Dealing with Mice and Rats
The worst mouse infestation I have ever experienced occurred when I was ten years old during the winter. It was so bad the retelling is hard to believe; at night we could see the mice climbing up the backside of the drapes, and there was a constant scratching in the walls of the house.
Mice and rats are probably the most common vertebrate pests humans have to deal with. They are found all over North America. There are two species of rat and one species of most, and an infestation can mean damage to a house, to goods within the house, the potential of disease, a disappearance of food, and general unpleasantness.
Rat and mouse poison is often used to deal with these rodent pests, but it can be potentially harmful to other living members of the household. In keeping with the least toxic approach of this website, here are some general ways in which one can deal with the problem of mice or rats.
* Cats. Tat mouse infestation I talked about in my younger years? One day a stray cat came to our house, and within one week there was not a mouse to be seen. Of course, it was a week of general carnage, with the cat proudly showing his victims to us at all times of the day or night, but the problem was certainly solved. I still say that there is no better way to clear up a rodent problem than these deadly pets, but there are many reasons why the cat solution won’t always work (allergies and a lazy cat being two of the most common). Also, an unpleasant fact is that rats can sometimes be too large for puss to deal with.
* Traps. The other most popular solution to a rodent problem as far as least toxicity goes is the use of traps. Again, traps are more effective for mice than they are for the lauded intellect of rats. Bait may not always work either; try to set the traps along pathways that mice are known to use and it can be just as effective. There are several different kinds of traps, including ones which trap the rodents and those which snap shut and break their necks. In a real infestation area, however, a lot of traps may need to be used and may not prove effective.
Traps and cats are usually foolproof when it comes to a mouse or rat problem, but a large scale infestation or an aversion to these methods may call for greater action. Try talking to a local pest control company to see what solutions they offer when it comes to least toxic pest control in the area of mice and rats.