reading pest control experts

Mouse Treatment West Reading

We were called out to a mouse infestation in a home in West Reading PA. The customer had another pest control company out and all they did was place some glue boards in the kitchen and that was it!

After our inspection, we presented to the homeowner with some treatment options but more importantly, we discovered WHERE the mice were getting in!

Our Rodent Treatment Process

Our rodent treatment process involves determining where the mice are getting in, performing a treatment, and then providing options to keep the mice out. In this situation we decided that using mouse traps in strategic locations in the house combined with sealing up the mouse entrances was the best way to proceed.

Eliminate access to the kitchen

The first step we perform is to eliminate the rodent access to the livable areas of the home. This often includes pulling out the oven and sealing behind it. Ovens are usually operated by one of two methods: gas or electric. When they run the gas line or larger electrical line to the oven, there is often a gap left where mice love to use to get into the kitchen. For this treatment, we pulled out the oven and noticed a large gap where the wall meets the floor.

We remove the mouse droppings

Mice were using this area to get from the basement below into the kitchen. This was evidenced by the homeowner seeing mice in the kitchen and by us seeing rodent droppings behind the oven. Using a HEPA filtered vacuum, we safely remove the rodent droppings behind the oven and other accessible areas like under the sink.

Why remove the droppings?

Removing the rodent droppings serves 2 very important purposes.

1) we are removing rodent excrement which can harbor disease so we are making the home cleaner and safer.

2) we are giving ourselves a baseline for future monitoring of rodent activity. We don’t know initially whether the rodent droppings are from a day ago, a week ago, or years ago. When we remove the droppings, we and the homeowner know that any new droppings that appear are from after the initial treatment.

Seal the mouse out!

After we remove the rodent droppings, we apply a sealant to close off the openings from the basement to the kitchen. This will allow the bulk of our treatment to take place in areas other than the livable part of the home. Homeowners are already stressed when they have rodents, but that doesn’t mean they have to constantly see rodents.

By eliminating the access to the kitchen, we are forcing the mice and rodents to remain in the basement and our treatment process can take place out of sight of the homeowner. After the accesses in the kitchen have been sealed, we placed some mouse traps behind the oven and under the sink. These traps will capture any mice that are already in the livable space and hopefully prevent the homeowner from seeing any more mice.

Bring the mouse fight to the basement!

The basement showed the greatest amount of rodent activity with a large amount of dropping found throughout the basement. We set traps along the most common rodent paths we could find. When we inspected where the basement door exits to the outside, we found a inch wide gap along the bottom of the door. This is where the mice were getting into the basement and then into the kitchen.

Seal the outside entry points

After we set the traps in the basement, we went outside to seal up the rodent entrances. The first area we sealed was around the pipe for the gas line coming into the house. Then, we headed to the back of the home and sealed up the gap under the basement bilco door. We also found a seam where the exterior wall meets the siding and we sealed that as well.

Total Mouse Elimination!

This treatment was a success because we found the rodent entrances, implemented a plan of attack using mouse traps, sealed up the inside of the kitchen so the homeowner wouldn’t see any more mice, and because we made the customer feel comfortable in their own home again!

reading exterminators
reading exterminators

Prudential Pest Solutions is a full service pest control and rodent control company. We are VETERAN and FAMILY owned and operated.

As a Marine Corps Veteran with a degree in biology from Penn State University, I promise you haven’t met a rodent exterminator like me before!

reading pest control experts
reading pest control experts

We service West Reading PA and the surrounding areas including: Reading, Berks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Lancaster County, Lebanon County, Montgomery County, and many more!

If you have a rodent issue, call or text the professionals at (484) 401-4361

squirrel experts

How to get squirrels out of your house

Squirrels, whether they are gray squirrels or flying squirrels LOVE to get into attics to make their home.  Squirrels when inside of homes, can cause substantial damage. 

Like other rodents, squirrels need to constantly chew to maintain their incisor teeth length.  What they chew on is what is of great concern. 

