The 1, 2, 3’s on Controlling Rodents

1.) Locate food source:
Rodents’ sense of smell is about 10 times greater than a dog, so it's important to locate, remove and control any rodent food sources. Involve your customer in this process to avoid future problems.

2.) Harborage and entry points:
Following air movement and heat is easier than looking for rub marks, droppings and nesting locations. Inspect areas where warm air escapes from vents, around pipes, roofs & under doorways.

• Excess debris from trash, leaves, and over-growth from groundcover provide protective cover and warmth for nesting areas.
• Seam lines of buildings (along with concrete or asphalt) hold heat from the sun and are great run paths for rats and mice. Follow those lines!
• Heat-sensing cameras are useful, and give a good overview of potential entry points, especially in winter. Sealing and preventing heat from escaping a building helps prevent rodents.

3.) Eradicate Rats and Mice:
Rodents are very cautious, so using more than one type of device can increase your success. Outdoors, rodent management devices, including bait stations, should be placed along property perimeter areas at spacing intervals of 50-100 feet depending on rodent activity levels. JT Eaton™ Rodent Rock™ 2G with Paver #835434 has a removable insert tray that is pre-molded for use with Jawz™ rat and mouse traps and Stick-Em® glue boards. It also can be used for soft and block baits with the included bait rods. It features a built-in, weighted paver for easy, secure installation. It is also available without the paver option in #830793. In addition to bait stations outdoors, the inside of any exterior wall should also have rodent traps at the rate of one every 20 feet for mice and every 40 feet or more for rats. Traps should also be added adjacent to doors, docks, and ramps, but may be placed adjacent to any exterior opening per company practices. This Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach will yield the best results in your rodent control program.

• Log on to www.CDC.gov to find rodent diseases in your area.
• Have a program to identify areas where rodent droppings accumulate.
• Entering confined spaces with rodent evidence requires the use of respirators and decontamination procedures.
• Removing rodent droppings requires an understanding of decontamination procedures and using protective gear.