What Are the Five Basic Methods of Control of Rodents & Insects?

Sanitation

• Sanitation is a preemptive measure you can take to control rodents and insects. Sanitation includes removing or storing equipment that is likely to attract rodents and insects from the establishment. Sanitation also includes properly storing food or trash in a way that does not attract rodents and insects. Keeping surfaces clean, such as the floor and countertops, is also an extremely effective way to control rodents and insects.

Exclusion

• Exclusion is essentially the process of maintaining your structure, whether it be a house or business, so that there are no entry points that insects and rodents can gain access to the inside of the structure. It is somewhat easier to exclude rodents since they need bigger holes and openings to gain entry than do insects. A regular inspection of the structure will allow you to evaluate what measures you need to take to seal off entry points to the structure. Openings around doors, pipes and wires are some of the most common places that you need to seal to control rodents and insects.

Poisoning

• Poisoning is a viable option if you already have a pest problem. There are two approaches you can take to poisoning. The first involves using commercially prepared coagulants, or low toxicity poisons, as directed on the label of the product. The second approach is to hire a professional pest management firm to evaluate the extent of your problem and eliminate it accordingly. Both approaches are effective, but for more involved pest issues, consulting a professional might be in your best interest.

Trapping

• Trapping is more common for rodents but you can trap insects as well with bait and netting. Two of the most common traps for rodents are snap traps and cage traps. Snap traps are the classic traps that you see in cartoons where the rodent initiates the trap and the trap snaps down on the rodent to eliminate it. Like snap traps, cage traps use a bait to attract the rodent but cage traps differ in that they do not kill the rodent. It is up to you to determine which method you prefer.

Waste Disposal

• Waste disposal is another simple but effective preemptive method to control rodents and insects. If you can keep items, such as food scraps, away from pests; rodents and insects will be less attracted to your location. Disposing of liquid waste and garbage in the proper places -- and in a timely manner -- is essential for preventing rodents and insects in the first place.