Squirrels in attics can and do cause damage to rafters, roofing material, fascia boards, and most importantly, WIRES.  There are all kinds of statistics that attribute home fires to rodents and rodent damage to wiring.  Your attic is the primary location for running electrical wires, which is why it is very important to keep squirrels out of the attic. 

The first step in getting squirrels out of the attic is to make sure that you are in fact dealing with squirrels. Many of our clients are convinced that they have squirrels when in fact they actually have mice. 

one-way door installed over squirrel entrance
one-way door installed over squirrel entrance

Squirrels are larger than mice and will sound like you have an elephant above their ceiling.  When you hear the noise in the attic is also helpful in determining whether a homeowner has squirrels or mice. 

Squirrels tend to be active during the early morning hours and closer to dusk.  This is because squirrels will exit the home during the day in the morning and return at dusk. 

If you are hearing sounds in the middle of the night only, then it is most likely mice. 

Once it is confirmed that the home has squirrels, it is time to find out how they are getting into the attic.  Squirrels like to enter the attic directly so looking up high onto the house is necessary. 

squirrel one-way door over gable vent
squirrel one-way door over gable vent

Common squirrel entrances include gable vents, fascia boards, behind gutters, soffits,ridge vents, and where dormer roofs meet the main roof.  Looking for trees and branches overhanging the roof is also helpful in determining how the squirrels are getting onto the roof. 

Squirrels will use trees and branches as ladders to access the roof.  Once they are on the roof, they will find or create an opening into the attic.  After the squirrels have been evicted, it is always a good idea to trim any trees and branches off and away from the roof.  If possible, trim the branches back from the house at least 10 feet. 

After we have determined how the squirrels are getting into the attic, we have 2 options.  Option 1 is where we set traps and install a one-way excluder door over the opening.  Option 2 is where we set traps and once all of the squirrels have been caught, we close up the opening.  The problem with Option 2 is that you can never be absolutely certain that all of the squirrels are gone before you close the opening. 

squirrel on roof
squirrel on roof

The one-way excluder door in Option 1 is our favorite method.  The one-way door is spring loaded and allows the squirrels to exit the attic but NOT re-enter.  When we incorporate trapping on the outside of the house, we can be certain that all of the squirrels have been successfully evicted. 

It is very important to ensure that all other potential squirrel entrances are also sealed up or screened off. 

Think of the one-way door like someone changing the locks on your house when you leave for work.  When you return from work and your old keys no longer open the door, you wouldn’t just abandon your home, you would try to find another way back in. 

Squirrels will do the same thing which is why we must ensure that all openings and potential openings are secured.  The one-way door should remain in place for at least 1 week to make sure all of the squirrels have been evicted.  We like to have the client go at least 5 days without hearing any activity before we remove the one-way door. 

squirrel damage to the flashing by the roof
squirrel damage to the flashing by the roof

Once we remove the one-way door, we seal up the original opening.  After the squirrels have been removed from the attic, a thorough inspection of the attic space should take place to identify any damage and perform any clean-up needed. 

Squirrels can make a very big mess in an attic.  They will go through boxes and scatter insulation all around.  Squirrel droppings look similar to mouse droppings but are larger.  If you would like to clean up the droppings yourself, please wear personal protective gear and a respirator. 

squirrel damage to soffit
squirrel damage to soffit

Rodent droppings are known to harbor dangerous diseases that can cause severe respiratory issues to humans.  Consult a wildlife clean-up company if you are unsure of the safety of the clean-up process.  Squirrels can be quite motivated to re-enter the attic after you have evicted them. For this reason, we like to incorporate a trapping program with our eviction process to remove these stubborn squirrels from the area. 

Care should be taken to the time of year when squirrels have babies. 

You do not want to evict a momma squirrel only to find a bunch of dead baby squirrels in the attic space.  Gray squirrels will have young typically from February-March and from June-August.

Prudential Pest Solutions is Licensed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission to HUMANELY and SAFELY handle and remove any squirrel issue you have. 

