Rodent Control of Mice and Rats
Rodent Control Solutions and Tips
Mention the Rat Pack and most people think Sinatra and Co. But for livestock operations, the rats in residency at their facilities are of an entirely different caliber. Rats, mice, and voles like to overstay their welcome. But the health and safety of both humans and animals on the farm depend on timely evictions. Here we’ll talk about the importance of both rodent-proofing and managing the rodent population that’s already inside using baits, glue boards, traps, and more. Read on for specific rodent control solutions to deploy in your operation.
Keep Structures Secure and Sanitary
When you find rodents in your facilities, it’s easy to look toward poison as a primary solution. Resist that urge because rodent-proofing is actually the first step toward minimizing your rodent population. If your structures aren’t secure, you’re essentially wasting bait. Sealing holes in walls, roof joints and the foundation, especially around wires/pipes, will limit the points of entry. Mice can fit through dime-sized spaces so it’s easier than you think for them to find a way.Once the building is secure, sanitation is the next priority. Keeping the buildings clean gives rodents less food, water, and entertainment (so they won’t have as much reason to stay).
Focus on these key measures:
- Keep animal feed in containers that rats can’t chew through
- Use trash bins with sealable lids
- Eliminate leaky and/or standing water
- Prune tree limbs that extend to the roof (where they climb and find a way in)
- Minimize odors and control garbage and manure
Getting Rid of Field Mice
Field mice look for shelter wherever they can find it, and they like to explore so they’re bound to sneak into your structures regularly. They nest in walls, attics and sometimes under appliances. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that rodents (including field mice) ruin at least $2 billion in animal feed each year. Their urine/feces contaminate the animal feed and can spread diseases among your livestock, so take these necessary steps to eliminate the headache and avoid potential losses.For heavy infestations, it can take a few weeks to eliminate the mice. This is exactly why starting with patching up the facility is key – you must make sure there aren’t more getting in before you try to deal with the critters already there. Now we can look to bait and traps to eliminate any stragglers still inside.
What’s the Best Bait for Rats and Mice?
Once your facility is patched and clean, it’s time to think about how to reduce any of the remaining rodents still living inside. You’ll find no shortage of products to help manage these populations, but here are a few of our customer favorites:- Just One Bite II: This rat and mouse bait is for use in and around agricultural buildings only. Rodents may consume a lethal dose in a single feeding, and will die 4-5 days after feeding. Can mount 1-lb bars in bait stations or place individual chunks around the facility.
- DeciMax Bait: An all-weather formula that reduces the risk of ruined bait, DeciMax is made with food-grade ingredients so Norway rats, roof rats, house mice and meadow voles will find it irresistible. Choose from blocks with ridges for gnawing, pellet place packs with grains and seeds, or soft bait peanut butter sachets.
- Ramik Bars: These mold- and moisture-resistant bait pieces can be used in wet or dry areas. They’re scored to easily break into 16, 1 ounce pieces or can be used whole. Give rats clusters of 4-16, 1-ounce pieces about 15-30 feet apart; give mice 1-ounce pieces about 8-12 feet apart.
- Jaguar Bait: This super strong, single-feeding anticoagulant and all-weather formula is especially effective in cleaning out tough infestations. It even comes in ready-to-use pellet packets to help keep bait fresh.
We also stock different snap traps to work with your choice bait, but if you don’t want the instant kill offered with the traps, try disposable glue traps. You can’t go wrong with any of these products, but if you’re looking for a people- and pet-safe, natural product, look no further than Mouse Magic. The all-natural ingredients in Mouse Magic trigger escape/avoidance behaviors in mice, driving them away from your structures. These essential oil-infused packets repel for over 30 days (according to laboratory tests), so they’re perfect for use in stored farm equipment, boats, campers, RVs, cars and more.
Food that’s Irresistible to Rats
Each of the baits mentioned above will undoubtedly attract your rats, but there are other specific foods you can use to lure them – or guide them to traps – if needed. Some rat control baits contain poison (rodenticides) flavored with peanut butter or cheese. Those ingredients work, but you may be surprised to learn that rats are also attracted to berries and fruit. If you have fruit trees (especially blackberry bushes) on your property, you may find more rodents in residence than farms without them. Keep that in mind as it could provide clear direction for bait placement. Sometimes it takes a while to lure the rats to your traps, but try sampling tiny amounts of food and/or fruit to entice them.
Reduce your rodent population with a wide variety of pest control products from PBS Animal Health. From mouse bait and live traps to rodenticide, snap traps and glue boards, we’ve got your rodent control needs covered. After you give our products a try, don’t stay quiet as a mouse! Come back to our site and submit your customer review – we’d really appreciate your feedback and it helps others like you with purchase decisions in the future.
