Tag Archives: Rat Control

Rat Traps Set In Attic

How To Catch Rats

Rat Control, , , ,

So rats got inside your house and chewed pipes, wires or damaged walls. Here’s the plan you likely have to get rid of them: 1. Drive to the hardware store and buy a rat trap. 2. Put cheese on the trap 3. Set the trap in your kitchen. Take it from a very experienced professional, that is a TERRIBLE PLAN! Actually every part of that plan is a bad idea. Let’s see how to catch rats with a better plan.

How To Catch Rats
Rat Chewed Pipe

#1 Best Plan To Catch Rats

Here are three tips our pro technicians use to catch rats in homes, businesses, and warehouses.

  1. Don’t buy a cheap rat trap at a hardware store.
  2. The only rodent ever caught with cheese was in a cartoon.
  3. Setting a rat trap where kids and pets can find it is an insanely bad idea.

Choose The Right Rat Trap

Why not buy a rat trap at the hardware store? Two good reasons!

wrong way to set rat traps

First, you don’t need a rat trap. What you really need if you actually want more than needle-in-a-haystack odds of catching that rat is 10 rat traps MINIMUM. We usually set at least 24 traps for all our professional trapping jobs. If you only have one trap set, you have about 1/100 chances of making a catch. Set out 10 traps and your odds of success increase exponentially.

The second reason not to buy rat traps at the hardware store is that the traps sold at most hardware stores are cheap homeowner grade equipment. They range from completely ineffective traps where you’d have better luck at winning the lottery than catching a rat, to cool gadgets designed to pique your curiosity (not the curiosity or an actual rodent).

Moving up from hardware store options to the PRO-grade traps with expanded trigger plates, sensitivity settings and rust-resistant hardware that doesn’t blow up in a hot attic will cost you like $2 more a trap. Would you seriously drive a Ford Taurus if a BMW only costs $2 more?!? There is literally a huge quality difference in the effectiveness of PRO grade rat traps, so don’t waste your time on the relatively “cheap” hardware store options.

Cheese Doesn’t Work

rat with cheese

After all those episodes of Tom and Jerry who would dare dispute the effectiveness of using cheese to lure a wiley rat into a rat trap.  Only anyone who has actually ever tried to trap a rat I suspect. Most people just assume cheddar is the fix-all but let’s explore some better options.

In our search for how to catch rats and the best rat lure,  we have tried cheese, bread, candy, chocolate, peanut butter, apples, bananas, cat food and about everything else you can think of. Let’s be truthful, a hungry lil bugger just might react to any of these items–but it’s a long shot. Our techs put their heads together and we did massive testing with all sorts of goodies mixed together. We used a trail camera to verify the results and in the end, we invented a crazy rat catch’n blend for rodents. We called it Rodent Magnet Trap Bait and it’s what our techs use almost exclusively now.

rodent magnet trap bait All it takes is a pea-sized portion placed on the trap and rats are going to literally go nuts to get at this stuff. Don’t waste your time with cheese. Believe us the pros don’t try to catch rats using cheese.

 

Use Caution When Setting Rat Traps Around Kids & Pets

While a mousetrap might cause a temporary sting, a rat trap can inflict permanent damage to children and pets. We suggest only setting rat traps in enclosed areas (like attics or crawl spaces), up high (like on top of kitchen cabinets or electric water heaters) or inside protective boxes like the one pictured below.

pet friendly bait station If you don’t have access to tamper-resistant bait stations like the one pictured, you can even use a heavy cardboard box with a small hole cut in the side and a heavy item on top to hold it in place. Ultimately, you know your children and pets and if you think they might be clever enough to access traps, don’t take chances.

How To Catch Rats Summary

The right traps and bait really matter. Trying to save a few bucks on equipment can lead to lots of frustrations as rats run loose in your house destroying everything they touch. Most importantly, don’t take chances with the safety of your pets and children when setting rat traps.

If you get stuck on how to catch rats or just want to see how much we’d charge to take care of the lil’ buggers just call or text us.

