Rodent Removal

05.21.2004 - I got this haul of rats at an apartment complex that I work for here in Orlando.  The key to rodent removal is to seal off the openings that rodents use to gain access to a building, and then to set the proper types of traps in the most effective manner.

The reason the entry/exit holes must be sealed is because if you don't seal them, the rats will continue to come and go as they please.  Even if you do catch some rats, new ones will keep using those holes, which are now marked with rat pheromone scent.  Once you seal the holes, however, the rats that are stuck inside now have no way out, and they start to roam around, perhaps hitting areas they don't usually go in or looking for food, and thus they hit your traps.

There are many types of traps from which to choose, but the best traps for rodent removal are Victor snap traps. I've tried many different types of traps, and the original wooden snap traps are best.  Some people worry that these traps are inhumane, and might not like the above photo.  But I can assure that they are the best option, and far better and more humane than poison.  It's not feasible to use live traps and relocation for most rat jobs, but when it is a possibility, that's what I do.

The traps should be set in the optimal areas, on the rat runways.  These areas are easy to identify, because rats leave behind droppings and brown grease that mark the paths of travel.  Set the traps on these areas, and you will catch the rats.

Those are the primary rodent removal tips.  Read more of this blog, or the rat pages on this website for more information on mouse, rat, and general rodent removal techniques.

Do it yourself: Visit my How To Get Rid of Rats page for tips and advice.
Other rodents: Or visit my Get Rid of Mice page or Get Rid of Squirrels page.
Get professional help: Visit my Nationwide Pro Directory of wildlife removal experts.

Getting rid of mice or rats in the attic - Mice will live anywhere inside of a home. These little rodents have been known to nest under bathtubs, in heating ducts, around cables and intertwined inside electrical wires. Attics are ideal places for mice to spend their time, and the rodents use the attic space as a go-between from one side of the house to the other. The attic may not be where the mouse spends all of its time, but the attic is a definite area of travel which means it is a reliable place to set up traps. The best mouse trap is still the old snap trap you can buy in the supermarket. Snap traps are humane and quick, unlike glue traps and poisons. Set you snap traps throughout the attic, along walls, on beams, and at the base of vertical supports. Mice will avoid open areas, traveling with their sides to a flat surface whenever possible. Baited traps are very successful, especially once you have sealed off the outside entry holes the mice use to sneak into the home. Bait the trap with something sticky like peanut butter to prevent the bait from being stolen without the trap catching the mouse. Same goes for rat removal, except you use bigger traps!

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