How do I need to prepare my home for a rodent service?
Like preparing many of our other treatments, we recommend that anyone with a newborn or unborn baby vacate the home during the treatment application.
If there is an exterior spray, we recommend pet owners to temporarily relocate to a neighbouring property or a friend's home. If this is not possible, please lock up your pet in the laundry, garage, or any room that will not be treated. Pet food and water bowls must also be removed prior to treatment and returned 3-4 hours after treatment is completed. To understand precautions for other types of pets, please feel free to call your local branch.
How do rodent inspections work?
Rodent inspections will always be conducted by a licensed and professional pest controller. With their extensive knowledge and regular training, the pest controller will thoroughly inspect your home to look for any signs of rodent presence, damage, and harbourage. They will specifically look for nesting sites, behavioural patterns, environmental conditions that attract rodents, and the structure of your property.
What methods are used to control rodents?
Our technicians take a four-step approach:
- Sanitation - reduce the available food and shelter points that encourage rodent activity.
- Protection - the technician will recommend ways to alter the building structurally, ensuring that rodents will no longer be able to enter the premises.
- Trapping - depending on the species and severity of the infestation, our technician will employ a combination of automated traps and bait stations to capture the rodents already in the home. These traps are highly secure and are safe to use around children and pets as long as the stations remain locked.
- Chemical Control - we employ the use of chemical baits (to lure rodents to traps placed around the exterior of home), tracking powers, gels, and in extreme cases, fumigation.
Homeowners tend to try DIY solutions when trying to deal with rodent issues. Some homemade remedies include supermarket rat traps, the use of essential oils and mothballs. Unfortunately, a severe infestation of rodents cannot be overcome with the use of home remedies. Understanding the root of the problem is key. This can be achieved through a licensed technician who conducts a thorough inspection of your property. Locating the nest and understanding environmental conditions is essential in an integrated pest management plan that ensures rodents stay away longer.
Rodent control tips
to complement your IPM
If you live in a densely populated neighbourhood or in an apartment complex, we recommend coordinating with your neighbours. Coordinate activities such as cleaning up the area, fixing up the exterior of homes or changing the landscape to prevent future infestations. Together, rodent prevention will be more manageable and achievable.