Locally owned for fast, exceptional service.

5 Star Pest Control Service available in Albany, Ashland, Coos Bay, Corvallis, Eugene, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Medford, Newberg, Roseburg, Salem, Sherwood, Wilsonville, Woodburn, Tigard, Tualatin and surrounding areas.

rat looking for food

Getting Rid Of Rats – Tips For Success

Rat Control, Rats, , , , ,

Maybe you are hearing sounds in your walls, maybe your dog is alerting you to the rodent  threat or maybe you just happened across droppings, chewing or other signs of rodents within your home. One thing is now certain–getting rid of rats fast is your top priority. Below our expert Field Technicians share a few tips to help guide you to success.

Getting Rid Of Rats – Pro Tips

We have been getting rid of rats for years and we’ve learned a few things that are sure to help out.

Control Food Sources First

“Control the possible food and water sources to help with getting rid of rats faster. Many people don’t even know to look for common food sources like compost piles, pet food dishes, wild bird seed and organic fertilizers.” Justin W. – Corvallis Tech

Justin knows that by removing food sources, it will be easier lure rats into baited traps. Look for these food sources commonly used by rats:

  1. Remove pet dishes when pets are not actively eating.
  2. Store unused wild bird seed in metal containers.
  3. Remove organic fertilizer from garages.
  4. Clean up pet poop in the yard since rats can actually eat it-gross!
  5. Avoid putting food scraps in open compost piles until the rats are gone.

Set LOTS Of Traps

“Most do-it-yourselfers fail at getting rid of rats because they set way to few traps.” Jacob L. – Owner

We frequently get called out to assist with a failed homeowner’s attempt at getting rid of rats. Often the correct traps were used in conjunction with an appropriate trap lure. Success has evaded the homeowner because only a couple traps were set.rodent magnet trap bait

Our trained technicians often use 1-4 dozen traps, carefully placed in active rat travel paths to quickly and effectively capture the infesting rodents. For additional info about the exact traps we’ve found to be most effective and to purchase our scientifically engineered Rodent Magnet Trap Bait (proven to be more effective than peanut butter) call or text us at 541-636-0146.

Eliminate Rat Entry Points

getting rid of rats
Rat entry point-note brown rat smudge marks

“If funds allow, bite the bullet and pay to get your structure professionally excluded. The long term benefits will far out way the short term costs.” Kevin M. – Field Manager

Rats have a far better sense of smell than eyesight. When entering and exiting a structure, rats leave a distinct scent. Even if the intruding rodent is captured, other rats are attracted to the remaining scent and drawn into the structure. Kevin has found that our Professional Rodent Exclusion service effectively prevents rats long term.

Don’t forget that Rodent Exclusion often improves home energy efficiency and can save you on heating and cooling costs in addition to avoiding costly home repairs from rodent damage.

Rodents can enter any hole larger than 1/4 inch, so effective rodent prevention requires that every gap from the foundation to the top or the roof must be carefully inspected and addressed to effectively prevent rodent entry.  Rodent exclusion is a highly specialized field and requires extensive training. We’re Oregon’s #1 rodent exclusion experts as licensed Oregon contractors (CCB#153907) and have created the BEST and MOST EFFECTIVE, 100% WARRANTED rat prevention system. Call or text us now for additional details 541-636-0146.

5 Star Pest Control Service available in Albany, Ashland, Coos Bay, Corvallis, Eugene, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Medford, Newberg, Roseburg, Salem, Sherwood, Wilsonville, Woodburn, Tigard, Tualatin and surrounding areas.

Rat Prevention

How To Prevent Rats

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Rats seldom travel alone.  While one may have explored its way into your crawlspace or home, it’s highly likely that it will soon bring others.  Pregnant females often look for warmth in homes (especially in colder months) and can take up residence in your attic or crawlspace with a family already en route.  While rodent removal can be done, many customers inquire as to what they could do to stave off future problems, or how they could have kept the current problem from having occurred in the first place.  As our rodent removal experts work with rodent infestations all across the state of Oregon, we are always asked these same questions.  They are questions about prevention, not simply removal, and we have answers.

