The Trick To Handling A Rat Infestation In Your D.C. Home
03/10/2020
Rats are a common problem in cities all across the United States. In Washington D.C., rats are an especially big problem. If you are experiencing a...
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We live in the age of do-it-yourself. Through the power of the internet, we can instantly get information on how to do pretty much anything. But some DIY projects are harder than others. Mice control is one of them. There are many reasons for this. Here are a few of them.
The Problem with Traps
No matter what trap you choose, you're going to have a hard time catching mice with it. Those little rodents don't make it easy for you to catch them. Some common mistakes people make are:
- Using the wrong bait. Mice don't prefer cheese. They eat seeds and nuts.
- Touching traps or bait. If mice smell you on a trap, they are likely to avoid it.
- Positioning traps in the wrong locations. Mice stay close to walls. If you put a trap in the middle of a room, you aren't likely to catch a mouse with it.
- Using too few traps to get the job done. It is often a secondary trap that catches a mouse as it springs back in fear.
If you use the right trap, apply the right bait, and deploy the traps correctly, you could catch mice. But this takes a lot of work and you won't know for sure when your home is free of mice. You can't assume that you have no more mice because you're not catching any more mice. There are many factors that can lead to your mouse traps ceasing to catch mice.
Not Every Cat is a Mouser
Are you thinking of getting a cat to solve your mouse problems? You should know that not every cat likes to catch and kill mice. Some will just play with mice. Others just watch mice without doing anything at all. If you are fortunate to get a cat that is a mouser, keep in mind that mice live in your walls and can travel in locations your cat can't get into. It is easy for a mouse to go into your pantry and back into your walls without ever exposing itself to open areas.
Okay, So You Got Rid of Some Mice
If you catch some mice and don't address the entry points they're using to get into your home, you're going to continue to have trouble. This is an important part of mouse control that many homeowners neglect to do or that they do improperly.
What Happens When You Don't Get Rid of Mice
When you fail to control mice in your home, you're not just wasting time and money for results you're unhappy with. The repercussions of unsuccessful mouse control can be severe. Mice spread bacteria and diseases. They chew holes in your home and in the belongings inside your home. They contaminate the areas they sleep, the routes they travel, and the foods they get into. Worse than all this, they don't come into your home alone; they bring parasites in with them, creatures such as fleas, ticks, lice and mites. If your mouse control is unsuccessful, you, and everyone living in your home, will continue to be exposed to these and other mouse-related threats. The best solution for dealing with a mouse infestation is to contact a licensed and certified pest-management professional.
Professional Mouse Control
If you choose to have the team at American Pest address your infestation, you won't have to wonder if your mouse problem is gone. Our pest management professionals are trained in the proper deployment of state-of-the-art mouse traps and they use trusted methods for monitoring rodent activity within and around your home. You can expect:
- A complete, detailed inspection of your home to determine how mice are getting in and where activity is located.
- Your pest management professional will use caulk, wire mesh, and foam products to seal entry points.
- Tamper-resistant mouse traps will be installed to maintain a low mouse and rat population.
- Your pest professional will discuss interior and exterior rodent treatments and find out what options work best for you.
- Mouse control is not a one-and-done process. It requires several visits. Your pest professional will work with you to schedule these visits and make sure you get the service you need to arrest your mouse infestation.
There are few pests that are as dangerous in a home as mice and rats. If you have a rodent problem, don't turn to DIY solutions because they are rarely a real solution. Let the team at American Pest help you make sure your home is free of mice or rats. If you don't live in our service area, find a company like American Pest, one that is QualityPro Certified and highly rated with customers. Don't take any chances with rodents. It just isn't worth it.