We are a VETARAN and FAMILY owned and operated wildlife and pest control company.  As a Marine Corps Veteran with a degree in Biology from Penn State, I promise you haven’t met a wildlife control specialist like me before!  We are the EXPERTS at trapping and evicting squirrels from attics, homes, and properties.

squirrel experts
squirrel experts

Prudential Pest Solutions services ALL of South Eastern and South Central Pennsylvania including Berks County, Chester County, Lancaster County, Montgomery County, Lebanon County, Delaware County, and many more!

If you have or think you have a squirrel issue, call or text the squirrel experts at (484) 401-4361.  

DoomBox Mouse Trap Review

I met the inventors of DoomBox at the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg Pennsylvania and bought a few of their new DoomBox rodent stations.

My first thought when I saw the DoomBox was that it looked like a great idea. The snap trap is secured inside of a clear plastic container allowing the user to see any rodent captures and prevent kids and pets from being harmed by the trap.

The trap itself is a newer style snap trap that packs a pretty good punch. The trap can be easily set with one hand and provides more than enough force to kill a mouse. The large trigger pan allows for easy bait or attractant placement.

DoomBox is labeled as “Certified Child Resistant”. This is due to the placement of the trap inside of the container in relation to the holes used by the mouse to enter the container.

I was unable to touch any part of the trap when I put my fingers into the container from the entrance holes. This design prevents children and pets from being able to touch the trap and get hurt.

The container itself does not lock which can be an issue. The positive side is that even after multiple uses, the container lid was still tight to the container. This tight fit makes the container fairly secure and more secure than a standard plastic bait station.

What would I change about this product? I would like to see one more additional rodent entrance hole at the end of the container. I think that the addition of another hole would allow for more versatile container placement as mice like to run along the walls. The additional hole would allow the container to be placed on either end of the garage doors for example and not stick out into the garage.

Overall I think this is a great new product for the pest control industry. The clear container allows for easy viewing of captures and activity inside of the station. The trap itself is strong, well built, secured, and easy to set. The child resistant and pet safe design is a great additional feature.

I recommend the DoomBox for any homeowner that wants to trap mice and has concerns about kids and pets getting snapped too!

Prudential Pest Solutions is not a paid spokesman for this product. We met the inventors of the DoomBox at an outdoor show and purchased a few of their traps. The review is our own opinion.

Rodent Exterminators

We service Chester County and all of South Eastern and Central Pennsylvania.

Give us a call or text us at (484) 401-4361 to get rodent-free today!

Other Rodent Articles

Chester County Exterminators
Prudential Pest Solutions is a family and veteran owned pest control and exterminator company
Termite PreTreatment for new construction

Affordable Rodent Treatments

Our affordable rodent treatments will get your home mouse and rat free! You don’t have to live with mice, rats, and rodents infesting your home, we can help!

Affordable Rodent Exterminator

You don’t have to struggle with mice and rats in your home or business. We are experts in getting rodents out and KEEPING them out!

Pest Control Chester County
Pest Control Chester County

Affordable Rodent Control Services

We provide the following rodent control services:

  • Rodent Control
  • Rodent Trapping
  • Rodent Proofing and sealing
  • Removal
  • Baiting
  • Natural Rodent Control
  • Clean-up and disinfection services

Why are we the best at rodent control?

Some exterminator companies will toss some rodent bait or set some snap traps and that’s it! We inspect and evaluate your property to formulate the most effective course of action.

Pet safe pest control and treatments

The safety of your family, pets, and the environment are ALWAYS out top priority.

We will never treat for rodents in a such a way that would endanger your pets or other non-target species.

Rodent Treatment Options

Every home and situation is unique. From just seeing one mouse in a home to an entire warehouse infested with rats, we have a plan to get you rodent-free!

We can use baits, dusts, traps, sealants, repellents, and many other techniques to successfully rid your property of rodents.

Affordable Rodent Clean-up

Pest Control Vacuum
Chemical Free Pest Control Chester County

Unlike many other pest control companies, we provide rodent clean-up services during and after a rodent control service.

