also be placed in strategic places for quicker extermination.
Here are some of the common rat traps that can be bought from the market:
Snap Traps – Snap traps are the traditional yet effective way of catching mice. These traps utilize a metal bar that snaps shut with a strong force to kill the trapped rat. However, snap traps should not be used in areas where pets or children tend to play. The snapping force of the trap is enough to accidentally cause injuries.
Glue Traps – Glue traps are much easier to use than other types of rat traps because they don’t require baiting or a complicated setting. After inspecting the property and identifying the possible pathway of the rodents, just place the glue traps in their runways to catch them as they run.
Electronic Traps – For a more humane and modern option, electronic traps can also be used to get rid of rats. These traps utilize high-voltage shock to kill the trapped rat. Since they are non-toxic, electronic traps are safe to use around pets and kids. However, electronic traps cannot be used outside the home because they are not waterproof.
5. Use Homemade Deterrents
Homemade and natural deterrents are also useful in keeping the rats at bay. Some scents, such as peppermint can irritate the nasal passage of these pests, effectively preventing them from entering the home for some time.
Peppermint Oil – The refreshing scent of peppermint oil for humans means a bitter smell for rats that they can’t stand. Just put a few drops of the peppermint oil on some cotton balls and leave them in rat-prone areas, such as the kitchen or attic.
Ammonia – Another odor that rats can’t tolerate is the pungent smell of ammonia. By mixing two cups of ammonia, one-quarter of water, and two teaspoons of detergent in a bowl, you can keep rats away from the home.
Mothballs – Mothballs are also effective rat repellents. They are also easily available in markets. Just place them in rat-infested areas like the kitchen or the attic to fend the pests off. However, the smell of mothballs can also be harmful to humans so keep them away from the areas where children frequently stay.
Pepper Flakes – Aside from driving them away with the spicy smell, pepper flakes also make it difficult for the rats to breathe. Just sprinkle pepper flakes along corners and entryways used by rats. It’s important to sprinkle the pepper again every few days to keep the rats out.
Caulk and Steel Wool – By filling the gaps and other rat entry points with caulk and steel wool mixture, the rat will have a hard time chewing through the material. This is because the material gets stuck in their teeth, making it difficult for them to move or chew.
Although these remedies might be effective for some time, they cannot be considered long-term solutions to keep rats away. Rodents like mice and rats are highly adaptable; it will only take them a few days to get used to the smell of natural repellents and when they do, only traps and professional exterminators might be able to eliminate them.
6. Adopt a Rat Predator
Aside from providing you with companionship, some pets are also useful in keeping a few rodents away. If you’re planning to adopt a pet that can help with preventing rats from entering the home, here are a few choices:
Cats – Cats are the natural enemy of rodents. Just make sure to adopt an active cat that’s not too domesticated because these cats are usually not interested in hunting or killing rats. Some cats even toy with a dying rat, which can be a health hazard to you and your family.
Dogs – Some dog breeds, like terriers, are bred to catch smaller earth-dwelling animals like rats. They are skilled in digging holes and chasing down rodents; these breeds are known as “ratters”. Other known ratter breeds include German pinschers and dachshunds.
Snakes – Snakes also enjoy hunting mice for dinner. But the problem with keeping one at home is that it might be hard to monitor where they are when set loose. They can also be injured by the rat if the rodent decides to retaliate.
Weasels and Ferrets – These cuddly pets are excellent rodent hunters because they can easily fit into tiny spaces. They are also agile enough to chase the rats around the home.
As useful as keeping these pets are, they are not enough to stop a rat infestation from growing out of control. They can catch a rat or two every now and then, but it’s important to remember that these pests breed rapidly; the rodent that your pet managed to kill might have already given birth to ten rats before it was caught.
High-Quality Rodent Extermination Services by Positive Pest Management
If you need help in dealing with the rat problem in your home, contact Positive Pest Management now. Our staff has 15 years of experience in providing high-quality rodent control and exterminating services using safe and environment-friendly methods.
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Rodents can wreak havoc on your home when left unchecked. As scavengers on the lookout for resources, they can chew through your walls, destroy your food stash, and even gnaw on the insulation of your electrical wires to get what they need. It’s crucial to pay attention to signs of a rodent’s presence in your house before it’s too late.
So what are the signs that you have rodents lurking in your home? Here are 10 things that can alert you to a potential rodent infestation:
Droppings
Gnaw marks
Nests or burrows
Grease marks
Scurrying noises
An actual rodent (dead or alive)
Footprints
Tampered food
Foul smells
Unusual pet activity
10 Common Signs of A Rodent Infestation
Rats and mice may differ in the way they look but they act similarly. You will know if there is a rodent in your home if you spot any of the following signs:
1. Droppings
You can be certain that there’s a rodent in your home if you see their droppings around. Rodent droppings are black, oval-shaped pellets that look like grains of rice. Fresh droppings are usually dark and moist while older droppings would look dry, gray, and dusty. It’s important to keep these descriptions in mind because you may mistake them for cockroach droppings.
A mouse or rat can produce up to 50 droppings a day and you’ll see these pellets in areas where the rodents are most active, such as their nesting or feeding sites. You can also expect to see droppings close to where food is stored, like kitchen cabinets or pantries. When you encounter rodent droppings, be sure to wear protective gloves when you dispose of them in a sealed plastic bag. Do not vacuum or sweep them because any disturbance may cause them to release virus and bacteria particles.
