Mice settled in the insulation of the walls are a frequent and widespread problem of frame houses. With the onset of the cold season, these rodents begin to seek refuge in people's homes. The specifics of the design of frame structures leaves many gaps through which these pests penetrate the walls. Experts have developed effective ways to protect the house from the invasion of mice, as well as to cope with the pests that have already settled.
Do I need to get rid of rats and mice
It is necessary to fight with rats, because they are carriers of various diseases
Many, seeing a mouse in the house, do not recognize the danger, because small rodents are associated with pets, which were great friends in childhood. But wild mice and rats are not nearly as safe as they might seem at first glance. Of course, no one has ever died from rodent bites. But from the infections that they carry - quite. What's more, rats can leave fleas that will continue to spread the infection.
In addition to carrying various diseases, rats can attack children. Rodents are especially dangerous if they are squeezed into a corner, because the best defense for them is an attack. At night, they can bite a person's hands and face, harm pets. Secondary, but no less significant harm that rodents bring is damage to furniture, wiring, foundations, sewers and food. The costs of keeping pests are too high - it is imperative to get rid of rats and mice.
What to do to prevent pets from finding the bait
With all the hassle associated with the preparation of effective baits for rats, we must not forget about the safety of their use. The same minced meat, sausage, milk and even dough are loved not only by rats, but also by cats and dogs. In addition, a small child may well find such a bait. Pets and children can be injured by trying to get a treat from a spring trap (the simplest example of which is a common mousetrap), or they can get poisoned by eating poisoned bait.
To prevent this from happening, the baits must be placed where no one can find them (or they cannot be reached), except for the rodents themselves. Such inaccessible places in the house are, in particular, the spaces under the nightstands and the refrigerator in the kitchen, the inner cavities of the nightstands and cupboards, and the shelves in the pantry. Of course, when placing bait here, you need to be sure that there are rats in these places.
A much more efficient and safer approach is to place bait or traps with it in special container houses (they are also called bait stations).
They are boxes with several entrances through which only a rat or mouse can get inside. Neither a cat, nor a dog, nor, moreover, a child will be able to get the bait from there, but the box itself, fragrant with minced meat or vegetable oil, can be placed exactly where rats are most often - even in the center of the kitchen.
Some industrial poisons are already sold with such a house, but more often houses need to be bought separately. Such containers cost an average of 300 to 2000 rubles.For example, a rat bait container (manufactured by NKF "Rat") in St. Petersburg will cost 300 rubles, and the Bora bait station - about 1,300 rubles.
Such a container can be made with your own hands from an ordinary cardboard box. In the lower part of the two opposite walls of the box, you need to cut holes with a diameter of 5-6 cm, then put the bait inside and glue the lid with tape. When checking, the tape comes off and the box opens.
And remember, sometimes rats are especially suspicious of baits. Perhaps the standard delicacies will never seduce them, and you will need to catch pests with such a bait, which will have to be calculated by trial and error - be prepared for this. In any case, remember that rats, like any other living thing, need to eat regularly, and they are hungry several times a day. So, bringing them into a trap (or poisoning) is just a matter of time and perseverance.
Interesting video: a cautious rat still fell into a trap with a bait
Difficulties in breeding rodents
It would be easy to get rid of rats and mice if they were not so smart and cunning. Now they already have immunity to many poisons, do not fall into traps and avoid potential danger. Due to the fact that rodents are gregarious animals, they easily check traps and continue to avoid them in the future. However, they can quickly multiply and settle in the house. They can crawl into slots that are 4 times their size, climb pipes and ventilation, move to neighbors and come back.
One remedy for mice and rats cannot work for a long time if there are many rodents in the apartment, because they notice the danger and avoid it in the future.
Few can cope with the fact that when baiting rats you need to take them out, few people like to use mechanical traps, mouse traps. Poison baits are a versatile method that is easy to use at home. But the disadvantage is that it is undesirable to use poison if pets live in the house. Therefore, the most difficult part of fighting rodents is deciding how to get rid of them and protect yourself from them.
Mouse specificity
Generally speaking, mice, unlike rats, love cereals, cereals, fruits and vegetables more than animal products. Nevertheless, one of the most reliable baits in a mousetrap is considered to be a piece of bacon, slightly fried with a match on one side.
In addition to bacon, the mouse trap can be charged:
- A crust of bread dipped in vegetable oil;
- A slice of apple or pear;
- Walnut kernel;
- A piece of smoked sausage (which also attracts rats quite well).
As a rule, mice are less suspicious of baits than rats.
In mousetraps, in which the bait is not attached to the gatehouse, in addition to all the above products, you can also put fried seeds, fried peanuts, rye croutons and oatmeal cookies.
Porridge, mashed potatoes and dough are good as a food base for mouse poisons - all with the addition of vegetable oil. These mouse baits are the most versatile and easy to prepare. The same Zoocoumarin, Krysid and Ratindan can be used as a poison.
Unequal struggle: where to start
Any protection from rats and mice begins with the need to clean up the house. Ideal conditions for rodents: leftover food, a secluded burrow and warmth. Therefore, the best protection against rodents is cleanliness, walls and floors without holes and crevices, and most importantly - no food leftovers on the table. To protect yourself from stubborn animals, you need to use what they do not like - pungent odors, ash and other means known from folk recipes.
Mousetraps as a way to combat rodents are gradually becoming a thing of the past
If, after observing these rules, rats remain, then you need to move on to more effective methods. The main thing is not to cause aggression in rodents, driving them into a corner. Of course, when a mouse or a rat is alone, most likely a person will win, but if the animals are a flock of ten or more individuals, then it is difficult to say about the outcome of the fight. It is better not to put yourself in danger and not to catch rats by hand in the event that there are too many of them for this method. It is much more effective to use the developed methods or observe the traditions of the people:
- use poison;
- scatter ash;
- use an ultrasonic device;
- buy a mousetrap;
- put up a modern rodent exterminator;
- get a cat or dog;
- purchase the newest means for fighting mice and rats.
