Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Get rid of rodents in the house
• Method 2 of 3: Keep rodents out of your home
• Method 3 of 3: Get rid of rodents outdoors
• Tips

Rodents such as mice, rats, squirrels and possums can cause nuisance in homes, garages and yards. To get rid of rodents in the house, block all possible entrances to your house so that they can no longer enter, set traps and use natural repellants where the rodents like to go. To get rid of rodents outdoors, minimize hiding places and food for them in your yard, and spray repellants around the perimeter of your yard so the animals won't want to visit. This process takes time and persistence, but it is safer and more humane than the use of chemical pesticides.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Get rid of rodents in the house

1. Kill rodents quickly with clamp traps. You can find these types of traps at most home improvement and home improvement stores. You can use a piece of cheese or a dollop of peanut butter as bait. Place the trap with the bait near a hole or crevice through which you think the rodents are entering your home, or where you have seen rodent droppings.
   • Clamp traps come in different sizes for both mice and rats. Rat traps are about 3 times the size of mouse traps.
   • These traps kill the animals, but they do so quite painlessly, which is not the case with less humane means of getting rid of rodents, such as poison.
2. Put dead rodents in two plastic bags and only then throw them in the trash. Put on gloves to pick up the dead rodent. Rodents can carry diseases, so never touch them with your bare skin. Then dispose of the rodent in a sealable plastic bag. Close the bag and put the rodent in a second sealable bag. Also close the second bag tightly and put the bags with the rodents in the rubbish bin.
   • Remove the gloves and wash your hands carefully with soap in case germs have gotten through the gloves.
3. Catch the rodents in so-called human traps so that you don't have to kill them. Humane traps are a more animal-friendly option, as they allow the rodent to live. Place the humane trap where you have seen rodent droppings and the same type of bait you would use a pinch trap. Humane traps are also available at most major hardware stores and household goods stores.
   • If you notice a rodent trapped, move the animal at least a mile from your home and only let it go there.
   • To release the rodent, place the cage in a pasture or field and open the trap door. Stay away from the cage until the rodent walks out. Then pick up the cage and walk back to your car.

Method 2 of 3: Keep rodents out of your home

1. Seal holes and cracks in your home that allow rodents to enter. Check the foundation and windows and door jambs for small holes, cracks or bad seals. Seal any holes that feces are in front of. Rodent droppings are a sign that they are using those holes to enter your home. Use caulk, putty, or weather-resistant strips to seal all possible access points.
   • Mice can crawl in through very small holes, so you may not be able to shut them out completely. Still, rodents often get discouraged if you make it difficult enough for them to get in.
   EXPERT TIP

   Keep all food in the home in closed, airtight containers or bags. Hard plastic or glass containers are best, as mice and rats can gnaw through softer materials. By cutting off all possible food sources, you prevent the rodents from smelling or eating the food. Once rodents realize that they cannot get a free meal when they enter your house, they will lose interest and leave.

   • To prevent rodents from smelling the food in your home at all, run the dishwasher every day and don't leave dirty dishes in the sink at night.
2. Discourage rodents from entering your home with smells they don't like. These scents make your home less attractive to rodents so that they are less likely to live in your home. for example, you can rub peppermint oil on floorboards and other areas where rodents come. You can also sprinkle some fresh or dried mint leaves around, as both the oil and the leaves of the plant repel rodents.
   • Use mothballs to keep mice away from hard-to-reach areas of the house. Place four or five mothballs in an open container and place the containers in the corners of the basement, in the attic, and in other areas of the house where you are affected by rodents.
   • People like mint smelling good, but rodents don't like the smell at all and will avoid areas that smell strongly of mint.
3. Get a cat which can kill and scare the rodents. Cats are natural predators, and their instincts will automatically chase and kill rats and mice. Even if your cat is not such a good hunter, the smell of the cat's presence in the house is often enough to deter rodents. Give an adult cat a few weeks to get used to its new home. Only then can he develop a hunting routine and you can expect to see the first results.
   • Keep in mind that having a cat is still a lot involved. It's a serious responsibility, and if you're not sure you're ready for a pet, ask if you can borrow a friend or acquaintance's cat for one or two weeks.
4. Sprinkle used cat litter wherever rodents enter your home. When rodents smell cat urine, they assume a cat is nearby. So if you don't have a cat, buy some used litter from someone who does have a cat. Put the urine-soaked cat litter in the basement or attic, or other places you think are frequented by rodents. Let the litter sit for about a week to give the litter enough time to dislodge the rodents. Then throw away the litter.
   • If you'd rather not sprinkle urine on the floor of cat litter, fill three or four plastic containers with used cat litter and place it in the areas of the house where the rodents come.

Method 3 of 3: Get rid of rodents outdoors

1. Place piles of firewood at least 50 cm from the ground. Store stacked wood at least eight feet away from your house. Rodents like to hide in wood piles, and the distance will keep them out of the wood as well as your home. That way, you help create an environment that doesn't encourage rodents to move into your yard.
   • You can stack the wood on a raised metal grid. Such grids can be purchased at specialist household stores, do-it-yourself stores and hardware stores.
2. Plant shrubs and large shrubs at least three feet away from your home. Depending on where you live, there are often rats or mice, temporarily or permanently, in dense undergrowth, even if it is neatly trimmed in your garden. Keeping the shrubs a safe distance from your home will help rodents to get closer to your home and sneak in.
   • If shrub branches get too close to your house, cut them back to about three feet away with garden shears.
3. If you have a birdhouse, post it so that any rodents cannot reach the food. If you have bird food on the floor, it will soon attract rodents that will eat the food. Therefore, raise the birdhouse to deter the rodents. Birdhouses are often supplied on a vertical pole about 1.5 m high.
   • Or, to feed the birds, invest in a hanging birdhouse that you can hang from a plant holder or from a relatively low tree branch.
4. Keep all waste in trash cans with tight-fitting lids. If your trash bags aren't in tight-fitting bins, the trash will quickly attract rodents. They can also follow the smell of the garbage into your house. If you don't have a good, lockable trash can, get one from a DIY or skincare store as soon as possible.
   • It goes without saying that you should pick up the waste and keep it off your lawn.
5. Plant mint to keep rodents out of your yard and away from your plants. If the rodents think your yard is a source of delicious food, they are more likely to invade your yard and possibly your home. To keep rats and mice out of your flower beds or your vegetable garden, plant some mint around the perimeter. That way you create a barrier that rodents will not easily pass through.
   • You can also prevent rodents from eating the vegetables or fruit in your garden by planting mint around your garden.

Tips

• To scare rodents away from the yard or a pile of wood, spray some predator urine on the trees, shrubs, or soil around your yard or yard. Reapply the fragrance each time it has rained. Predator urine is available at larger garden centers and over the Internet. Urine from foxes, coyotes or lynxes can often also be found in shops selling hunting and / or sporting equipment.
• If you don't like the idea of ​​using predator urine, you can also spread camphor balls in the attic or other places where many rodents come. The smell is unbearable for the rodents and they will not return to that place.