2. Gnaw marks
All rodents have special teeth that allow them to chew through most surfaces. These incisors grow continuously so rats and mice have to find hard materials to gnaw on. If rodents are in your home, you would see gnaw marks all over the wooden structures, pipes, and cardboard boxes in your home.
Both mice and rats can gnaw on plastic, rubber, cables, and wiring but their favorite is wood. Aside from marks, you may also see wood chips or coarse sawdust lying around. You would know if a mark on wood was made by a rodent if it was light-colored when new, then darkened as time went on. Gnaw marks can also help you identify if you have a rat or mouse problem because larger marks indicate rats, who have larger teeth.
3. Nests or burrows
Rats and mice like to build warm and cozy nests where they can. Outdoors, you can spot their burrows as unusual lumps or holes around your lawn. It’s a little less easy to find them indoors because they choose dark, secluded, and undisturbed areas to live in. They chew small holes inside drawers, cabinets, or other furniture and stuff these spaces with soft, fuzzy nesting materials.
If you see unexpected tears or holes in clothing or bedding, you can assume a rodent bit these objects to get to the materials inside. They also like building their nests with shredded newspapers, cardboard, furniture stuffing, and grass. You will know they are there if you see any of these fibrous items scattered around.
4. Grease marks
Rodents are nocturnal animals with poor vision. Because of this limitation, they tend to follow the same route for feeding every night and stick close to the walls. In doing so, the dirt and oils on their fur create a pattern of grease marks on the wall. If you see any of the dark rub marks, you can assume that this area sees a lot of rodent traffic. You can be doubly sure if you spot any droppings and smell urine along these paths.
5. Scurrying noises
Most rodents are active at night so don’t be alarmed if you can hear scurrying, scratching noises when you’re getting ready to sleep. Rats and mice can squeeze through the tiniest entrances and travel through your walls on their way to undisturbed areas like your attic. If you hear squeaking noises, you can guess there is more than one rodent present as they communicate through these sounds.
6. An actual rodent (dead or alive)
Of course, you can be absolutely sure there are mice or rats in the house if you see one. Whether they are dead or alive, more sightings mean more rodents. This is a big problem because rats and mice breed fast.
Seeing a live rodent during the daytime may also indicate a large infestation. Mice and rats operate in a hierarchical social system. This means weaker rodents are forced to be disadvantaged and have to scavenge for scraps during the day, rather than at night.
7. Footprints
Mice and rats leave a lot of tracks behind when they travel. Their footprints and even tail prints would appear in dusty areas. Mice have tiny feet with a length of 3/8 inch or less. Rat feet are much larger at 3/4 - 1 inch long and they drag their tails behind them as they move.
To check for footprints, you can shine a flashlight on an area you suspect mice and rats to pass by. You may also see smudge marks, urine stains, or droppings here. If you’re still unsure, you can coat the floor with a thin layer of baby powder or flour to see if the rodents are active.
8. Tampered food
Rodents enjoy the same foods we do such as grains, seeds, nuts, cereals, fruits, meats, and chocolate. An adult mouse can eat 3 - 4 grams of food per day, making up to 30 visits to their preferred food source. This could be your pantry, cupboard, or even where you stash dog food. Rats are even bigger eaters who can consume up to 10% of their body weight daily.
Unfortunately, rodents will nibble on anything they think smells nice -- even soap. They will leave strange holes or tears through food packaging during their pantry raids. If you suspect that your food has been tampered with, do not eat these. Rodents may have contaminated them with their saliva, transmitting diseases like salmonella and hantavirus.
9. Foul smells
Rodents leave a very distinct, musky scent in their urine. The stench of ammonia can be strong in enclosed areas where they lurk, such as cabinets, drawers, or dark attic corners. You might even smell them through the floorboard or walls where they travel. While some do this to mark their territory, others simply have weak bladders.
Another foul smell that can alert you of rodent is the smell of a dead rat or mouse. The rotting carcass emits a terrible odor that can cause headaches and nausea. If you plan on removing a dead rodent yourself, wear protective gear before touching it.
10. Unusual pet activity
Pets have an extraordinary sense of smell which can help you figure out where rodents are hiding. If your dogs or cats paw or sniff a spot they normally wouldn’t, there is a good chance they can smell rats or mice. It’s no guarantee if the rodents are still there but it’s a point you should raise with your exterminator.
Positive Pest Management: The Leading Pest Extermination Service in NY
New York is one of the most populous areas in the US, which makes it an ideal home for rodents and pests since they can access plenty of resources.
Protect your living space from these critters by calling Positive Pest Management, one of the city’s finest pest control service providers. We handle all kinds of pest issues and infestations with solutions that fit your unique situation. Call us to schedule an inspection today.
Squirrels are animals best known for scurrying up trees and storing nuts for the winter. They are indigenous to Europe, North America, and Asia but have been introduced to other places like Australia as well. Due to their appearance, many people wonder if squirrels are classified as rodents.
So are squirrels rodents? The answer is yes. Squirrels belong to the Sciuridae family in the scientific order Rodentia. They are the medium-sized cousins of marmots, chipmunks, and prairie dogs. Like every other rodent, they have special teeth that are continuously growing. Squirrels are also considered pests in various areas because they can cause damages to properties.
Are Squirrels Rodents?
