4 Humane Tips for Dealing with Rodents

Nobody likes rodents in their home. Unwelcome house guests like mice and rats have an uncanny ability to find their way into areas they’re not meant to be, often leaving behind clues to their existence like droppings, chewed up cords, and holes in the wall. If they’re extra bold, you might even catch one scurrying across your kitchen counter or, eek, across your foot while you’re relaxing on the sofa. And while large scale rodent problems will likely require professional help, dealing with rodents when you just have one or two can be done pretty cheaply and without causing harm to the animal. Here are four tips for humanely evicting these tiny intruders.

Common Types of House Rodents

About 29% of Americans have found themselves dealing with rodents at some point in the home, most commonly in the kitchen, basement, or living room. It’s an issue primarily relegated to winter, though spring and summer see their fair share of rodents too.

As for what types of rodents these are, when you’re talking rodents in the home you’re usually talking house mice and Norway rats.

House mice can squeeze in a hole as small as a dime and are incredibly good climbers, though they often stay low to the ground. Nests are created in dark, secluded areas of the home, and female mice can have as many as 12 babies every three weeks, which makes it crucial that you address the problem right away.

Norway rats (named as such because that’s where they were first classified) are able to squeeze themselves through openings as small as the size of a quarter. They’re particularly numerous in the Northeast, Midwest, and Southwest, and are voracious eaters who will go through a lot of trouble to get their hands on your leftovers.

Dealing with rodents at the first sign of their presence is important. Not only is it simply unsavory to have a rodent roommate living in your home, it’s also dangerous. House mice and Norway rats can carry and spread diseases that are harmful to people and pets, including leptospirosis and salmonellosis. And you definitely don’t want them breeding in your home. Even if you just think you might have a rodent, the time to take action is sooner rather than later.

Humanely Dealing With Rodents

Respecting animals doesn’t mean you have to live with ones you don’t want to. It is possible to remove rodents from your home without harming them, and it’s often cheaper and safer too. Here are four tips for how to do it.

Use a Live Trap

Find and Seal Points of Entry

Don’t Leave Food Out

Try Peppermint Oil

Provided you’re not dealing with a major problem, dealing with rodents humanely is always a good starting point. That being said, mice especially breed very quickly. If you haven’t been able to solve your problem in a week or less, you’re going to need professional help. Use our advice on how to find a service provider for your home so that you can get someone on the job quickly.