Why DIY Is Not A Great Idea When It Comes To Rodent Control In Knoxville

Why DIY Is Not A Great Idea When It Comes To Rodent Control In Knoxville

Rodents can get into Knoxville homes all year long, but during the cold winter days, they have more incentive. As a rodent scurries past an exterior door and senses heat radiating through the door or warm air leaking from a gap in some weatherstripping around the door, it will want to know where that heat is coming from. This can inspire a rodent to chew through the rubber protective barrier and slip right into your home. When they do, you may consider addressing your rodent problem with DIY rodent control methods. Let’s talk about some of the methods you might use and discuss some of the ways they fall short of appropriately dealing with a rodent infestation.

Not-So-Great DIY Rodent Control Ideas

We’re always being asked questions about natural rodent remedies, such as, “What scent will keep mice away?” “Do mothballs keep mice away?” “Does cinnamon keep mice away?” And, “Do mice like vinegar? All of these questions center on controlling mice and rats with natural products that rodents find repelling. But repelling rodents isn’t going to solve a rodent problem. These animals can climb up and down through your wall voids and chew access holes in locations you haven’t sprinkled with something repelling. They aren’t likely to leave your home, especially if it is cold outside. Repellents are best used for keeping mice and rats from getting into your home in the first place. Some common repellents that can be successful at deterring rodents are: used kitty litter in an open container, peppermint oil, instant potatoes, mothballs, vinegar, and onions.

Another solution people turn to is natural forms of poison, such as mixing Plaster of Paris and cocoa powder together. It is believed that mice will eat this mixture and then leave a home in search of water. When they do, they die outside. Don’t count on those rodents to eat this concoction or to go outside to die.

Once rodents have gotten in, the best solution to get rid of them is to trap them. This is another way DIY can fail. There are many traps that just don’t work. And if a trap does work, it can become ineffective when placed in the wrong location or when the wrong type of bait is used. There are many ways trapping can go wrong.

Effective DIY Rodent Control Tips

When we provide rodent prevention tips, we focus on environmental modifications to exclude and resist rodents rather than “control” rodents with natural remedies and DIY products. Some examples of natural rodent management are:

  • Removing unnecessary clutter and vegetation from landscaping.
  • Sealing holes, gaps and cracks in your exterior.
  • Addressing conditions that promote moisture or create puddles.
  • Putting trash in sealed receptacles.
  • Putting foods in sealed, hard plastic containers.

Using rodent management, you can make your Knoxville home less interesting to rodents. But, when it comes to “controlling” rodents, it is best to hire a professional. A rodent control professional uses tamper-resistant traps that are appropriately selected for the animal being trapped and placed in a way that will achieve the desired results. Most of all, a professional is able to monitor rodent activity and make sure that no rodents remain in your home once the service is completed.

Make Sure You Get All The Rodents

The best solution for rodent control in Knoxville is to reach out to the rodent control experts at Russell’s Pest Control. Our pest control team knows what is required to monitoring rodent activity and effectively eliminate rodents. Don’t trust DIY rodent control to protect your health and property from mice and rats. It just isn’t worth it.

Top Rodents In Knoxville

Top Rodents In Knoxville

This is the time of year when many folks are thinking about resolutions and starting fresh. If you have had to deal with rodents in your home or business in 2017, perhaps you are ready for a fresh start at being rodent-free. Any time rodents get into man-made structures, problems are a certainty. Chew holes, droppings, and food and surfaces being tainted with bacteria are just a few things that rodents are famous for.

  • House Mouse – This mouse has dull greyish-brown fur with a tail that is the same length as its body and is thicker and more scaly than other species. Its presence can be detected by a distinctive strong, “stale” odor. The voice of this mouse is a familiar high-pitched squeak. When these mice get into homes and multiply, they chew holes through wood and other things, which can cause heat or cool air to escape. They also chew on wires, which may spark a fire. When they get into food storage and food preparation areas, they can spread harmful bacteria, which can spread disease. And, they also carry secondary pests such as mites, ticks, and fleas.

  • Norway Rat – A Norway rat can grow to be 8 inches in length and it has a body which is covered in shaggy fur that is brown or gray in color. Its ears and tail are covered in scales. Its tail is shorter than its head. And its body and its droppings are capsule-shaped. One of the problems these rats bring is that they spread diseases such as murine typhus, babesiosis and RMSF (via the ticks they carry), and even leptospirosis.

  • Roof Rat – A roof rat has thick fur and ranges in color from brown to black with grey to white fur on its underbelly. This rat can grow to be around 16 inches long with a tail and body each being of equal length. These rats like to be up high and will typically chew their way in through rooflines, but can make holes anywhere. When they get into man-made structures, they pose the same issues as other rodents.

Rodent Prevention

If you would rather not be dealing with mice and rats inside your home, there are several steps you can take to prevent them from entering. Remove trash from your property and keep garbage in tightly sealed containers. Keep your yard neatly trimmed and free of overgrown weeds and clutter. Seal up any entry points in the exterior of your home. And keep bushes and other vegetation trimmed back from your walls and foundation.

How Russell’s Can Help

If you are already seeing or hearing, the signs of rodent presence in your home, the best course of action is to partner with a professional pest control company. Russell’s has been providing folks with rodent solutions since 1971. Contact one of our friendly associates for a free estimate today.