Rodents are the largest order of mammals, animals that breathe air and give birth to live babies instead of eggs. There are over 1500 species of rodents worldwide, except for Antarctica. These animals can survive in almost any habitat such as tundras, forests, rain forests, grasslands, and deserts. As most rodents are omnivores, their diet allows them to adapt to new environments.
There are three major groups of rodents:
Mouse-like rodents with long whiskers, tails, and pointed faces
Cavy-like rodents such as guinea pigs with shorter tails, stronger bodies, and large heads
Squirrels with flexible bodies, soft fur, and bushy tails
Some rodents have evolved with different features from others. Chipmunks and hamsters, for example, have pouches in their mouths good for storing excess food. Other rodents like beavers are capable of living in the water. Rodents come in all shapes and sizes too, from tiny field mice to pig-sized capybaras.
The one thing all rodents have in common is their special, extra-large and strong teeth. Rodents have sharp, chisel-like upper and lower incisors that never stop growing. These mammals use their teeth to gnaw on food and carve out shelter. Although they are considered to be prey for many animals, their sharp senses and agility allow them to use their teeth and claws for defense.
Squirrels are distinct among rodents for having long, fluffy tails. These creatures have dark eyes, small ears, and pointed faces. Squirrels often have brown, black, or gray fur -- although a few have red fur. They weigh around 11 - 18 pounds and can climb trees quickly, thanks to their sharp claws. An average squirrel will also have larger hind legs and smaller front paws that resemble human hands with padding.
Why Squirrels Are Considered Pests
Squirrels have a better reputation than other rodents like rats or mice. Squirrels want to be left alone so they’re harmless for most of the time. However, squirrels are forced to move to urban areas as their natural habitats are threatened or destroyed. Living alongside humans makes squirrels more likely to become destructive nuisances in the long-term.
One reason why squirrels are considered pests is because of the health hazard they pose. Squirrels are the primary carriers of rabies, tick fever, and powassan encephalitis. The insects living on squirrel bodies like fleas or ticks are also carriers of diseases.
If squirrels manage to infiltrate human spaces, they leave behind urine and droppings that are unsanitary for the people moving in these places. The smell of dead squirrel bodies can also cause humans headaches and nausea. Sick or cornered squirrels also have the tendency to fight back by biting or clawing. Those that are accustomed to humans are especially fearless and territorial.
Another reason why squirrels are so fearsome to homeowners is that they can cause a lot of damage to properties while on their quest to find food and shelter. While many squirrels climb in through chimneys, some opt to chew their way through walls and roof tiles as they look for a nesting hole. The holes, cracks, and burrows squirrels make invite other pests like bats and insects into the house as well.
In outdoor spaces, squirrels will chew through trees and ornamental plants to take care of their growing teeth. As they hide acorns in trees or bury nuts in the ground, squirrels also damage the lawns as they dig. Farms, food storage and food processing facilities should also be wary of squirrel infestations because these creatures can easily eat through the produce.
How To Identify A Squirrel Infestation In Your Home
The best way to prevent squirrel-related damages from happening is to stay aware. Knowing the signs of their presence will keep you alert and prepared for any possible infestation. Some ways to identify possible squirrel infestations are:
Squirrels fighting around the area: If you spot squirrels fighting in your neighborhood, it is a sign that your home is at risk. When squirrels fight, it usually means there is a large population around and they’re all squabbling over the limited resources available.
Footprints and tracks: Squirrels have small front paws with four toes and large back paws with five toes. This makes their tracks easy to identify, especially during the winter when there is snow or mud on the ground. In warmer seasons, you can see their footprints if their paws get dusty or wet. If you suspect squirrels around your property, place a piece of cardboard covered in flour on the high-traffic area to check if footprints will appear.
Water damage on your walls or ceiling: When large squirrel populations are present in an area, their feces and urine may build up and seep into the structures. Their waste will affect the wood and insulation with staining, peeling, or bubbling on your walls.
Strange noises during the rainy season and winter months: You are more likely to hear the squirrels before you see them. If you do have squirrels in your home, you can hear a lot of scurrying, scampering, chewing, or scratching noises. These sounds are usually accompanied by physical damages and teeth marks.
Droppings and foul odors: Urine, droppings, and the smell of dead squirrel bodies will alert you of their presence in your home. Droppings are also easiest to identify as they are dark pellets left around the garage, attic, or other entry points. Be cautious when cleaning up after squirrels as their waste could contain diseases and bacteria. It’s best to avoid touching these directly so use gloves and other protective gear.
5 Steps To Take If You Do Have A Squirrel Infestation
After figuring out whether or not you’re dealing with squirrels, you have to remove them from the premises and prevent them from entering in the future. Here are a few steps to take when you’re dealing with squirrels:
Check for baby squirrels or a nest, especially if you catch an adult squirrel from March - September.
Wear protective clothing like long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and leather gloves to cover yourself from potential bites or scratches.
Cut down overhanging tree limbs, vines, and shrubs to keep squirrels away from your roof.
Repair holes, gaps, and cracks on the building structure. You can also consider using a chimney cap or attic vent screens.
Remove bird feeders or mount them high up with a cone-shaped baffle. Squirrels are more likely to damage hanging feeders by climbing down the wire or shaking the wire until food drops to the ground.
NYC Rodent Control With Positive Pest Management
Instead of handling the risk of a squirrel infestation yourself, it’s best to go directly to a professional pest control service. Pest control specialists are well-versed in trapping, killing, or relocating squirrels.
