Dealing With Rodent Pest Control

You are walking or sitting in your home, a rodent runs across your floor, and you jump up on the chair and scream and try to get something to beat it with or throw at it. You may not even be sure what that was but one thing is for sure it has to go. After you gather your wits about you again, you grab the phone book and start looking for someone to call. Whom should you call? Well, call someone who has rodent pest control experience.

Different Methods

There are the traditional methods of rodent pest control such as poisons, mouse or rat traps that you can put out and hope it kills them. If you have pets and children, you may want to use a different method. One thing you need to figure out is what type of rodent you are dealing with. Do you have a little mouse problem in your house or are you dealing with a rat, raccoon or rabbits. Remember some of these animals can be dangerous and will charge you or your family and maybe even kill your pets. Some people prefer to call an expert. When you do this make sure they are a reputable company that is trained and licensed. Some people will get a cat that will help rid your home or barn of the smaller rodents such as mice.

Devices

If you are one who doesn't want to use the traditional methods and would rather try a method such a ultrasonic or live trapping then you will want to do some research on the subject to find out what other types of methods can be used. There are many different and newer products and gadgets on the market now that may work for you.

It can be frustrating to find a rabbit in your garden or flower bed eating all your plants. If you live on a farm some of the rodents your will have to deal with will be very hungry and can damage pens for birds and other small animals trying to get to eggs or garbage. They will dig dens in around properties or move into your barns or walls and foundations. They carry diseases and can make you, your pets and family sick. There will be feces where ever they go and sometimes a trail of destruction. They can invade your food supply and some are very smart and will not even go near any type of traps or poisons. Rodent pest control can be an awful thing to deal with.

Do some research and be sure that you know what you are dealing with and what methods are available. Be sure you know of any cautions or dangers there might be in the methods that you use. Read and find ways to help prevent rodents from having any reason to visit you.What's cream-colored, less than an inch long, and can be found chewing off your home's foundation with an overall cost of $2 billion in damages each year? Definitely not your friendly neighborhood bug, that's for sure. Subterranean termites, considered to be the most destructive pest in the United States, are found in every state except Alaska.

Where do they live and what do they eat?

These dehydration-prone termites are attracted to areas with lots of moisture and must live near the soil or other above ground source to survive. Underground colonies of subterranean termites can contain up to 2 million members and are organized within a caste system, ranging from the queen and king termites who are the "colony founders" to the lower classes. Soldier and reproductive termites fall in between and help support the entire system with the former fighting off predators such as ants. Worker termites, the last group, consume wood and provide food for the rest of the termite colony.

Subterranean termites feed on anything that contain wood fiber and cellulose such as paper, cardboard, and plant products. Their primary source of food include dead trees and brush, but when the land is cleared by human intervention and houses get built, termites will start to attack the building structures.
Termites can penetrate buildings through wood that sits on soil and through building tunnels called mud tubes in foundations. They can also enter easily through cracks or openings in foundations.

What kind of damage can they do?

Homeowners are fearful of subterranean termites for good reason - these termites can collapse an entire building completely. A colony of termites can work diligently and chew through fragments of wood with their strong jaws.

Experts report that termites normally take three to eight years to cause any sort of tangible damage, based on feeding patterns. Other sources estimate that under humid and moisture-filled conditions, a termite colony composed of 60,000 workers could potentially consume a one foot of 2 x 4 inch pine in 100 to 150 days.

How can I tell if I have termites?

Since subterranean termites live underground, the best way to look for termites in your home is to watch out for mud tubes protruding from hidden areas, such as wall crevices, baseboards, and sub-flooring. Blistered wood, soil in cracks, and weak or broken structures can also be a sign of subterranean termites. If you see any appearance of termite entry into your home, call a licensed termite inspector to evaluate your termite situation and what can be done.

A pest control company can provide a proactive termite program for inspecting termites, termite damage, and mud tubes. Ask your pest control professional to install monitoring stations around the perimeter of structures to serve as an early warning system.

How do I get rid of termites?

Pest control professionals utilize three different types of treatment that include soil treatments, wood treatments, and baits.

Soil treatments work to decrease the population of termites and protect the structure long-term. This treatment contains liquid termiticide diluted with water to be injected into the soil around the foundation of the home. This treatment can also be used simultaneously with wood treatments and/or baits.

Wood treatments protect wood from termite infestation and reduces the infestation during treatment by painting unfinished wood with liquids like borate materials.

Baits are put into the ground where there are signs of termites. The bait is usually an insect growth regulator (IGR) or a slow release toxic agent. Once termites eat the bait and return to their colony, it becomes manifested in the colony and reduces the termite population there through weakening the entire colony.

How can I prevent termites in the first place?

Prevention methods for termite infestation include reducing the the potential for termites to enter your home and should be reviewed by homeowners. Most of the treatments described above utilize chemicals, which can be toxic to animals and even humans.

The only permanent non-toxic termite treatment is produced by Termistop USA, which uses Flanges and Blockouts, a non-chemical solution that prevents termites from entering the home at the service penetrations through the slab. The Termimesh System, composed of stainless steel mesh, creates a "physical barrier" to termite entry when it "keys" into the concrete. By addressing these areas during construction with Termistop Flanges and Blockouts, Pest Control Operators reduce the need to apply chemical termiticides within the living space of the building.

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Comments

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 at 2:15 PM, by zappestcontrolvirginia

very interesting. Anything related to digestion is a pretty personal topic. If you're interested in more info based on mass response to this, check out this pest control virginia page

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