09/13/2024

Get A Head Start in Keeping Winter Rodents Out

By Wyatt Brandt, Bell Laboratories, Inc.

Summer is cooling down, which means rodents are getting ready for the winter. They’re looking for food and warmth, and this means they’re trying to get indoors.

In North America, this period falls between August and October, and it’s popularly known as “Rodent Season” to the pest control industry.

As rodent season kicks off, pest control professionals (PMPs) should make time to ensure their accounts are clean and secure. Here are some ways PMPs can protect their accounts, clients and the public from the disease and damage caused by winter rodents.

Fall cleanup is a must

One of the best ways to keep rodents out is making an account unappealing to rodents. If rodents aren’t drawn to the property in the first place, they’re less likely to move indoors once winter comes. In many scenarios, this means teaching customers the importance of maintaining a clean property.

Speak with clients about removing clutter, vegetation, and food and water sources. For example, have clients remove plant material from garden beds and rake their lawns. Beyond simply raking leaves – which removes potential harborages – clean up potential food items like acorns and walnuts. Similarly, make sure their bird feeders are away from the building, and clean up any fallen seed. If it’s a residential property, clean any outdoor grills. Finally, be sure to trim tree branches that overhang buildings, because rodents can use them to sneak inside.

Cleaning and maintenance should also be done indoors. Beyond getting rid of clutter, be sure to remove food and water sources. This includes using sealed containers for trash and fixing leaks. For example, if an apartment complex’s laundry room has a washing machine that drips on the floor, it is a potential water source for an intruding rodent. Removing potential harborages and food and water sources will help reduce the chances of an indoor rodent infestation.

Patch holes and fix doors

After cleaning and removing food and water sources, it is time to perform exclusion. Rodents can get into buildings any number of ways, but the most common are:

• Unsealed pipes, vents, chimneys
• Open doorways, windows
• Gaps in doorways
• Gaps in roofs
• Holes and gnawed openings

Secure metal mesh over exposed pipes or vents with caulk or cement. These can be used to seal smaller holes and gaps, which can keep rodents out.

Remember that rodents can gnaw through caulk, expanding foam, and even concrete. That’s why it’s important to continue with thorough inspections and make sure rodents aren’t creating new entry points.

Also replace any worn-out or missing door sweeps, and make sure there is a solid seal on all entrances. For example, if light can be seen at the top of a closed garage door, there’s a chance that rodents may be able to sneak inside through that gap.

Keep a strong perimeter

One final way to keep rodents out is to have a strong baiting and trapping program at the account, especially around its perimeter.

For example, if there are tamper-resistant bait stations like the weighted Protecta EVO Express set around a warehouse, rodents are likely to consume rodenticide before entering the building. If the bait is a single-feed rodenticide – like Bell’s bromethalin bait, FASTRAC – rodents are less likely to establish a foothold at the account.

Inside the account, use snap traps and multi-catch mouse traps like the T-Rex iQ and 24/7 iQ to catch intruding rodents. Placing multi-catch traps by entrances and other high-activity areas and snap traps in drop ceilings, attics, or behind equipment can help ensure control is maintained as winter sets in. iQ traps use integrated Bluetooth sensors to help PMPs know when and where rodents are traveling, allowing them to better identify rodent entry points and runways.