At Positive Pest Management, we have years of experience in dealing with all types of pests. Contact us today for an initial inspection.
Mice have lived side-by-side with humans for centuries, causing health problems and damaging structures along the way. In response, humans have invented repellents to prevent mice and other rodents from entering their homes and commercial spaces.
So what repellent works best against mice? One of the top-rated mice repellents on the market is the Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent Scent Pouches. This rodent repellent works well to prevent mice from infesting small, enclosed spaces. It can also be used in tandem with other methods to get rid of mice completely.
What Are Repellents And How Do They Work?
A mouse repellent or deterrent is something you set up inside a building that is considered to be unpleasant to mice. A mouse repellent could be a sound or a smell that mice dislike intensely and avoid. When a deterrent is placed in a room, rodents would stay away from that area. There are two types of mice repellents: scent and ultrasonic.
Scent repellents
A scent-based repellent tries to drive rodents away through their sensitive sense of smell. Scent repellents may be packaged in sachets, granules or plug-ins. These are formulated with non-toxic natural materials like peppermint or other essential oils so they are safe to use around children and pets.
Scent-sachets are best suited to smaller rooms and spaces like closets or cabinets. However, you can also choose to place multiple sachets in one large room to deter mice and rodents. Generally, scent-sachet are among the cheapest choices for repellents.
Granules are designed for outdoor use. You can scatter these poison-free granules around the perimeter of the building, creating a barrier that mice and rats wouldn’t want to cross. Granular repellents should be kept fresh and dry. This means regularly replacing them after rainfall or when “gaps” in the barrier appear.
Plug-in scent repellents are ideal for larger rooms. You will need to plug these into an outlet so they can diffuse the formula inside the room. Most plug-in scent repellents are formulated with minty scents that humans will appreciate.
Ultrasonic repellents
Ultrasonic repellents are a newer technological development. These deterrents work by emitting sound waves that only mice and other small rodents can hear. Although humans won’t be affected by this high-frequency noise, it could sound like a jackhammer to mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and other tiny creatures.
Although ultrasonic repellents are totally free of poison and other chemicals, it is not safe to use if you own pet rodents. The good thing is that ultrasonic sound cannot penetrate through walls so you may be able to use it as long as you keep your pets in a different room.
To use an ultrasonic repellent, you need to plug it into the lowest outlet of the room. It shouldn’t be blocked by furniture or else the noise will not be effective. Some manufacturers design their ultrasonic repellent to emit a light when it’s working. Once the light goes out, you would know that it’s time to replace the device.
Currently, there is not much research that supports the effectiveness of ultrasonic mice repellents. Many experts are still questioning if this method really works in keeping rodents away.
Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent Scent Pouches: Effective Against Mice
Among scent repellents, the rodent repellent pouches produced by Fresh Cab Botanical is one of the most effective and affordable options around. This product is registered with the EPA as it meets the federal standards for professional pest control. The herbal mix in the repellent is non-toxic and is made to target mice or rats specifically.
How do Fresh Cab rodent repellent pouches work?
The Fresh Cab rodent repellent scent pouches are made of balsam fir oil, which is used as a biochemical pesticide that repels rodents with an offensive odor. Balsam fir oil may smell fresh to humans but it has a significant negative impact on a rodent’s nervous system. For mice, the scent makes them anxious to get away.
What do Fresh Cab rodent repellent pouches smell like?
Aside from balsam fir, the Fresh Cab scent pouches also include a mix of other essential oils like lavender, orange, lemon, cedar, and rosemary. These oils coat the base of the repellent made of small, organic grain balls. Each package comes with four patented pouches that slowly release the oils.
While the pouches themselves don’t leave a mess, the oils may seep through the breathable fabric. It is recommended that the scent pouches aren’t kept near food or clothes. There should also be a small piece of plastic under each pouch.
How many Fresh Cab rodent repellent pouches should be used?
Unlike a spray scent repellent you need to use every day, you simply have to remove the plastic wrapping from the pouches and place them in areas mice like to lurk in. These could be drop ceilings, crawl spaces, wall voids, and other gaps that are hard to reach.
Each pouch can cover 125 square feet of floor space and last up to 90 days. Ideally, these should be replaced every 30 days to achieve maximum effect. Fresh Cab rodent repellent scent pouches are best used as a preventive measure but can also help combat large infestations by placing one pouch for every 8 sq. ft. instead of the usual amount.
Although some users claim that this product is not effective, it’s possible that they were trying to use it for a large infestation. The pouches will also not work in too dry or too humid areas. If there are issues with using the product, their customer help desk may help. The company also offers a full, money-back guarantee if the scent pouches were bought from an official retailer.
Debunking Three Myths About Mice Repellents
Rodent infestations are notoriously difficult to get rid of. Not only are mice and rats well-equipped at hiding and building nests in unexpected places, but they also reproduce at a very fast rate. As people face these rodent-related problems, they may turn to solutions discussed online that aren’t necessarily effective.
Before you begin repelling mice, it’s important to learn what works and what doesn’t. Here are some myths about mice repellent that you should stay cautious of:
Myth #1: You can get rid of mice with only one method.
Repellent is known for deterring rodents. That means you can set up repellents to buy yourself some time to set up traps or hire pest control. However, repellents alone won’t be able to protect your home from rodents completely.
