Your Guide To The Best Way to Manage Rodents in NH
New Hampshire has several types of rodents, ranging from cute and harmless lemmings to the somewhat frightening porcupine. Many people enjoy finding these little critters out in the wild. Others would prefer never to come in contact with them. So how do you manage rodents in your home, business or outside?
Whatever your personal feelings on the wide world of Rodentia, none of these animals belong infesting your homes.
Rodent infestations in your home pose significant health risks to your family. And every year in the United States, damage from rodents causes an estimated 20 billion dollars to homeowners, businesses, and agriculture.
Think you might have a rodent problem? Read on to learn about the signs of rodents and how to get rid of rodents in your home.
Damage from Rodents
Rodents have been intermingling with people since the first humans started letting them into agricultural communities. They quickly spread everywhere humans went.
Almost immediately, they were recognized by those early groups as a pest. They would get into food stores and spread deadly infectious diseases.
Today, rodents still pose significant health risks. They spread diseases like Hantavirus, Tularemia, and Salmonella, among others. These diseases can spread either through direct contact with dead or living animals or through contact with their urine or feces.
In addition, rodents can do extensive damage to your home. They’ll tear up insulation to use as nest materials. They also enlarge cracks and crevices through which larger animals can enter your home.
They also have a particular fondness for chewing wires. Not only does this cause annoying and expensive electrical issues, but the exposed wires open your home up to fire risk.
Signs of Rodents
There are several signs to look out for if you suspect rodents in your home.
Look out for rodent droppings. These are cylindrical pellets between 1/4 to a 1/2 inch in length, similar in size and shape to grains of rice.
Also, listen for skittering or scratching sounds in the walls, attic, or coming from under appliances like fridges or ovens. You should also look out for bite marks or torn open food packaging.
How to Get Rid of Rodents in NH
To manage rodents and try to get rid of them, you can employ several types of rodent control equipment in your home if you suspect you don’t have a large infestation.
Snap traps and sticky tape are commonly used, though they often lead to a slow and painful death for rodents and are not considered very humane.
Electric traps are an alternative that instantly kills rodents. But they are much more expensive and must be checked often to remove the dead rodent carcasses.
Live traps are considered the most humane option, capturing the animal alive. The animal can then be transported many miles away, where it will not make its way back into your home. These traps are also more expensive, and many will find the process of catching and releasing rodents inconvenient.
Rodenticides
There are many reasons not to use rodenticides to manage rodents, and many states have already banned their use or are working to make them illegal.
First off, they are harmful to human health. Specifically, young children are susceptible to common household rat poison. In the United States alone, over 10,000 children are treated for poisoning by rodenticides every year.
Also a danger to household pets and wild animals. As rodents ingest these poisons, they’ll often get eaten by other animals. This can outright kill raptors like Bald Eagles and Snowy Owls. And as these poisons move up the food chain, they can cause internal bleeding or manage in large mammals like mountain lions, bobcats, and foxes.
Rodent Control Service
If you suspect you have a rodent infestation, the safest and most effective way to manage rodents and deal with them is to contact a professional rodent control service.
A trained team can evaluate the extent of the problem and create a plan for trapping, removing, and preventing rodents from returning to your home.
Contact a Professional
Are you trying to get rid of rodents in NH? Garfield Pest Control provides quality pest control that is safest for you, your family, your pets and the environment. And we take preventative measures to ensure your pest problem doesn’t return.
Call us today to schedule a free inspection, and let us help you safely make your home and commercial property pest-free.
