Are DIY Rodent Control Methods Effective?

Rodents are one of the most commonly sighted pests in the UK, and the colder months often see a rise in rodent infestations as the outdoor animals seek a warm place with regular food access to see out the rest of winter.

With sightings of the pests on the rise, the team here at Pest Defence are looking at the popular home remedies and DIY solutions to rodent infestations, while asking the question on everyone’s minds: are these DIY rodent control methods effective?

Prevention

Prevention is always better than cure in the case of infestations, so ensure to do your utmost to make your home uninhabitable to rodents. Simple steps such as proofing holes to stop rat and mouse entry, and keeping food and refuse out of reach or in sealed containers will make your home less habitable to rodents.

Additionally, keeping up good levels of hygiene and tidiness in and around the home and carrying out regular checks for signs of rodent activity such as droppings and bite marks can go a long way in preventing a home infestation.

Rodent Traps

One of the most popular DIY control methods is trapping, which involves using one of the many varieties of rat or mouse trap to lure in the rodent with an edible treat. There are many foods that are attractive to rodents, from peanut butter and chocolate to tuna, although our technicians at Pest Defence often use professional rodent attractants that are not available over the counter.

While this method of rodent control might be sufficient if you have just one or two pests in your home, on a larger scale the use of traps is not always fully effective. While traps can only kill one mouse at a time, or a handful if you purchase multi-traps, a pair of mice can produce up to 120 offspring per year!

To make traps more effective, set them next to walls and hidden away in dark corners, no more than 10 feet apart. Estimate the size of your infestation and use double the amount of traps to increase your chance of catching all of the infestation. Also, another effective tip is to leave the trap unset and baited at least once to teach the mice to expect a treat in the traps.

Poisons

The use or rat and mouse poisons, or rodenticides, can be a very effective DIY method of dealing with a rodent infestation, but be aware that the poisons have to be used safely and in accordance with the instructions on the label to prevent harm to people (particularly children), domestic animals (particularly dogs), the environment and non-target wildlife.

The rat and mouse baits used by our technicians at Pest Defence Ltd are restricted for professional use only and are not available to the general public. However, there is a sizeable range of rodenticide products that are approved for amateur use and can be bought by unqualified people at most garden centres, supermarkets and DIY stores. Unfortunately, not all of the off-the-shelf poisons available for amateur use are particularly effective and it is difficult for consumers to select the most suitable rat or mouse poison to deal with the rodent problem at their home.

Additionally, some rats and mice are resistant to some of the poisons, with resistance to the chemicals becoming more widespread, and some rats and mice have learnt to avoid the commonly used traps and bait boxes. Another thing to be wary about when using rodenticide is the potential for rodents to die and rot somewhere in your home and cause a foul smell.

If you want to use a rodenticide to eradicate your rat or mouse problem, we strongly advise that you read and follow the instructions given on the product label, and place it in areas where it cannot be reached by children, domestic animals or wildlife. If you are at all uncertain, or the products used do not seem to be working, we would advise that you call Pest Defence Ltd, or another professional operator, for advice or to carry out the work to eradicate the rodent problem safely and effectively.

Rodent Repellents

There are a number of natural remedies, electronic pulses and sound wave repellents rumoured to make your home so uncomfortable for rodents that they leave. There is very little evidence, however, to show that such repellents have anything more than a short term effect on rodent infestations as rats and mice can adapt to a change in their environment very quickly and will not be driven away from a warm home and good food source so easily.

The team here at Pest Defence would advise you to spend your money on means of rodent eradication that are more likely to work.

Professional Rodent Control Service

To effectively and professionally remove a rodent infestation from your home, your best bet is to hire a professional and qualified pest control contractor who have the experience, know how, and materials to deal with an infestation quickly and efficiently.

Pest Defence Ltd has over 25 years of experience in the removal of rodent infestations and eliminate the problem in a safe and humane way. We’re so certain of our capabilities that we guarantee a rodent-free result. We can also offer you advice to reduce the likelihood of further infestations, as well as the materials you’ll need to do so. For more information on our services, get in contact today and we’ll be happy to help.