Not all of these methods can work instantly, because some of them involve a long-term effect. Other methods may not work at all, because they turn out to be unsuitable for certain conditions. And those methods that seem ineffective can pleasantly surprise you with their result. The main thing in the fight against rodents is to act immediately to prevent the massive spread of this population in your home.
Poisons and toxins against rats and mice
No wonder they say that rodents are very clever and cunning creatures. Their tendency to huddle together allows them to survive in the most difficult conditions. Moreover, not only to survive, but also to multiply, attack people and spoil things. You need to fight rodents using their own weaknesses - only this approach will lead to a positive result. There is no need to use baits - rats and mice eat everything that can attract their attention, so modern poisons are already equipped with everything necessary in advance.
Now poisons are divided into two main types: those that are scattered in the places of movement of mice and rats, and those that are used as bait. The former use the main habit of rodents: they often lick their paws and thus eat poison. When the poison enters the pest's body, there are two options for the development of events: instant death or gradual extinction within 8-12 days. It is advisable to use the second type in protection from rats, because if the rodents notice that the bait is dangerous to their lives, they will no longer approach it.
Various remedies for rats and mice
In terms of cost, both types of poison are relatively cheap. There are various brands and companies that produce rodent poisons, so there is a wide choice. It is not recommended to use the poison at home if there are a lot of rodents. After all, they can climb into a hard-to-reach place, and residents will not be able to find a dead animal. As a result, an unpleasant odor and spoiled hygienic conditions are ensured. There is one effective remedy suggested by traditional medicine: mix quicklime with sugar, or flour with gypsum and leave it next to water. However, this method is by no means humane and extremely painful for rodents.
It is not recommended to use all types of poisons if there are pets in the house. They may not be able to distinguish poison from food and may be exposed to it. The toxic substance also negatively affects the human body, therefore, it must be distributed strictly with gloves, without touching the body and mucous membranes.
How to apply grain bait
Grain bait is poured onto substrates. You can use used lids, cardboard boxes, plastic containers, trays, etc. The layout rate depends on the drug used (see instructions) and the number of rodents, most often the following dosage is used - 1 tbsp. spoon against mice or 2 tbsp. spoons against rats.
The baits are placed in places where traces of the vital activity of rodents (gnaws, droppings) are found, in places of movement, next to the discovered burrows, in the corners, under shelves, shelves and objects, along the walls every 2-4 m.The layout, if necessary, is repeated after 7-10 days until the disappearance of the rodents, and as the substrates are emptied.
Grain rodent bait. Using bait stations for the safe use of grain baits
Mousetraps: from the past to the future
This method of trapping pests has been known for many years. However, ordinary mousetraps will no longer work, because mice and rats have long realized the fact that they cannot be approached. And they will not come close even if there is a delicacy, because the instinct of self-preservation works great in these animals. Therefore, modern models have now been developed that shock rodents with an electric current. It is only necessary to throw out the fallen victims in time.
Rat trap cage
And this work is not for the faint of heart, especially if there are a lot of rats and mice in the house. However, there are already such models that have a completely closed case, several compartments. They work automatically: when an animal gets inside, the device emits an electrical impulse that hits the victim. Such a remedy is also well used for controlling rodents, for prophylaxis: it will perfectly protect housing from mice and rats. However, the cost of such a device is high and not everyone can afford it.
Sunflower seeds
Sunflower seeds are another favorite treat for mice. Before eating, they clean them by pinching them with two front paws.
It is not necessary to peel the seeds for bait. Any seed will do, whether processed or not. You can fry them before placing them in the mousetrap. The heat will release oil and make the seeds smell stronger.
The cake also has a strong smell. It is he who is usually used in villages.
Protecting your home from rodents: the best prevention measures
Now, as a preventive measure, naphthalene, kerosene and other pungent-smelling substances are rarely used. Previously, they were popular, but then there were no more modern developments - ultrasonic scarers. These devices emit ultrasound and electromagnetic waves that rats cannot tolerate. As a result, they leave the premises, and in the event of migration, they avoid it. Such devices can cover from 20 square meters to 100, depending on the capacity.
Ultrasonic repellents - the most modern means of rodent control
They are designed for residential buildings, apartments, barns, sheds and other places where the vital activity of rats and mice is destructive. The cost of such devices significantly exceeds the cost of poisons and chemicals, but they also operate much more humanely and more reliably. There is no need to take out dead individuals, track their habitats - they themselves leave and never return. Devices are powered by electricity or batteries. Traditional methods of preventing and getting rid of rats involve the use of ash. Getting on the paws, and through them and inside the animal, ash causes irritation of the mucous membranes, itching and many other unpleasant sensations. Therefore, rats and mice cannot live long in such conditions and try to quickly change their place of residence.
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The cat is the enemy of the rodent, which means it is the protector of the home
Believing stereotypes, people bring cats into the affected house and wait for the result. But not those cats and mice nowadays to solve the problem so easily. First, rodents have become more aggressive in the struggle for their habitats and often attack first. And pets, who have never seen such creatures in their lives, are more afraid of them than cats do mice.Naturally, specially trained predator cats will cope with this task, but pets are unlikely.
Contrary to popular belief, dogs are excellent at dealing with rats. They regularly visit the street, and therefore more often face dangers. They have not lost their predatory skills, and therefore can easily catch rats and mice around the house. However, you don't need to expect a quick result from pets: rodents can hide and not get caught by a dog or cat. So the best fight against rodents is their preliminary prevention!
