The Problems With DIY Rodent Treatments
Baiting traps and using home remedies may give you a bit of peace of mind, but these solutions won’t necessarily complete the job of eradicating pest rodents (not to mention they can be hard to clean up). Traps will only catch rodents that are actively moving around looking for food sources, and will not target the source of the rodent problem—the nest. Rodents are shy, so they’re likely to stay in their nest out of sight except in the morning and evening when they feed. Rodents are also known for being incredibly intelligent and resourceful. Traps aren’t effective in many cases simply because the rodents can avoid traps and find other safer sources of food.
Cats can be a great solution for keeping rodents at bay, but they’re still not a 100 percent effective solution, and the efficacy of the solution will often depend on the cat you have (not to mention, cats that actively hunt rodents or live outside are more likely to catch diseases). And sonic rodent repellent devices that you can buy at a hardware store just won’t work as effectively as a professional solution, since the noise they create is often ineffective against rodents.
Waiting for a DIY solution to work can also lead to more rodent issues, since rodents reproduce rapidly, carry diseases, and can do a lot of damage to your home over a short period of time. While you’re placing traps, the rodents in question could be gnawing through your insulation, wiring, or even water pipes, and leaving urine and feces around the home that can result in allergies and sickness. Furthermore, laying down traps and poisoned baits in your home is not the safest option for you, your family, or your pets. You never know what could happen.
