Pest control
Posted by Youkaiyami on Oct 13, 2009 · Member since Dec 2008 · 63 posts
We have rats, true we'll be moving in about a month and a half but it brings up something I've been wondering.
Do those electronic pest control things really work? I can't blame the spiders and mice and all those things I try to ignore(no sense in killing things that don't know better) I just know the effects on a house that the rats and things would do.
But do they actually work? I don't think I'd have the heart even to call an exterminator, as much as I dislike creepies.
We have rats running around outdoors. The only way we got rid of them was by shutting them out from food sources and nesting spots. Clean all you cupboards. Put food in tightly sealed containers. Trash should also be sealed. Make sure not a speck of food is left around. Also, see where they may live or are coming indoors. If you can, move wood piles, compost, trash, old stuff in the garage, etc. Bird/squirrel feeders are also a big draw. Put red pepper in them. Unlike mammals, birds can not sense the heat. After you have made your food secure, you can set out live traps.
We had a mouse problem in my residence hall one time. The mice ran out of food over winter break but didn't leave - they ate cotton things instead! (cotton balls, swabs, etc) I got a live mouse trap instead (not the green box, but the black tube-type thing that tips and closes when a mouse enters). It worked great, and in total I caught and released 13 mice, and they never came back.
I don't know if those traps would work for rats, though - it might be too tight of a fit. Worth looking into though.