Mouse & Rat Removal

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Mice and rats are rodents that commonly invade homes, restaurants and other places where food is stored. Often they contaminate the food they get into, and leave their feces behind, creating unsanitary conditions. The most dangerous aspect of a mouse or rat infestation is the potential for disease transferral. According to WildLife-Removal.com, mice and rats may carry more than 30 varieties of disease. Mice and rats can also cause problems by chewing through electrical wires making noise in walls and attics. There are three main strategies for mouse and rat removal: using repellents, using traps and using baits.

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Repellent

There are several products that can be used to repel mice and rats, including powders, ropes, and sprays. Powders, such as Rat-A-Way, can be spread around areas where rats and mice have been seen as well as locations where they will likely visit, including under sheds, around trash receptacles, and basements and attics. Ropes, such as Varpel Ropes, can be used in the same fashion, only instead of being a powder, they come as reusable ropes of repellant material that can be cut to specific sizes. Repellant sprays, such as Ropel, can be applied to objects that are prone to mouse and rat gnawing, and deter this behavior through creating unpleasant tastes. According to PestProducts.com, chemical-free repellants on the market such as the Quad Blaster Ultrasonic, which uses ultrasonic sound waves (that are undetectable by the human ear) prevent or scare off rats and mice.

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Traps

Mice and rat traps come in two general formats: kill traps and live traps. The most common and widely recognized variety of kill traps is the spring-loaded snap trap. Glue traps, which come in a variety of sizes, use powerful adhesives to trap and kill rats and mice, and electric traps use electric currents to kill rats and mice once they are trapped. Live traps include wind-up traps, which effectively flip mice or rats into holding containers if they step on the trigger location. However, according to PestProducts.com, wind-up traps can sometimes cause death. One-way door live traps (which allow rats and mice in but not out), such as the Run Way and Tin Cat, are considered the most humane and make catching and releasing simple.

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Baits

Mice and rat baits are poisonous substances disguised as food. While do-it-yourselfers can create baits by adding anti-coagulants or other poisons to cheese, bread, or other food materials, there are also bait pellets that are sold on the market, such as Contrac Bait Blocks and Talon Weather Blocks. According to PestProducts.com, professional pest removers generally use bait pellets.

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