Once the mice are established residents inside your walls and have easy access to food and water, they will be determined to stay. You have spread out your repellents across the building and use a combination of traps and baits to protect your home. Most exterminators and pest control specialists work to create a multi-layered approach to getting rid of all rodents from your premises.
Myth #2: Mice repellents are 100% effective.
It’s hard to say with absolute certainty that anything is 100% effective. There are a lot of factors that affect how mice repellents work. Some rodents aren’t as sensitive towards odors. Other mice and rats may also be too deaf to hear any high-frequency sounds from an ultrasonic repellent.
There is also a matter of expectations. Many homeowners think repellents can eliminate mice and prevent them from multiplying inside the property. However, the best a repellent can do is to drive them away temporarily.
This is why it’s not advisable to rely solely on repellents to keep mice away from your property. You have to implement other measures such as sealing potential entry points and clearing out food scraps so mice don’t have a reason to hang around your home.
Myth #3: Natural mouse repellents and DIY home remedies work.
Peppermint, moth balls, and cayenne pepper are among the natural mouse repellents discussed on the internet. The problem with these home remedies is that they only work temporarily. For a brief moment, a mouse will be repelled by the smell of pepper but they are smart and adaptable.
Mice are used to living in sewers and other foul-smelling places so they can easily put up with the new scents you introduce. Once rodents find a warm, safe home with ample food, they will try to stay for generations. They can simply move away from the repellent and build a new nest elsewhere.
3 Tips To Help You Deal With A Mouse Infestation
The best way to make mice repellents work is to incorporate other pest control methods into your approach. It’s not enough to introduce deterrents into your property and call it a day. If you suspect to have a mouse infestation, you have to keep other rodents out and find a humane way to exterminate the ones inside efficiently. Here are three tips you can follow to minimize a rodent infestation:
1. Seal off all entry points.
Mice are evasive, to say the least. When you come across them, they are too tiny and nimble to be caught. They are also quick to get into holes, gaps, and even cracks that you won’t be able to reach. Because of these qualities, they are adept at avoiding capture and can live in your home for an indefinite period of time.
Sealing off the entry points will help you to prevent them from escaping into a narrow entrance or getting back inside the house. Once you close off the weak spots in the property, it would be much easier to eliminate mice. Caulking and steel wool work best to block these entrances off.
Entry points could be anything like ventilation, plumbing tubes, defective floors, or holes in the wall. If you can poke a pencil through an entrance, a mouse can squeeze itself inside. They can also gnaw through most materials like wood, concrete, and soft metals.
Be sure to check on entry points located in your basement or attic. These cozy, out-of-the-way areas are usually undisturbed -- making it perfect for nesting.
2. Eliminate all potential sources of food, water, and nesting materials.
Unclean houses feel welcoming to mice. Not only can they move freely amidst the clutter, but they can easily gather resources unnoticed. They can eat crumbs off the floor, drink from leaky pipes, and make their nests with shredded scrap paper.
A mouse won’t have a reason to stay long on your property if they don’t have access to any basic resources. By keeping your home clean, you keep rodent visits short. Be sure to do the following:
Sweep floors and countertops regularly
Keep garbage cans sealed tightly
Repair leaky pipes and faucets
Dispose of any leftover pet food
Wash the dishes at night
Store all food in airtight containers or glass jars
Maintaining your outdoor area is also key because mice have no problem living in the open. Trim down your shrubs and overgrown grass to prevent them from nesting there. You should also turn over your compost piles and store firewood 20 feet away from your home as well.
3. Use traps, poison baits, or bait stations.
When used effectively, traps and baits would work wonders alongside mouse repellents. Mouse traps are still considered the most effective and humane way to eliminate mice. There are other trapping products available if you prefer to capture and release the rodents instead. Bait stations are also a good option as they can lure and hold several mice at once.
Choosing the right bait can be tricky. Contrary to popular belief, cheese is not inviting to mice. They much prefer grains or nuts so a dab of sticky peanut butter on a trap works well. If you want to exterminate mice quickly, there is also poison bait to consider since mice will unknowingly bring back poisoned bait to share with the rest of their colony.
Once you have prepared your bait and trap combination, place these traps all over. Focus on secluded areas like the basement, attic, and garage because the mice will feel like their travel routes are limited. Hopefully, this cuts them off from food long enough to tempt them towards your bait.
Keep Your Property Mice-Free With Positive Pest Management
Unfortunately, even the best DIY solutions and repellents can’t handle large rodent infestations. Positive Pest Management will work with you to handle your mouse problems.
As a specialist in pest control for commercial, residential, and industrial properties, Positive Pest Management deals with rodents daily. We’re committed to finding permanent, cost-effective ways to free your property from pests. Call us for an initial property inspection.
Rat infestation in a home is a serious problem because they bring destruction and diseases with them. But in New York City – the country’s third most rat-infested city – rat sightings are so common that you can easily spot a rodent as you walk down an alley.
So why is rat infestation such a big problem in New York? Since they migrated to NYC in the late 1700s, rats have infested the city’s alleys, basements, and parks. The reason for centuries of rat infestation can be blamed on the abundance of trash in the city.
Why Does NYC Have So Many Rats?
Rats are prevalent in places where there are people, may it be in the countryside or the city. In places like New York, species like Rattus rattus (black rat) and Rattus norvegicus (Norwegian rat) thrive because of the abundant food sources.
These pests are also extremely clever, which is why it’s hard to get rid of them easily. They can learn different tools to use to their advantage. They are also extremely patient when consuming their food – they will take a small portion of the food first to make sure that it’s safe before eating the rest.