Using a special vacuum, we remove all of the rodent droppings. We then apply a hospital grade disinfectant to chemically clean and treat the area.

This clean-up makes your home healthier and allows us to monitor for continued rodent activity.

Is your pest control company cleaning up or leaving your home with rodent droppings still there?

Rodent Exterminator Experts

Termite PreTreatment for new construction

Prudential Pest Solutions is a veteran and family owned pest control companies. Our technicians are State Certified, Licensed, and Insured.

As a family owned extermination company, we are able to provide a superior service at a lower price than the “big guys”.

Our Owner Ryan is a Marine Corps Veteran with a degree in Biology from Penn State University. Trust us, you haven’t met exterminators like us before.

Rodent Pest Control Service Area

We provide affordable rodent pest control services to South Eastern and South Central Pennsylvania including:

Need a Rodent Exterminator?

Call or Text us at (484) 401-4361 to speak with a rodent control specialist!

Additional Services We Provide

Termite PreTreatment for new construction

Affordable Pest Control

Our affordable pest control services can get your home or business pest free quickly! No need to break the bank to rid your home of pests. Our affordable, professional, and effective pest services can bring comfort back to your home!

Termite PreTreatment for new construction

Affordable Pest Control and Exterminator Services

Affordable doesn’t mean low quality. In fact, our pest control and exterminator services are professional and effective.

The safety of your family, pets, and the environment are always our top priority!

Some of the many services we offer include:

Commercial Pest Control Services

In addition to your home, we also provide affordable commercial pest control services. Our service plans can fit into almost any operations budget.

Some of the many affordable commercial pest control services we offer include:

Why Choose Us?

Pest Control Chester County
Pest Control Chester County

Many pest control and exterminator companies want to simply spray a magic chemical and hope that it resolves your pest problem.

We use the latest pest control and exterminator techniques to evaluate your home and provide you with the most effective solution to your pest problem.

As a veteran and family owned company, you can trust that we will treat your home like our own.

Experience Matters

With a decade of experience and a degree in Biology from Penn State University, you have not met an exterminator like me before!

Why use one of the “big” companies, when they will just send an entry level technician to your house? With Prudential Pest Solutions you will have an experienced and knowledgeable technician that has a mission to safely resolve your pest problem.

Flexible Scheduling and Service Times

We are not like the utility companies that give you large and inconvenient service appointment windows. Your time is very valuable and so is ours! Our appointments are scheduled to be as convenient and timely as possible.

Weekend and Off Hours Appointments

Why take off of work or burn a sick day just for the exterminator? We can schedule and resolve your pest issue on a weekend, or outside of our normal business hours.

Pests aren’t 9am-5pm and neither are we! If you have an issue outside of normal business hours, give us a call or send us a message and I’m sure we can schedule you in.

How to schedule a service

Simply call or text us at (484) 401-4361

Bat Droppings on Porch

Bat Droppings or Rodent Droppings?

I had a client show me some animal droppings on their front porch and ask me what they were. Based on the size, shape, and the fact that they were in a pile suggested to me that the droppings were from bats.

Looking directly above the droppings were some shutters. Bats like to hang out and roost behind shutters.

Bat droppings on porch, Downingtown PA

Chester County Bat Removal

We provide bat exclusion and prevention services to Downingtown, Chester Springs, West Chester, and all of Chester County.

If you are seeing animal droppings, we can identify the issue and resolve the problem.

Give us a call or send us a message to evict your wildlife issue!

Additional Information

Snake Removal Chester Springs

How to keep Snakes away from your property

When the warmer months of spring and summer arrive, so do our calls for snake removals. We are often asked how to keep snakes away from your property. In this article, we will look at some ways to lower your chances of encountering a snake on your property.

Snake prevention in Pennsylvania

I should also note that we are located in Chester County Pennsylvania and will be discussing this location specifically. If you are curious about snakes in other parts of the United States, check out this link here.

