Rodent Exclusion and Control
Getting rid of rodents, and other small burrowing animals such as rabbits and moles, is a cornerstone of effective pest control. Regional Pest Management is expert in this field. Please select from the following list of topics to learn more:
- About Rodents
- Common Rodent Pests
- About Rabbits
- About Moles
- Rodent Exclusion
- Ten Tips for Rodent Control
About Rodents
With over 2000 living species placed in about 30 families around the world, rodents are by far the largest order of mammals. They are amazingly diverse in size (from 5-gram pygmy shrews to 70-kg capybaras), ecology, and behavior.
All rodents, however, share one characteristic: their teeth are highly specialized for gnawing. All rodents have a single pair of upper and a single pair of lower incisors, followed by a gap, followed by one or more molars or premolars. No rodent has canines. Rodent incisors are rootless, growing continuously. During gnawing, as the incisors grind against each other, they wear away the softer dentine, leaving the enamel edge as sharp as the blade of a chisel. This "self sharpening" system is very effective and is one of the keys to the enormous success of rodents—and the reason they are such notorious pests!
Common Rodent Pests
Chipmunks dig tunnels that degrade gardens, walks and lawns.
Squirrels can cause huge damage if they get indoors.
Mice consume and contaminate food and destroy walls, furniture and more. Click here for more information.
Rats damage food stores and transmit diseases. Click here for more information.
The key to any successful rodent control program is identifying rodents' entry points and sealing them. Regional Pest Management has been doing this procedure for over fifteen years.
Did you know that mouse can enter a structure with an opening a little larger than a quarter of an inch and a rat can enter with an opening of two inches? Most pest management companies will just find the entry points and ask the maintenance staff or homeowner to seal them. Regional Pest Management does it all for you—we identify the openings, then seal them with non-corrosive materials that stay in place wherever they are installed.
Ten Tips for Rodent Control
- Store garbage in metal or heavy plastic containers with tight lids.
- Place trash outside shortly before pickup; don't leave plastic garbage bags out overnight.
- Remove weeds and debris near buildings and in yards; don't give rats a place to hide.
- Store opened food in metal or glass containers with tight lids.
- Don't leave extra pet food out; store it in a secure container.
- Sweep up food remains, litter, and trash inside and outside your home.
- Inspect your basement and house for cracks and holes; seal them with mortar.
- Make sure you have screens on windows; inspect windows and screens for holes.
- Keep outside doors closed; use metal trim to prevent rodents from gnawing and entering underneath.
- Don't provide hiding places for rodents; store materials such as lumber and boxes on a rack with a clean, open area underneath. Get rid of unused materials and junk.
