The yard feeds the house.
Hardly any rodent infestation starts indoors. It begins outside, where a woodpile, shed or thick hedge offers shelter and a feeder or fallen fruit offers food. When numbers climb, some animals look for better quarters, and your attic or garage qualifies.
That is why outdoor control matters. It lowers the pressure on the building, and it makes sealing last longer.
Reading outdoor signs.
- Burrow holes about two inches wide beside slabs, sheds or fences.
- Packed lanes in the grass or along a wall.
- Droppings near feeders, trash cans or pet bowls.
- Gnawed fruit under trees.
- Rub marks on fence rails and wires leading to the roof.
Photograph what you find and note where it sits. A technician can often tell the species from those clues alone.
Chores in order of payoff.
| Task. | Effort. | Payoff. |
|---|---|---|
| Bring pet food and seed indoors at dusk. | Low. | High. |
| Pick up fallen fruit and nuts. | Low. | High. |
| Raise firewood onto a rack away from the house. | Medium. | High. |
| Trim limbs and fronds back from the roof. | Medium. | High. |
| Thin dense shrubs against the siding. | Medium. | Medium. |
| Fill old burrows. | Medium. | Low unless animals are gone. |
Filling burrows while animals are still using them just pushes them to dig somewhere else. Trapping comes first.
Trapping outdoors.
Enclosed, lockable stations go by burrows, along fences and beside sheds. They are weighted or anchored so wind, pets and wildlife cannot tip them. A technician checks them on a schedule you hear ahead of time.
See rat control for the species most often found in yards, and trapping and removal for the method.
Sheds, decks and outbuildings.
A shed is a rodent apartment when its floor lifts off the ground or its door has a gap. Check the floor edge, the corners and the vents. Close each gap with mesh and sealant, and keep anything soft or edible off the floor.
Decks and porches work the same way. Skirting with a torn corner can let animals in. Keep the area underneath clear of stored material.
Storms and the wet season.
After heavy rain, burrows can flood, and animals look for drier cover. Walk the yard once the ground dries and look for new holes and moved debris. Debris piles can hide fresh burrows, so rake them back from the foundation.
Share your street and a couple of details, and the search for our earliest opening begins.
Dial (888) 686-4821Keeping gains.
Yard changes work best when kept up. A monthly walk-through takes ten minutes and catches new burrows or feeder spills early. For sealing the building itself, see exclusion.
Before you call, safe cleanup in plain steps
Moving calmly keeps fine grit from floating where you breathe.
- A quick sweep feels harmless, yet it can launch particles that hang in still air for a long time.
- Open it up, wait thirty minutes and keep your face out of the doorway while it clears.
- Skin contact with droppings, urine or nesting material is avoidable, and gloves make it so.
- Dampen every pellet and stain completely and let the liquid stand before touching anything.
- Tie the bag, bin it and wash your hands once more.
- Mention rodent contact to your doctor if you become ill within weeks, because we stick to pest work.
Check the agencies yourself
Complete instructions and the product limits appear on the public pages that follow.
- US EPA, rodenticide product restrictions: EPA information on restricted-use rodenticide products, and why some never reach retail shelves.
- Centers for Disease Control, hantavirus prevention: A plan in three parts for keeping rodents away from a house: seal, trap, clean.