Effective Rat Removal (With A Problem)

Time and again, we have inspected rat infested structures, designed rat  removal plans, and implemented successful extermination efforts.  The knowledge we’ve gained from each of these unique structures and various infestation traits has allowed us to create a rat extermination process. It has  functioned so well that we can even guarantee successful rat elimination with 100% confidence.  So what’s the problem?

20170602_045252

The problem is that before we arrive, and in the time it takes us to exterminate an infesting rat population, damage to the home can occur.  Rats can be destructive, and sometimes wires are chewed up, causing short circuits and damage to heating systems.  The rats can damage water lines, enlarge exterior entrance points (leaving you open to other infestations later), and disease spreading urine and feces is always left behind.  It doesn’t take long to realize that the ideal scenario would be to block rodent access before an infestation can even begin.  Preventative maintenance and habits can solve this problem, and there are many reasons to undertake them.

The Cost To Fix Problems Left Behind By Rats

To get a better idea as to what it can cost to fix the damage rats cause, we interviewed Tom, the owner of Mahalo Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC. Tom detailed just a few of the estimated costs of repairing damage caused by rats to heating and cooling systems.

Repair or Replace a Damaged Dust System                                                    $2,500-$8,000

Repair or Replace a Damaged Thermostat Wire                                           $200-$500

Duct System Cleaning                                                                                              $300-$500

Monthly Increased Heating/Cooling Costs (Holes In Duct Systems)    $500-$800+

Tom concludes what we already know; preventing a rat infestation can save homeowners LOTS of money.

Is It Really Possible To Prevent Rats?

From our field experience we know that in order to prevent rats, all entrance points over ½ inch have to be sealed up. This includes entry points on the roof, around the exterior, foundation, doorways (especially garage doors), and even pipes and wiring leading into the crawlspace underground.  Some homes are simply not built with this in mind, or they contain extensive remodel components that make sealing all small gaps virtually impossible, or cost prohibitive.  While complete rodent proofing remains the absolute best, and permanent, solution to rat prevention, it’s simply not a viable option for some structures.

A Completely New Rat Prevention Idea

Let’s go back a bit…  There was a time, early on in our company’s history, that we were faced with a problem.  We wanted to come up with a successful way to prevent rat infestations from taking root in homes.  Determined to discover what it might be, the entire Bug Zapper Pest Control team got together.  Fueled by late night pizza, the creativity got going and a ton of ideas were presented.  No idea was off-limits.  As we discussed these, we knew that while ideas are great, they really do nothing without real-world evidence and trials.  So, we decided to field-test some of them to see what worked effectively in the real world.  We all had a lot of pride in our 5-star reviews and were not willing to offer a new solution unless we all felt 100% confident we could guarantee its effectiveness for every home in Oregon.  We had some great customers who were willing to let us try out our system, and we are indebted to them.

Not pictured: A satisfied customer, personally. Pictured: A technician at a customer's house in mid-satisfy.
Not pictured: A satisfied customer, personally.
Pictured: A technician at a customer’s house in mid-satisfy.

Things came together, and some ideas won out over others.  Months later, the glitches had been worked out and the results were reviewed by our team.  The conclusion:  Together we had developed a 100% foolproof system that works at every home regardless of construction style, age, location or other factors.  Compared to the huge costs of repairing rat damage, our new rat prevention system really could be priced at several hundred dollars each month.  It was worth it.  However, we also felt that rats populations were causing a huge problem and we knew that helping to decrease their numbers was something that needed to be available everywhere, and not simply for those with large disposable income.  Populations of rats are indiscriminate, and put our communities health at risk.  The best solution to decreasing this problem is to hit rats wherever they take root, in any neighborhood, for any customer.  We decided instead to retool the process to make our new rat prevention system affordable for everyone.  It doesn’t lower the rat population much in an area if only one house takes action, so we’ve priced our system in a way that many homes can take part.  Every member of the Bug Zapper team lives here in Oregon, too, and if our neighbors prevent rats, then our own homes and families are safer too.

