I had a friend recently tell me his wife saw a mouse in their basement and he wondered if he should just set up traps or call an exterminator. He said he didn’t want to pay someone $300 dollars just to set a mousetrap.
So he googled… What do exterminators do to stop a mouse problem? Most Pest Applicators use poison to stop a mouse problem. If you are not a pesticide person and you don’t mind disposing of mouse carcasses traps work too. There is, however, a refined technique that should be implemented.
The most common places you will find mice will be:
- Under Sinks
- Around Water Heaters
- Under The Refrigerator
- Under The Stove/ Range
- Behind Washer and Dryer
- Under The Dish Washer
- Crawl Spaces
- Unfinished Basements
- Attics/Walls
The main thing to remember should be, follow the scat trail! Mice have uncontrolled bowel movements so the easy way to know where the bait should go is by knowing where the mice have been.
Why Is Poison Treatment So Successful?
The poison works well because there is a pheromone within the grain-based block that attracts the mice to it. Once one mouse finds the bait that you have placed out for the mice to eat, they start to show their friends. The treatment slowly dehydrates the mouse body out mummifying them. The slow killing process is the reason for its success once all mice are infected it is too late to stop the effects.
Placement is also imperative, as I listed above these are the spots that you will want to put the blocks. The idea behind most of these places is that there are water sources close by where the mouse can drink.
Is Mouse Poison Safe For Pets?
In a word NO. If you have a pet that weighs under 10 lbs the poison can be lethal if ingested. Any pet above 10 lbs will still get sick and may vomit or need its stomach pumped. This is another reason you would want to use bait stations so that the poison is protected from the outside elements and to protect the pets from making a big mistake. Also, placement comes in to play every good pest technician will ask if you have pets if they can’t already tell so that they make sure to place the poison in a safe and effective way.
How Do I Get Rid Of Mice Forever?
Although it is impossible to predict after getting rid of a current mouse issue in your home whether you will be able to keep them away forever, here are some ways you can make your home less appealing for them to be in:
- Seal All Entry Points – Whether you use steel wool to plug a hole aluminum foil or silicone, it is important to make it hard for rodents to just be able to walk into your home.
- Sanitation – If mice are already in your home they won’t just leave because you decided to clean that day. You can keep them initially from coming into your home in the first place by keeping the home tidy and free of food debris.
- Bait Stations – Bait stations can serve a couple purposes i.e. When you have an infestation it is good to have indoor bait stations in the areas you are seeing the droppings most to help eradicate the current issue. For a preventative measure, there are really good outdoor bait stations that can be placed near entryways to the garage, around the HVAC System along the sides of your home and in a crawl space or unfinished basement.
- Mouse Traps – Mouse traps are still a very effective way to get rid of mice, the key is using the right bait. (Crunchy Peanut Butter) Mice don’t like the smell of human scent, peanut butter masks the scent and is very effective.
- Glue Boards – Glue boards are placed adjacent to any wall to catch a mouse. I have found that using glue boards to catch mice is the least effective way to stop a large infestation, however, it will catch a rogue mouse here and there.
Best Places To Put A Mouse Trap Are:
- Around a Water Heater
- Under The Kitchen Sink Near the Back Wall
- Behind The Washer Dryer Area
- Near The Entry of Both Sides of The Garage Door
- Unfinished Basements Along The Walls
- Under The Stove Next to The Wall (pull the drawer out to access)
- Behind The Refrigerator
Although you can’t guarantee that you will be rid of mice forever this is a good way to be proactive in keeping them away.
Now that you know how the exterminators do this you have to be asking this question:
Can I Get Rid Of Mice Myself?
Yes, you can. You now can use the same products the pros use to take care of your mouse problems. It is also much more affordable and with the information, I gave you above you should be able to conquer this on your own. The name of the product I use is called Contrac Blox its active ingredient is Bromadiolone it does the job well and is very affordable, and as long as you keep the bait dry it will last years after you put it out. If you have pets or small children you will want to put this in a bait station and monitor it periodically to ensure it is working. Once you have placed the blocks out you will want to wait 3 weeks to see the results if you run out of bait replace it and continue to wait, you may have had a larger infestation. With time it will take out the entire mouse colony.
What Are Bait Stations? What Kind Should I Get?
Bait stations are the plastic container that conceals your bait from children, pets, and weather. There are 3 kinds of bait stations I recommend:
- Protecta RTU Mouse Bait Station
- Protecta RDU Rat Bait Station
- Protecta EVO Express
The RTU is a small mouse bait station you can use inside your home or garage.
The RDU is a larger box it with a hole big enough to fit a rat but it mice will obviously still go in to eat the bait. You can use this one outside.
The Evo Express is a better rat bait station that has a built-in cinder block to make it hard for large animals to carry it off or dogs to play with it.
Summary
Exterminators will follow the scat trail of the mice to ensure they make proper placement of your bait stations. A good technician can be in and out of your home in under 30 minutes if they know what they are doing. Having a clean and sealed off home will deter mice from making their way in. If you decide to do this yourself be mindful of pets and small children as not to place the bait in a place that may cause them harm. It does take a few weeks for the treatment to work, so be patient and you will see results.
Questions Often Asked
Can I Save Money Doing Pest Control Myself?
As a professional in the pest industry and having done this for many years I never got into the habit of talking to people about doing pest control themselves, that would be a conflict of interest. I looked online and didn’t find many good resources that show people how to do it or where to treat to get the best results. So I felt it my duty to share this with you.
So can you save money doing pest control yourself? In a word, yes! Doing pest control yourself, in the long run, will be much cheaper. There is an initial cost for reusable items like sprayer, gloves, and chemicals but the pesticides used will go a very long way.
How Do I Get Rid Of Stink Bugs?
Every pest company I have ever worked for has never made a guarantee that they will kill stink bugs. Stink bugs have a tough outer layer that makes them hard to penetrate. That doesn’t mean it is not possible.
So, How Do I Get Rid Of Stink Bugs? You can spray them with chemicals that have an immediate knockdown! (chemical listed below) Pressure washing your house helps as well, pressure washing will dilute any previous pheromones on your home put there by pests. Make sure to spray the chemical in the treatment areas after you clean the house with a pressure washer.
