Rodent Control Q and A

October 23rd through 30th is Rodent Awareness Week. While many people may find these little critters cute, they quickly lose their charm when they become a problem within a commercial building or home. Mice and rats are notorious carriers of disease and are able to multiply at an incredible rate, allowing even the slightest rodent problem to become a full-blown infestation quickly if not addressed. To help educate Arkansans on rodent infestations and how to prevent them, we sat down with Command Pest Control expert Curtis and asked him some of the most common rodent questions.

How do you perform a rodent inspection?

It depends whether we are inspecting a crawl space, infestation or the house. Generally, we put out glue boards or snap traps.

If you find signs of an infestation, how do you treat it?

First and most important thing is exclusion – finding out exactly where they come in from. If you don’t take care of the exclusion, rodent control will be an ongoing process. Treating the problem without finding the source is kind of like putting a band aid on things. That’s the most important thing for the customer to understand.

What are some signs of a rodent problem homeowners commercial business and building owners should look out for?

We come across torn down insulation, the smell of urine, droppings, and holes in the vents where they have entered the building.

When should Arkansans be most on guard against rodent infestations?

Usually winter is the heavy part. When it starts to get cold outside they are looking for shelter and areas to stay warm.

In what environments do you most often find rodent problems?

Common areas are the attic and crawlspace.

What are your best tips for preventing a rodent problem?

Again, check for areas of entry, and take care of those issues.

What do you wish the general public knew about rodent control?

It comes back to exclusion. When customers call us, a lot of times they don’t want to take care of the areas rodents can get into.