When rodent pest control is mentioned many will picture a piece of cheese intricately suspended on top of a thin metal spring trap that is more likely to catch our fingers in the process of setting it up than it is an actual mouse or rat.
While these primitive trapping devices still serve their purpose within households and businesses, and work relatively well, consumers often forget that the furry little rodent that gained access to their home likely did not stumble on the property alone.
In fact one of the key components in determining on if an animal is a pest is its ability to successfully breed among humans; something most rodents do very well.
So before disposing of that single rodent and fetching an ice pack to relieve your sore finger that was whacked three times while setting up the trap, there are a few other precautionary measures to knock out in order to finish a proper rodent pest control sweep of your home.
The very first thing to consider is exactly how the rodent gained entry in the first place.
While it is entirely possible that the little furry critter scooted right past you while the front door was opened, odds are much more likely that the rodent entered through a warped floor board, crack within an exterior wall, or was even born within the confines of your home.
A mouse only requires a space the size of a quarter to pass its body through, and the obvious first step would be to inspect the entire exterior of your residence for such an opening.
Once the entryway is discovered it can be filled with numerous caulks or sealants, and if the opening is large enough it may require further repair.
If your home has a crawlspace underneath thoroughly inspect the floorboards to ensure none of them can be manipulated and replace any that show signs of age.
Now that the home is sealed like a time operated vault, a method of destruction must be decided on.
The spring traps mentioned above definitely serve their purpose well, but there are also several other non-toxic methods available such as holding traps or glue boards that can catch multiple pests at once.
Although generally safer than applying poisons throughout your home, these devices are limited to only catching the rodents that actually come into contact with them.
This will only slow their appearance if the rodents are spotted within multiple areas.
There are also several different pesticides that are very effective in regards to rodent pest control, but it is important to read the instructions carefully since many of them can also be dangerous to humans or pets within the home.
The toxins are more likely to be passed throughout the entire colony of rodents though, and therefore it is often necessary in order to eradicate the entire population.
A bait trap should be placed somewhere between the rodent's lair and their food or water source; and it should also be near a wall since all rodents naturally fear open spaces.
It is also important to inspect the bait often to determine how much if it is being consumed and to verify the station does not need to be moved to a different location.