Books, cables, food - anything can be
Autumn is the season when rats and mice reproduce the most and invade our homes the most. When we consider that, for example, a female brown rat can give birth 3 to 8 times a year to 6 to 12 young, and can even give birth to up to 16 young, it is clear that it is best to start preventing harmful rodents in time. Although they are part of the ecosystem and play a significant role in it, rodents can cause great economic and health damage to both humans and domestic animals and pets.
The good news is that there are tried and true methods for preventing mouse and rat infestations. Learn how to remove these harmful rodents from your home and prevent them from returning.
1. Order in the house, peace in the head
Remove piles of debris, clutter, and trash from your yard. Tidy up the exterior of your home by removing piles of debris, especially those near the house. Keep all trash in covered bins. Bins should be metal or made of sturdy material, so pests cannot penetrate, and always closed. Keep firewood away from the house - preferably elevated, as rodents can gather there.
2. Remove food sources from your yard
Yards and orchards can be a paradise for harmful rodents. If you have fruit trees, regularly remove fallen fruit from the ground. Maintain the trees, prune them, and ensure they are far enough from the house, as this can be a place where rats and mice hide from other predators. Also, rats can jump from a branch to the roof if it is close enough.
Rodents can be major pests
3. PRACTICE CLEANLINESS IN YOUR HOME
If mice and rats have no food and water, your home will surely not be interesting to them. Do not leave food in and around your home.
Make sure that trash cans and pet food are safely stored. If they do not smell crumbs and food, they will have nothing to look for at your place. Keep meal leftovers in vacuum-sealed containers. Regularly vacuum and take out the trash. The pantry, cupboard, and basement are the main targets for rats. Keep attics and spaces well-ventilated and dry. Remove all moisture spots, including leaking pipes and clogged drains that provide a perfect breeding ground for pests.
4. USE OF RODENTICIDES - BRODISAN MM-25
All the previously mentioned methods for controlling mice and rats can indeed help you a lot, but certainly, the greatest effect comes from chemical treatments. When taking unknown food, rats first let one individual try it, and only if the food is safe do the others take it. For this reason, rodenticides, or colloquially, rat and mouse poisons must have a delayed effect of several days. Death occurs between the third and sixth day. The most effective and safest way to get rid of rats and mice is to use rodenticides - Brodisan MM-25 which contains the bitter substance Bitrex® that causes vomiting (aversion) in humans and animals, while it does not provoke any reaction to the bait in rodents.
Brodisan MM-25 has proven to be the most successful rodenticide in the fight against pests. Bait placement is repeated as long as the targeted rodents take it. When they stop taking it, it means they are no longer in the vicinity. More than 90% of individuals die in their burrows.
5. SEAL ALL OPENINGS AND CRACKS
Seal all holes on the outside using recommended materials for rodent protection. Check doors, windows, and openings.
Pay special attention to:
- Sewage, heating, and water pipes, which rodents use as a pathway to the interior of human habitats.
- Seal openings using solid materials that pests cannot chew through - steel wool, mortar, or their combination - never spray foam.
- Inspect your chimney and chimney openings.
6. BRING IN A NEW FRIEND
It is not said by chance "When the cat's away, the mice will play." Cats are an excellent means of preventing rodents in the yard. A cat does not have to be obedient to scare away mice and rats. Just their scent sometimes serves as a deterrent.
Cat and mouse
TRY THESE HOMEMADE METHODS AS WELL
7. SPICE UP THEIR PATHS
Spread peppermint oil, black pepper, or cloves around the exterior of the house. This will certainly help to repel mice and rats. Apply the substance of your choice generously along the line between the foundation and the ground.
Sprinkle ground pepper near openings and holes for rats. This will irritate their noses and respiratory tracts and discourage them from re-entering your home.
8. SECRET INGREDIENT - MINT
It is believed that rats and mice avoid the smell of mint. Plant mint in your yard or rub mint oil indoors along the rafters and other areas where you have had problems with rodents.