Guaranteed Rat Prevention System

Even with our guaranteed new rat prevention system, every home requires a custom plan to establish a rat free zone within your home. This all starts with a detailed inspection by our rat prevention expert. He will go over the details with you about how our new system works, how fast you will see results, and exactly what the cost will be for your home.

Find out if your home might be at risk by asking your neighbors if they have seen or caught a rat recently.  If yes, this is a good indicator that your home is in a HIGH RISK ZONE.  Call or text us now to schedule a PRO inspection before that first rat gets inside your home!

Locally owned for fast, exceptional service.

5 Star Rodent Prevention Service available in Albany, Ashland, Corvallis, Eugene, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Medford, Newberg, Roseburg, Salem, Sherwood, Wilsonville, Woodburn, Tigard, Tualatin and surrounding areas.

Call/Text 541-636-0146

For Information Today!

 

 

 

Bug Zapper's Winston Pest Control has uncovered a rat invasion

Rats and Mice In Eugene – Ways To Trap Them

Eugene Pest Control, Lane County Pest Control, Rat Control, ,

Rats and mice in Eugene are a prolific bunch.  Even a single, lone rodent scurrying across your kitchen floor is cause for great alarm. The germs and diseases these rodents spread are enough to endanger you and your family, but before you get out your shotgun and attempt some country rodent control, let’s review the options.  We’ve outlined good ideas and bad ideas, to help you know the difference, and most importantly, why some work and some don’t.

Bad Ideas For Controlling Rats and Mice in Eugene

Let’s start with what doesn’t work first.

Rats and Mice have different traps; this trap is for mice

  1. Don’t just assume you have mice and start setting mouse traps. Most often homes in the city actually have rats. We frequently perform inspections and discover mouse traps have unsuccessfully been set when the real problem is a rat infestation. While it is possible with a lot of luck, it is rare to catch a rat with a mouse trap.
  2. Putting out rodent bait if you are not 100% certain your problem isn’t rats is a bad idea. When a poisoned rat dies inside a wall, heating system or other inaccessible location you are going to regret using that bait for several weeks to come.  The smell will be overwhelming and you’ll be breathing that in, which is dangerous.
  3. Throwing rodent bait packets inside a wall can be very risky. Rats love to move food and could drag that bait out to a location where pets or children can find it. A dog that eats rodent bait will probably cost you $500 bucks at the vet.

Best Ideas For Rodent Control

Here is how our pros eliminate rodents.Inspection for rats and mice in Eugene

  1. Start with a detailed inspection of your home. Look for grease marks as seen here that identify frequent travel patterns. Droppings also help determine severity of infestation, rodent travel paths and can help you distinguish between rats and mice. Don’t forget to look under the kitchen sink, behind the fridge and range and inside cupboards and closets. We also check under the home, outside and up on the roof.
  2. Set tons of traps. Setting 24-48 traps for a residential rodent clean out project is definitely reasonable.
  3. Make sure traps are in the right locations. Ideal trap placements intersect frequent rodent travel paths. Try for shadowy areas, near plumbing or electrical wire wall penetrations (without escutcheon rings), along walls or near dog dishes, trash cans  and other feeding locations.
  4. Be patient. Rats don’t like new things and sometimes won’t get near a trap for four weeks or more.
  5. For fast and guaranteed rodent elimination call us for a PRO inspection.

Get A PRO Rodent Inspection

Live in Lane County or just beyond?  Protect your home and family from rats and mice in Eugene and surrounding areas. Contact us here or call Eugene 541-636-0146/ Roseburg 541-672-6339 to eliminate mice and rats now…

Bug Zapper’s GUARANTEED Rodent Elimination System

 Guaranteed!