Another reason why it’s hard to eliminate them is that they can reproduce rapidly; a female rat can produce at least 8 pups per litter. These newborn rats will then start reproducing with other rats in just 5 weeks.
Rat Migration to NYC in the Late 1700s
Rats migrated to the city when ships from France and England arrived at the city ports in the late 1700s. Since then, they have been infesting the city’s streets, basements, and parks. Other species of rats also tried to enter the city during the US trade with Africa and Asia, but they were unable to gain a foothold because of the presence of Norwegian rats.
It’s no secret that rats are attracted to clutter and open food sources like the dumpster at the back of a restaurant. Since NYC produces up to 14 million tons of trash every year, the city is like a paradise to these rodents.
However, it’s nearly impossible for the trash piles in the city to get smaller. The least that residents can do is make it harder for the rats to access these dumpsters and garbage bins. One part of the city’s rat reduction plan is to replace the trash compactors in the city with ones that have a mailbox style opening.
Rats in New York: A Rapidly Growing Species
Despite figuring out what attracts them to the city, it’s hard to provide an exact number of rats present in New York. In 2014, statistician Jonathan Auerbach estimated the rat population in the city to be around 2 million. This was computed using the rat sightings in the city lots and estimating the number of rat colonies present per lot. But this estimate doesn’t account for the potential colonies that are found in the city’s underground.
There is also a variation in the rat sightings reported by different neighborhoods at different times of the year. The populations either spike or plummet depending on the season – sightings are particularly high during spring and early autumn. Because of the variables to be considered, the 2014 estimate should be taken with a grain of salt.
How Did the Pandemic Affect the Rat Infestation in New York?
The coronavirus outbreak has affected various industries and caused small businesses to close down. Among these establishments are the restaurants that had to take a break when the quarantine was in effect. Because of this, city rats had limited food sources during the pandemic, urging them to fight over the resources or resort to cannibalism.
Social distancing in the country has also allowed these rodents to move freely in the streets of New York. With fewer employees to perform rodent control services, rat infestations around NYC are bound to increase.
Attempts to Control the Rat Infestation in the City
The city’s Department of Health is responsible for enforcing rules and regulations about the rodent infestation problems in New York. Although they have recognized that completely eliminating these pests in the city is unrealistic, they have made various countermeasures that control the infestation’s prevalence.
The New York state government has become more active in approaching the rat issue by introducing a rodent control approach called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This rat control method focuses on implementing effective preventive measures and utilizing environmentally safe removal procedures. They also passed the Indoor Allergen Hazards Law in 2018 and announced a neighborhood rat reduction plan with a $32 million budget in 2017.
Indoor Allergen Hazards Law
For tenants renting an apartment in New York City, they don’t need to worry about the costs of rodent removal services when a rat infestation occurs in their unit. According to the Indoor Allergen Hazards Law (or Local Law 55 of 2018), building owners are required to keep the tenants’ apartments free of any indoor allergen including molds and pests like rodents and cockroaches. They are also expected to fix the conditions that caused these problems.
As stated in the Local Law 55 of 2018, owners are expected to:
Conduct annual inspections of the units for indoor allergen hazards
Ensure that the units are cleaned and free of molds and pests before a new tenant moves in
Provide the new tenants with a copy of the pamphlets and fact sheets about the dangers of rat presence in the apartment and how to keep them away
Remediate the pest infestation using Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Remediate mold conditions and solve the main problem that caused it (standing water, moisture condition, leaks, etc.)
In addition to the owner's requirements, the tenants must also keep an active role in preventing the rats and other indoor allergens from entering the unit. The tenants are expected to:
Keep their unit dry and clean
Place their food in properly sealed containers
Keep the sinks and counters clean
Remove clutter, such as paper bags and newspapers
Cover the garbage cans with tight-fitting lids
Tie the garbage bags before removing them from the apartment
Avoid applying chemicals and other pesticides that have strong smells
The $32 Million Rat Reduction Plan
In July 2017, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio introduced a multi-agency plan to reduce the rat population in the city by targeting three of its most infested parts: Lower East Side, Bushwick/Bedford-Stuyvesant, and the Grand Concourse area. This initiative attempted to lower the rat activity in the city by up to 70% by limiting the food sources and available shelters.
Mayor de Blasio said in his speech that the city refuses to accept rats as a normal part of living in NYC. These pests can contaminate food and spread diseases, reducing the overall quality of life for people in the city. As part of the rat reduction plan, the Mayor’s administration implemented the following programs in the mitigation zones:
New waste containers
Installation of rat pads in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) buildings
Better trash management in DOHMH-designated areas
More anti-rat staff and frequent trash pickup schedules
Better enforcement of rat-related violations
Introduction of new laws that call for better trash management
Rodent Problems in Your Property? Call Positive Pest Management Now
Here at Positive Pest Management, we provide our clients with the highest quality rodent control and exterminating services. Our services areas include residential and commercial buildings in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan.
For all the rodent problems on your property, call us now at 1-800-294-3130 for a safe and effective rat extermination service.
Mice are one of the worst pests that can take over a home – they bring deadly diseases, steal food, and destroy things. In a big city like New York, which is already known for having tons of mice, it’s only a matter of time before mice invade your apartment. Fortunately, there are a few ways that can help keep even the smartest rodents out of an apartment.
