How to Keep Rodents Out of the Yard

Rodents can destroy your yard.

Rodents are a nuisance when they move into your yard. They build nests, burrow holes, eat fruit and vegetables from gardens and even manage to find ways into your home. Aside from being a nuisance, they can also be dangerous. They can infect cats and dogs with blood-borne diseases if eaten and they also tend to carry tapeworm and ticks. Once rodents make themselves at home, it can be a tough task to get rid of them.

Things You'll Need

• Mouse traps
• Rat poison
• Gopher traps
• Strychnine laced barley
• Fumigant gas

Instructions

1. Remove all pet food, bird seed and protein-rich substances from your yard.

2. Set mouse and rat traps in order to trap mice, rats and chipmunks. Since you are setting them outdoors, you will have to set several and check them regularly.

3. Place rat poison around the perimeter of your yard. However, if you have pets or other animals that roam around your yard, rat poison is not the best choice for you.

4. Employ gopher traps or strychnine-laced barley into gopher tunnel systems if gophers are destroying your lawn and garden.

5. Inject fumigant gas, either carbon monoxide or aluminum sulfide, into gopher or groundhog burrows. Seal the mound system with moist soil. DO NOT use these chemicals under your home.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are using mouse or rat traps to catch mice, rats or chipmunks, make sure you clean the traps thoroughly before using them. Also, clean them again before re-using them.

• Do not use rat poison outside if you allow your pets in the yard.

• Be sure not to use fumigant gas underneath your home.

References

• Pittsburgh Public Works: Rodent Control