How to Get Rid of Rodents Without Poison

If you’d like to learn how to get rid of rodents without poison, this post is for you.

Using poison for rat or mouse control is an outdated, dangerous practice. It’s no surprise that every year more and more people search for alternative ways to drive away rodents from their properties.

The good news? It’s entirely possible to get rid of rodents without having to resort to poison. Keep reading to learn how!

Why Should You Avoid Rat Poison? 

Using poison to deal with a rodent infestation is not a great idea. Poison might be effective at killing rats and mice, but it can also harm children, pets, and wildlife.

Additionally, it leaves the risk that the rodents will go and hide after consuming the poison. Then, their remains can decay in your walls, leading to unpleasant odors.

Get Cleaning

The main thing that attracts rodents to your home or yard is food, closely followed by warmth and shelter. A clean house that’s free from accessible food and clutter isn’t as attractive, so you’ll have an easier time getting rid of rodents (and keeping them away) if you tidy up thoroughly.

First of all, never leave food scraps anywhere where they can be accessed. With pantry items, make sure to place them in sealable containers that block smells and can’t be chewed easily.

Then, get rid of all clutter on the floor, and even consider limiting large furniture or objects that rats and mice can hide behind.

Seal and Block Entry Points 

Next, control the entryways into your home. Walk around the perimeter of your house, and try to find the holes or openings that the rodents used to get into your house in the first place. Do the same indoors, to find out where they’re hiding and how they get from there into your house.

Each entry point should be sealed appropriately, with the exception of a few you can keep open in order to trap the rodents. You can purchase metal screens for windows and vents, and use caulk or cement for holes in walls.

Bring In a Predator 

A natural predator can get rid of rodents over the course of just a few days or weeks. Rodents have all kinds of natural predators, but owls and cats are the best creatures to consider.

For an indoor infestation, a pet cat is an obvious choice since they’re adept hunters. If you have rodents in your yard, attracting owls with an owl house is a better choice. Owls won’t disrupt the natural wildlife in your area the way an outdoor cat would.

Trapping Rodents

Finally, the best way to get rid of all rodents is to place traps. This works well whether the rodents are indoors or outdoors. Bait traps work well, especially if you’ve gotten rid of their usual food sources.

There are plenty of different traps to choose from. Snap traps are a popular choice that kills rats instantly, and there are also high-tech electric traps that’ll zap them.

If you’d rather avoid killing the rodents altogether, there are no-kill options that will trap the rodents without injuring them. You’ll have to learn about your region’s rules for rodent release, however.

Conclusion

It’s always better to get rid of rodents without using poison, but it’s not necessarily easy. Then again, using poison comes with its own dangers and hassle.

If you’d like to know that you haven’t forgotten a single entry point or haven’t finished trapping all of the rodents, consider getting professional help. A company like Green Rodent Restoration Services will get rid of rodents safely and thoroughly, and make sure they never come back.