So how can you keep mice away from the apartment? Some of the most effective methods for a mouse-free home is to use peppermint oil, adopt a cat, seal off all possible entryways, store food in thick canisters, and keep a lid on the garbage cans.
What Can I Do to Protect My Apartment from Mice?
One of the biggest challenges of living in the big apple is the huge chance that rats and mice might nest in your home sooner or later. As the third most pest-infested city in the country, residents should follow a few preventive tips to avoid the hassle of trying to get rid of mice.
To stop an infestation before it even happens, tenants will need to dedicate plenty of time to examining the apartment and making changes to keep mice out. Here are some things to do for a mouse-free home:
Use Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is a good deterrent because the strong menthol odor can irritate the nasal passage of a mouse. However, this can only be used as a preventive measure and won’t get rid of mice once they reach the apartment. It’s only a short-term solution because the mice will eventually get used to smell in the long run.
There are a few ways to utilize peppermint as mice repellent. One method is to pour three to five drops of the oil into a cotton ball and place it in areas around the apartment where rodents enter. Another way is to dilute the essential oil and create a spray that will be spritz around the place. Others grow peppermint around the perimeter of the apartment to deter mice entry.
Seal off Possible Entryways
Blocking all entry points to the apartments is another effective way to get rid of mice. Since they attempt to squeeze through the small crack in a home, it’s best to find these openings immediately and seal the gaps using caulk and steel wool.
During fall and winter, rodents get inside homes trying to seek warmth. It’s also better to check the attic and garage to seal the openings with materials they can’t chew through, like steel wool.
Store Your Food in Canisters
Dry foods like flour, sugar, grains, cereals are easy targets for rodents because they are kept in paper cartons and left alone in the kitchen. Prevent these little creatures from contaminating or stealing food by keeping it in a metal or thick plastic container. Storing it in high places or inside the refrigerator will also lessen the mice’s chances of reaching it.
Adopt a Pet
Aside from being great companions, pets can also serve as natural pest control as they hunt for mice around the apartment.
However, some domesticated cats don’t really pay attention even if they see a mouse scurrying around the apartment. It’s better to adopt active cats who aren’t bored to hunt mice. If you prefer dogs, there are also some breeds, like terriers, who have a great reputation as mouse catchers.
Ironically, adopting pets can attract rodents if the pet food is left exposed or stored in thin plastic containers. Always clean the pet’s eating area and keep all of their food properly sealed in thick plastic canisters. Pets can be motivated to hunt mice for food if they aren’t left to nibble on snacks all day.
Keep a Lid on Garbage Cans
Another simple but effective way of getting rid of mice at home or other nearby areas is to keep the trash cans sealed. Open garbage containers are an invitation to mice, rats, and other bigger pests that’s why they should be kept closed all the time. If possible, place the dump area as far from the house as possible.
It’s also important to always take out the trash from inside the apartment. This way, rodents won’t have any reason to build a nest in your home. You should also wash dirty dishes regularly and put away all leftovers into the refrigerator.
Signs of Mice Infestation in Your Apartment
When you’re getting rid of mice, it’s also crucial to constantly monitor the apartment for signs of infestation. Even if pest control services have been called, residents can’t make sure that all the mice inside the home are gone. Here are some signs to check if there are mice still lurking in the house:
Squeaking Noises – Mice are nocturnal animals so there is a chance that tenants will hear squeaking noises at night. They can run inside the walls or in the attic while you’re asleep.
Gnaw Marks – These chew marks are usually found on dry food packaging or some structures of the house. Check the color of the marks – lighter ones are newer and could be a sign of an ongoing infestation. If the gnaw marks become bigger, there’s a chance that rats are also present in the apartment.
Mice Droppings – In contrast to gnaw marks, mice droppings are darker when they are new. They can also be found near food packages, but there will be more droppings the nearer they are to the nest.
Foul Odor – Mice emit a musky scent that will eventually become apparent the longer it’s left. If humans can’t smell it yet, pets are excellent in detecting this particular odor. Once they start paring at an area that it previously wasn’t interested in, have that place examined to make sure it’s not a mice nest.
When the presence of mice inside the apartment has been confirmed, call pest control services to get rid of them. You can also try to lure them out of hiding places using peanut butter and mouse traps to catch them. Glue traps and snap traps can also work in getting rid of mice.
What Damages Can a Mice Infestation Bring?
Aside from being a nuisance at home, a mice infestation can bring a lot of damages. Here are some serious consequences if a mice infestation is not solved immediately:
Diseases
Mice can bring viruses, bacteria, parasites, and other disease-causing microbes with them. This is why they are a huge threat to the family’s health. Here is a list of the illnesses caused by mice and other vermin:
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
Leptospirosis
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis
Plague
Rat-Bite Fever
Salmonellosis
Tularemia
Structural Damage
Although they are small in size, mice could definitely wreak havoc inside the home. By gnawing on pipes, electrical wirings, and more, mice can cause mild to severe structural damages such as:
Gnaw marks on expensive furniture
Nests inside ducts
Fires and short circuits
Water leaks and floods
Positive Pest Management: Best Mouse Exterminators in NYC
Need help getting rid of mice at home? Contact Positive Pest Management now. With more than 15 years of experience in the industry, we are skilled and equipped with the right tools to effectively eliminate rodents and keep mice away from the property.
Get rid of mice permanently with the help of Positive Pest Management. Visit our website to learn more about our cost-effective pest control services.
