We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

How do I Solve Rodent Problems?

Anna T.
By
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

If you want to solve rodent problems, there are typically two steps you can take: rodent prevention and killing or relocating existing rodents. The methods that you use for rodent removal will likely vary depending on whether rodents are invading your house or causing problems in your yard. Almost all types of rodents, including squirrels, rats, and moles, may be dealt with in the same ways. Some popular methods of rodent elimination include the use of poisons, traps, and live traps. It may be necessary to call in a professional rodent removal service if your rodents are particularly out of hand.

When dealing with rodent problems, you need to first figure out why rodents are attracted to your home or yard. If rodents are getting inside your home, you'll need to find exactly where they are entering and close that space off. Sometimes rodents become problematic in yards because of garbage, food scraps, and possibly pet food that may be left out, which attracts them. If you take away a rodent's food source and block off all entrances into your home, you will probably start to encounter them less often.

Once you have determined why rodents are attracted to your home or yard and have taken steps to prevent more rodents from entering these areas, you can focus on killing or relocating existing rodents. Most people deal with rodent problems inside the home by using rodent poison or traps. Both the traps and poisons could be dangerous if you have children or small pets around, so if you use these methods, take care to keep them away from areas that children or pets frequent in your home. Most traps and poisons are designed to kill rodents, but there are live traps available for sale that you can use if you would prefer not to kill your rodents and instead catch them and relocate them to an area a good distance away from your home.

If you're trying to deal with rodent problems in your yard, you can also use traps and poisons, but you'll have to be mindful of where you put them if you have pets living outside. Rodent poisons can be fatal when consumed by animals or people, so you probably don't want to use the poison if you are afraid your outdoor pets will find it. Traps designed to kill rodents could also harm smaller animals, like cats or puppies, so you will need to be careful about where you place these as well. Keeping rodents out of your yard might prove to be more difficult than keeping them out of your home because the space is not confined, but the use of traps, poisons, and preventative measures should go a long way toward effective rodent control. If your methods for dealing with rodent problems fail, you can always contact a professional rodent removal service to help you.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Anna T.
By Anna T.
Anna Thurman is a skilled writer who lends her talents to WiseGEEK. Her ability to research and present information in an engaging and accessible manner allows her to create content that resonates with readers across a wide range of subjects.

Discussion Comments

By anon189929 — On Jun 24, 2011

If you spot these rodents around the outside of your home or business, the easiest way to discourage them from returning is to make the area as unappealing as possible. Even during the darkness of night these species will be hesitant to cross a wide open space if other routes are available, so cut back any high grass at least twenty to thirty feet from your home.

Anna T.

Anna T.

Anna Thurman is a skilled writer who lends her talents to WiseGEEK. Her ability to research and present information in an engaging and accessible manner allows her to create content that resonates with readers across a wide range of subjects.
WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.