Knowing When to Hire Rodent Exterminators
Get Rid of Rats, Mice and Squirrels by Hiring a Rodent Exterminator
Nov 15, 2009
Most people are displeased to find that their home or office has been invaded by rodents. Although it may be possible to get rid of rodents without professional help, in extreme cases, calling a rodent exterminator may be the best course of action to be able to get rid of rodents.
Rodents are mammals that are native to all continents except Antarctica. A common trait among rodents is that they all have single incisors on each jaw. Common rodents that cause problems in both urban and rural areas include but are not limited to rats, mice, and squirrels.
Reasons to Exterminate Rodents Such as Rats, Mice, and Squirrels
Some may choose to just let rodents be, but that's really not a good idea for the following reasons:
- Rodents can damage homes and belongings by shredding wood, ripping up insulation, chewing through plastic, wood, cardboard and carpet.
- Phone outages and electrical fires can be caused by rodents as they chew through wires and cords.
- Rodents spread diseases and leave behind contaminates such as urine and feces.
- Rodents, particularly rats, can damage soil and weaken foundations by creating long and elaborate tunnels beneath the home.
Do-it-Yourself Rodent Extermination
Rodent exterminators can be expensive, so before hiring a rodent exterminator to get rid of mice and rats, try the following:
- Spring traps designed to trap and kill rats and mice
- Glue traps
- Electrical mouse and rat traps
- Mouse and rat poison
- Live capture rodent traps
Many different types of rat and mouse traps and poisons can be purchased inexpensively at garden shops, grocery stores, and drug stores. Since they are an inexpensive option, they are a good place to start when it comes to trying to exterminate pesky rats and mice and may be all that is needed to get rid of rodents.
When to Hire a Rodent Exterminator
Although there are many ways for individuals to get rid of rodents, particularly rats and mice, there are times when it is a good idea to hire rodent exterminators.
Rodent exterminators should be hired under the following circumstances:
- Individuals who are especially squeamish about dealing with rats and mice may find it preferable to hire a rodent exterminator who can deal with trapping and disposing of rodents.
- People who have a large infestation of rodents may be unable to deal with the largeness of the task and may find it necessary to hire a professional.
- People who have an ongoing problem with rodent infestation may choose to hire a rodent exterminator. Some people find that no matter how many things they try, they still have rodents. If that is the case, hiring a rodent exterminator may be the only way to deal with the problem.
- Those who have young children or pets in the home may obtain more peace of mind by hiring a professional rodent exterminator since professionals have a better handle on how to keep pets and children safe from poisons and traps that can cause injuries.
- Individuals who want to do all they can to prevent future rodent infestation may opt to hire an exterminator since in addition to getting rid of rodents, rodent exterminators also know how to analyze points of entry and know how to repair and seal a home to reduce the chances of future infestation.
There are many reasons to exterminate rodents. Individuals can try getting rid of rodents on their own, but at times it may be necessary to hire a professional rodent exterminator.
Resources:
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Diseases From Rodents (accessed 15 November, 2009).
- Berkeley. Introduction to Rodentia (accessed 15 November, 2009).
 |