Pest problems are damaging to both the home and health of the residents. If you’re living in a rented apartment, all you need to do is report the infestation to the owner and they will take care of it. But if the mouse problem is still not solved after a few weeks, it might be better to move out and find a new home.
So is it possible to break your lease because of mice infestation? In New York, landlord tenant laws require owners to provide their tenants with a safe and habitable unit. If the landlord neglects the lease agreement and fails to act on the issue even after your notification, then it’s legal to break the lease without paying for the rent of the remaining months.
Does Mice Infestation Justify Terminating My Lease?
According to NYC’s Local Law 55 of 2018, also known as the Indoor Allergen Hazards Law, property owners are required to lease their tenants with a safe and habitable home. This means that landlords should keep the units mold and pest-free. They should fix the conditions that caused the problem – it can be sealing up wall cracks, fixing water leaks, and others.
If the pests still persist even when the issue has been reported multiple times, then you have enough reason to break your lease due to the health hazard that it poses. However, you must keep written proof that the landlord was informed and given enough time to provide a solution.
What Should I Do When Mice Infestation Occurs?
In most homes, owners contact a trusted pest management company or attempt to solve the rodent problems alone by buying rodenticides or setting up traps. But it might be a different case for rented units because legally, the property is not theirs.
As the third most rodent-infested city in the country, it is the landlord’s responsibility to lease their tenant with a safe and habitable home. All you need to do is to contact the landlord and notify them about the rodent problem. If the hazard is still not fixed after giving them an ample amount of time, you can file a complaint against them online or call 311.
Before deciding to break the lease, you can also consider the “repair and deduct” option. This means you can have the repairs done and just subtract the costs from the next month’s rent. Make sure there is written proof that the problem is significant and the landlord was informed of the condition a couple of times before taking matters into your own hands. You should also keep receipts from the pest control company to justify the deductions made.
Tenant and Landlord Mice Infestation Responsibilities
Upon signing a landlord tenant agreement, read it thoroughly so that you are aware of the owner’s responsibilities and renter’s duties. Although it is the landlord’s task to keep the place habitable, keeping mice away from the unit is a joint responsibility that tenants must actively participate in.
Here are the tenant responsibilities and owner requirements as stated in the Indoor Allergen Hazards Law of New York City:
Tenant Responsibilities
Although the law requires the landlords to keep the unit habitable, tenants should also play an active role in preventing indoor allergens such as pests and molds from plaguing the apartment. They are expected to:
Keep the unit dry and clean
Get rid of cluttered newspapers and bags
Store food using sealed containers
Clean sinks and counters
Take out the garbage and tie them up
Avoid chemicals and pesticides that have strong smells
Once tenants notice a leak, mold growth, or pests in the apartment, the first thing they must do is contact the landlord. If the condition is still not fixed for some time, they can call 311 or file a complaint against the landlord online. They can also request for a free home environmental inspection through the NYC Health Department online registry if someone in the unit has asthma and pests or molds in the unit are discovered.
Owner Requirements
The “owners” defined by the law are those residential building proprietors who possess three or more units. These landlords are expected to:
Perform annual inspections of the units for indoor allergen hazards (mice, rats, cockroaches, and mold).
Respond to hazards reported by the tenants or received from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Ensure that the units are cleaned and free of indoor allergens before the new tenant moves in.
Give the tenants a copy of the Local Law 55 fact sheet and a notice detailing the responsibility of the landlord to keep the building free of molds and pests.
Address pest infestation using Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Assess and remediate mold conditions.
They are also required to adhere to the city rules when identifying and correcting the root cause of the infestation. The IPM mentioned above includes:
Removing pest wastes, nests, and other debris using a HEPA vacuum.
Sealing and repairing gaps and cracks around the unit with durable materials to eliminate pest entry points.
Repairing the plumbing system to avoid leaks and water accumulation that serves as a water source for pests.
Installing door sweeps in the basement, hallways, and outside.
Minimal application of pesticides to be performed by a pest control company.
When to Contact Professional Pest Management Services
Once the tenant spots a mouse in the apartment, it’s best to notify the landlord about a possible mice problem. However, some landlords may be unresponsive, causing tenants to solve the problem on their own. But before suing the landlord for violating the lease contract, the tenant’s welfare should come first.
The renters can try a DIY solution but there might be times when calling a pest exterminator is the best option. Here are a few situations when professional help is needed:
Pests Don’t Go Away – If the home remedies and DIY solutions are not enough to get rid of mice problems, it’s better to contact pest management services. They will determine whether or not the problem is limited to mice.
Infestation Reoccurs – A recurring rodent infestation is not unusual but that landlords and renters prevent it from happening again. If they were successful in eliminating the pests during the first time, critters and rodents might return stronger. This is when calling pest control becomes their only hope. These companies are equipped with the right tools to eliminate rodents and keep them from coming back.
You’re Dealing with Larger Pests – Smaller pests like cockroaches or bed bugs can still be eradicated with proper management and a little pesticide. But if you’re dealing with mice and rats that bring diseases and cause property damages, it’s best to leave the job to the professionals.
Call Positive Pest Management for Mice Extermination
If mice are lurking in the apartment, calling a pest control company like Positive Pest Management can help eliminate the pests before they cause more damage. Using traps, baits, and other tools, we can guarantee to eliminate rodent problems and keep them away for good.
Our service areas include commercial and residential properties in the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. Call us now to book an appointment.