Locally owned for fast, exceptional service.

5 Star Pest Control Service available in Albany, Ashland, Corvallis, Eugene, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Medford, Newberg, Roseburg, Salem, Sherwood, Wilsonville, Woodburn, Tigard, Tualatin and surrounding areas.

How To Rodent Proof Your Home — The Inspection

Albany Pest Control, Corvallis Pest Control, Eugene Pest Control, Grants Pass Pest Control, Rodents, Roseburg Pest Control, ,

Have rodents entered your home chewing utility lines, soiling food and causing sanitation concerns? Homes around Eugene and Roseburg experience mice and rat infestations year round but especially each fall and winter. Often once removed, rodents just seem to keep coming back. Let us show you how to rodent proof your home once and for all!

Tough Rodent Proofing

The Rodent Inspection

The first step in discovering how to rodent proof your home is starting  with a complete and detailed inspection. This inspection should include a careful probing look up on the roof, under the eaves, in the attic, around the exterior siding and even under the home. Trash receptacle areas, wood piles, shrubbery and ground covers should be reviewed. Prepare to get dirty and possibly stuck in some tight spots or just call us at Eugene 541-636-0146 or Roseburg 541-672-6339 or contact us here for a FREE Rodent Proofing Inspection.

How to rodent proof you home
Rat Control Starts With Trash Control

The most common mistake we find homeowners make with exclusion efforts is underestimating rodents abilities to climb. Most homeowners can’t believe the very small holes rodent can use for entry points.  Keep in mind that rodents are amazing acrobats and can climb plants, phone wires, pipes, siding and nearly any other rough surface. They can even climb straight up a brick wall several stories high. Mouse exclusion requires that all gaps over 1/4 inch (rats 1/2 inch) must be screened or filled.

The first goal of a rodent proofing inspection is to determine sources of food for infesting rodents. Careful attention should be given to all sources of food and water. These could be up to 300 or more feet away from shelter areas. They might even be at a neighbors home or nearby restaurant. Outdoor pet dishes, bird feeders, garden ponds, fruit trees, vegetable gardens,  and overflowing trash cans provide great sources for rodent food.

The second goal of the rodent inspection is to locate rodent shelter sites. Wood piles, storm drains, culvert pipes, broken concrete, lumber piles and any other outdoor clutter should be removed or organized off the ground where possible. Rats can dig and love to tunnel under woodpiles or concrete. Look carefully for any holes that might look like an inviting cave to a wandering mouse or rat.

Learn more the tips on how to prevent rodents!

Rodents often smell the odors of food coming from inside a home and look for points of entry that might offer easy access. Past infestations might have established body odors that lead inside–resulting in seemingly rapid re-infestations. Pipes and plumbing penetrations such as air conditioner condenser lines often enter the home with room to spare offering easy access. Foundation and attic eave vents often have missing or damaged screens. Exterior doors might have large gaps around or under them. Dryer vents are frequently clogged with lint and may have inoperable louver doors. Unscreened stink pipes on the roof may even provide access.

how to rodent proof your home

The bottom line is that rodents require food and shelter to thrive. By reducing clutter, improving sanitation and limiting rodent access to structures, significant impact on rodent populations can be achieved–even without the use of traps or poisons. Rodent inspections require patience and attention to detail but are the essential first step in any successful rodent exclusion project.

 How to Rodent Proof your Home – Start Here

Before you fall off a ladder or get stuck under your house call Bug Zapper Pest Control for a FREE Rodent Home Inspection. Let our trained technicians accurately identify points of entry and help you find the best solution. Learn how to rodent proof your home the easy way.

Locally owned for fast, exceptional service.

#1 Oregon Pest Control Service

Call or Text 541-636-0146 or contact us here to schedule today.

5 Star Pest Control Service available in Albany, Ashland, Corvallis, Eugene, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Medford, Newberg, Roseburg, Salem, Sherwood, Wilsonville, Woodburn, Tigard, Tualatin and surrounding areas.