No one wants uninvited guests in their home, especially not rodents. But what happens after you spot a rat running around your attic? Do you immediately head to your local store to buy rat poison?

While this solution can help kill one or two rats, it may not eliminate a large infestation. Continue reading to learn the common rodent control mistakes that most homeowners make.

Addressing the Problem Instead of the Source

Typically, when you see a mouse running across your kitchen floor, another group is lying around somewhere on your property. So, if you decide to set traps in your kitchen, you might catch a few mice, but the larger group will be left roaming around.

Proper rodent extermination requires identifying the source of the problem. Where are the mice coming from? Which pathways are they using to enter your house? What attracts them to your home? It becomes easy to develop a proper treatment plan when you have correct answers to these and other questions. 

Allowing Rodents to Reign Freely Until It Becomes a Massive Issue

It may be that you spotted one or two rats in your basement and assumed that's not a big problem. After all, it's just one rat. Unfortunately, this could be a major mistake. According to a source, one female brown rat can produce up to 22 offspring at once and 2,000 in a year. By the time the babies are three months, they're also ready to produce, so you can imagine the number of rats you'd have in your home if you ignored them for a year. 

Rodent control requires a proactive approach to avoid a large infestation that requires significant time, money, and effort to eliminate. Seek professional rodent control services immediately after noticing that one rat. 

Trying to DIY a Serious Rodent Infestation

Some pesticides promise quick, effective results. But some of these products aren't effective and may be harmful to you and your household members. Other common DIY methods like setting traps with baits are only effective for small infestations. 

Rodent control experts use various methods to eliminate large rodent infestations, including baits and traps, EPA-approved rodenticides, ultrasonic technology, fumigation, tracking powder, and cleaning up. The method(s) to use will depend on the level of infestation. 

Not Following Up

Once the rodents have been eliminated, it's easy to grow complacent again. You may quickly go back to your normal activities and forget you ever had a rodent problem. Unfortunately, though the rats are gone doesn't mean they can't come back. 

Continue putting efforts to ensure rodents don't come back into your property, whether that's by sealing wall cracks, regularly cleaning the house, or ensuring foods are stored properly. Once in a while, it's also advisable to hire a professional for inspection services. Contact a company like ProBest Pest Management to learn more.