INTEGRATED PEST CONTROL STRATEGIES FOR MICE/RAT
The rat/mice control program could be achieved by following the following steps
Pay attention to see if you find any or some of these sings
The first sign is finding Mice or Rat dropping. Mice/Rat produces 50 dropping on an average. Mice dropping are size of 3 mm to 7 mm whereas the rat dropping are 19 mm.
The rodents have very sharp incisors. The can chew many different objects including aluminium, plastic, wood, mortar and lead. The evidence of recent damage by gnawing is an excellent sing of presence of rodent.
The burrows are mostly found near bird’s feeder, dog house, woodpiles, and Fence rows.
The rodents use same path between their nest and food source. The oil and dirt on the rodent’s body. Feet and tail is clearly seen on the point of entry as a greasy mark
The physical sighting or alive or dead rodent during inspection is the clear indication of presence of Mice/Rat.
This step is the most important step in rodent control. As this is time taking process most of time is being overlooked. The entry point may be one of these areas
- Inside, under, and behind kitchen cabinets, refrigerators and stoves.
- Inside closets near the floor corners.
- Around the fireplace.
- Around doors.
- Around the pipes under sinks and washing machines.
- Around the pipes going to hot water heaters and furnaces.
- Around floor vents and dryer vents.
- Inside the attic.
- In the basement or crawl space.
- In the basement and laundry room floor drains.
- Between the floor and wall juncture.
- In the roof among the rafters, gables, and eaves.
- Around windows.
- Around doors.
- Around the foundation
- Attic vents and crawl space vents.
- Under doors.
- Around holes for electrical, plumbing, cable, and gas lines.
No bird’s feeder as the birds feed falling is an open invitation to rodents. If you like bird’s feeder, Keep bird feeders away from the house and utilise squirrel guards to limit access to the feeder by squirrels and other rodents.
No compose as it’s a good source of food to them. Keep compost bins as far away from the house as possible (100 feet or more is best).
No dog food outside. Keep grains and animal feed in thick plastic or metal containers with tight lids. In the evening, uneaten animal feed should be returned to containers with lids. Always put pet food away after use and do not leave pet-food or water bowls out overnight.
·Keep outside cooking areas and grills clean.
·Ultra sound devices