Though there are many DIY rodent control options, it is always best to work with a professional pest control provider, like Western Exterminator, to completely eliminate a rodent problem. Both mice and rats breed quickly, and if not controlled properly, one rodent can result in an infestation leaving you with a lot of damage and expensive repairs to your home.
However, if you want to try DIY rodent control by making your own rodent traps, we laid out some important rodent control tips to follow. Keep in mind that DIY rodent traps will only eliminate the rodents for a short period of time and will not completely control your mouse or rat problem if you have an infestation.
Rodents follow the perimeter of a room, so set your DIY rodent traps perpendicular to your walls, with the baited end flush against the wall. We should also note that you can never have too many traps – just follow our second step to make sure they are set up properly!
You will want to set up your traps at least six inches apart from each other. Make sure you leave enough space in between the traps so that if one goes off, it doesn't trigger another. If possible, tie the traps down so an injured mouse or rat cannot run off with the trap.
It is recommended to bait the traps with a tiny amount of bait that won’t spoil, such as dry pet food. Applying a pea-sized amount of your bait will help to prevent the rodents from just nibbling at it. Avoid using poison as bait as this will result in rodents dying in your walls where they'll emit an unpleasant odor.
Mousetraps take more effort than setting and forgetting them. Some of the top tips for setting a mousetrap include:
Keep critters out this season. Seal entry points and protect your home for less¹.
Start your year-round protection today with PestFree365+². Use code SAVE50.
If your DIY rodent control isn’t working, contact us! Our Technicians understand the habits of all mice and rat species, making it easier to find where they are nesting. Knowing and understanding rodent behaviors is crucial to effectively controlling an infestation.
To get rid of the rodents in your home, a Western Technician will use a combination of rodent exclusion techniques and control methods. Your Technician will perform a full inspection of your home – both inside and out – finding where the rodents are entering your home and then putting a plan in place to eliminate them and prevent them from returning.
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¹ Participating locations only. Requires purchase of a new Rodent & Wildlife Exclusion Plan. Covered pests vary but generally include commensal rodents (house mice, Norway rats, roof rats), tree squirrels, flying squirrels, raccoons, opossums, pigeons, starlings, sparrows, armadillos, and skunks. Single-family, free-standing, owner-occupied homes only. Offer may not be combined with other discounts. Other limitations and terms apply. See Plan for details.
² Requires purchase of a new PestFree365 or PestFree365+ agreement. To see our Covered Pests, visit https://www.westernexterminator.com/pest-control/pestfree365. Home must be free of bed bugs during initial service to qualify for bed bug coverage under PestFree365+. Offer may not be combined with other offers or discounts. Limitations apply. See Plan for details.