Rodent Control - Mice, Rats and More

Controlling Rodent sin Your Yard and Garden

If you have a yard or a garden, chances are you’re going to have to deal with a rodent or two over the years. But, the presence of mice, rats, or other rodents is a problem homeowners and gardeners do not like to even talk about. When you have rodents of any kind on your property, the problem eats at you and is on your mind, until they have been eradicated. So, let’s get right to the topic of “How to Control Rodents”.

The bottom line is you must get rid of them. So, let’s talk about the unspeakable.

Ladies and Gentlemen, controlling rodents is a matter of “Choose your weapon!”

Poisons

Most often, homeowners turn to mice and rat poisons. Chances are, you won’t see the dead mouse or rat. And, you won’t have to dispose of it. You know it works, when the poisons stops disappearing.

For home gardeners, this is more problematic. You are placing poisons in or around your garden. The poisons can get into the soil, and ultimately into the food you eat. Even if you are very careful, a poisoned rodent can die in the garden, and decompose right there. While we are not the experts on the risks, we do know there is some risk.

As a result, many home gardeners avoid the use of poisons all together.

Cats

Ever wonder why most farms have cats? Generally, cats are good hunters, aiding in rodent control. However, some cats are not good hunters. And, they usually do not tangle with a full grown rat.

Traps and Other Rodent Control Methods

With these rodent control methods, you need to deal with the carcass or even a live rodent. Here are a few:

Ye Olde Mouse Trap – Until they come up with a better mousetrap, it certainly is effective. While peanut butter is the best bait, ants are attracted to it, and readily rob the bait.
Sticky Paper – It works, sometimes.
Small Hav-a-hart traps – It’s effective. But, now you have a live rodent to dispose of.
Eliminate their habitat and source of food – You can reluctantly eliminate the compost pile, where they find food and a cozy place to live. But, a garden is a garden. It has a great and ample food supply for you, and the rodents!