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How to Get Rid of Rodents Naturally

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By eHow Contributing Writer
(43 Ratings)
Get Rid of Rodents Naturally
Get Rid of Rodents Naturally

Wild rats and mice do not make cute pets. They can pose both as a sanitation and health hazard. Rid your home of these destructive rodents without using harmful chemicals. Here are a few steps to get your home rodent free.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Mousetraps
  • Gift bows
  • Vitamin D3 rodent bait
  • Live animal traps
  • Gift bags
  • Glue boards
  • Rodent traps
  • Wrapping paper
  • Gift ribbons
  • Tissue paper
  1. Step 1

    Inspect your property regularly for signs of rodents. Look for telltale droppings both inside and outside of your home.

  2. Step 2

    Remove sources of water, food and housing from your closets, attics and gardens.

  3. Step 3

    Keep trash bins covered.

  4. Step 4

    Store cupboard food in metal bins.

  5. Step 5

    Remove wood piles, junk sheds and garden debris that attract rodents to nest on your property.

  6. Step 6

    Turn the contents of your compost bin regularly and check to make sure no critters have been feeding there.

  7. Step 7

    Seal up small holes around pipes, vents, doors and windows with 100 percent silicon caulk.

  8. Step 8

    Set mouse and rat traps in problem areas. Both live and snap traps are effective and can be baited with foods such as cheese and bread. Release live animals as far away from human dwellings as possible.

  9. Step 9

    Lay glue boards in pathways that rodents travel as an alternative trap.

  10. Step 10

    Use a natural rodent poison as a last resort. Look for brands of rodent bait made with vitamin D3. Rats and mice eating a small amount of this vitamin suffer heart failure within days. There is no chance of secondary poisoning of your pets even if they find and eat the dead rodents.

  11. Step 11

    Place the bait in areas that rodents frequent.

Tips & Warnings
  • Get a cat to keep rodent infestations down. Note that cats are not selective about their prey and throughout the United States are destroying songbird populations. Although it's hard to keep tabs on outdoor felines, try to discourage the capture of wild birds.
  • One big problem with using bait is that the rodents often die in inaccessible places. Prompt removal of dead critters is mandatory to avoid a foul odor.

Comments  

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jrockjams said

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on 11/17/2009 Great info. There are a couple of these things i havent done. Im going to do them now! thanks for posting. 5* and a rec!

wadester said

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on 11/14/2009 I love the title of this article. Now if I can just pursuade the roaches to jump off the edge of the cliff!

mrsmac said

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on 11/12/2009 I'm not to sure how glue traps or poison come under natural, but the rest is good advice. Instead of a cat I have 2 scottie's, moles, voles, or mice forget about it!!

chouchou said

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on 11/11/2009 Thanks for tips. Never heard of vitD, THAT IS REALLY HELPFUL.

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on 11/11/2009 Most of these rodents are a nuisance.Its absolutely difficult to get something of benefit about their presence in homes where they prefer to be.Getting rid of them by denying them food is assigning oneself extra work that does not pay much.I recommend the peppermint oil that will chase them out of the house,most probably towards the neighbors if at all they will be happy with the new 'guests.'

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