Identify the Pest

• The most common household rodent pests are mice, rats and squirrels. These rodents cause structural damage by gnawing through walls, cabinets and other obstacles. They can all carry parasites such as lice, mites and ticks, and they can pass diseases to humans through their urine and feces either by direct contact or when people breathe in the contaminants. They reproduce rapidly, creating an overwhelming infestation in a matter of a year or less. Successful removal of these pests will involve a multifaceted approach that includes both baiting and trapping as well as deterrence methods.
  
  

Rodent Removal Techniques

• To be successful with a do-it-yourself program to get rid of a rodent problem, you have to know where they are living and traveling. Mice and rats will be more active at night, while squirrels will be moving about during the day. It is important to find the nesting area, but look carefully and do not disturb the nest--you will encourage them to move elsewhere in the home if you do. After finding the nesting area, sprinkle talcum powder along the corners of the walls and floor to determine where they have established trails. You will find tracks in the powder of the used runways for both rats and mice. This step is not necessary for squirrels. If you find that you have a large infestation, use rat, mouse or squirrel bait to begin killing them off quickly. Beware, though, that using this method may cause an unpleasant side effect: dead carcasses behind closed walls. A slower but somewhat more preferable method is to simply lay traps in the pathways of the rodents. You will need to check and empty the traps daily. Squirrels are more easily deterred than trapped or baited. It may be preferable to simply bar the entryway with heavy gauge mesh after the squirrel has ventured outside. There may be one or two that get trapped inside. If this is the case, you may need to remove the carcasses after they have passed away.
  
  

Prevention

• After you have been able to confirm that your house is no longer threatened by rodents, you will need to seal off potential entryways to prevent new infestations. This will include closing up or meshing openings around the exterior of the home that may be no larger than a quarter. If a rodent's head can fit into the opening, then the rest of it will be able to follow.