Most common snakes we deal with in Chester County

There are thousands of species of snakes in the world but only a handful that we commonly deal with in Pennsylvania.

Most common snake species we encounter in Pennsylvania include:

  • Garter Snakes
  • Black Rat Snake
  • Timber Rattlesnake
  • Northern Copperhead
  • Milksnake

Venomous Snakes of Pennsylvania

There are only 3 species of venomous snakes that are found in Pennsylvania.

  • Timber Rattlesnake: found throughout Pennsylvania including Chester County
  • Northern Copperhead: found throughout Pennsylvania including Chester County
  • Eastern massasauga rattlesnake: found primarily in Western Pennsylvania

What are the snakes doing on your property?

Snakes, like most pests, require water, food, and habitat to survive. Whenever we are evaluating a property for snake prevention, we always try to eliminate some of these snake necessities.

Snakes in your yard or garden

Snakes are well versed in camouflage and can seemingly hide in plain sight. In fact, many a gardener has been surprised to find a snake hanging out in their garden.

Keeping the grass cut, and removing brush and debris from your yard can eliminate many snake hideouts. A cleaner yard will also help keep rodents and pests away which will also keep snakes away.

Sometimes there is a water source on the property that snakes and their food source are attracted to. If possible, eliminating a source of water can help reduce the chance that snakes will be on your property.

Making your yard less desirable to snakes is the best method for reducing the chances of having snakes in your yard!

Snake Repellents

Snake repellents can be used on the outside to try and repel snakes from coming onto your property. Most snake repellents are odor based granulars. Read the label on the package and follow it exactly.

I do not often use odor based repellents for a few reasons. The odor may be effective against snakes but it can also be smelled by you! Often the odor is very similar to moth balls. No one wants to enjoy their snake-free backyard and smell moth balls the whole time.

The other issue with odor based repellents is how long they last. Depending on the weather, the repellent may have to be re-applied pretty frequently. Rain will make the repellent last a very short amount of time.

Snakes under your porch

Snake Removal and Prevention
Snake Removal and Prevention

Snakes will utilize gaps, crevices, and holes around your property to make a home. What once was a vole hole under your porch can turn into a snake den!

Check around your porch or deck for holes, gaps, and crevices. Snakes will usually use what’s already there and not create holes. If you do find a hole under your porch (like seen above in the picture), you have some options.

What’s under my porch?

First, you need to determine what is living under your porch or if the den is active. I like to simply cover the opening with some leaves, soil, or mulch to determine whether something is in there or not. After a day or so, if the opening stays closed, then there is nothing there.

Using flour or other tracking substances can help determine what is living under the porch if the opening does re-open. If there are rodents living under the porch, treating for rodents and then closing the hole will help prevent snake infestations.

Trapping Snakes under your porch

If snakes are currently living under your structure, then capturing and removing the snakes are your best method. Trapping is usually performed by using special snake boards to capture the snake. Once captured, the snake can be transported to another location and released.

Once all wildlife has been evicted from under your property, close the openings and continue to monitor for activity. There are permanent exclusion techniques that can make sure no new animals move in.

Check out our section on wildlife exclusion here.

Snakes in the house!

Snake Removal Chester Springs
Snakes and Rodents

Very few things in this world evoke fear like finding a snake in the house! In the picture above, we can see a snake skin found with some rodent droppings.

Snakes often follow their food source

Snakes will often follow their food source (rodents and mice) into the house. If you have a rodent infestation, you could also have a snake infestation!

A very common snake entrance into the home is where the air conditioner line comes into the house. If left unsealed, mice,rodents, and snakes can enter the home.

Check out our video on common rodent entrances to learn more.

Realtor Snake Story

I was once called to a home that was for sale that was having a snake issue. The realtor was showing the house to some perspective buyers when a snake came out from UNDER the kitchen cabinet and onto the kitchen floor.

Safe to say that those buyers left the house and never put an offer in. We captured the snake AND treated for a rodent infestation. Again, the snake was in the house because there were mice and rodents in the house.

How did the realtor end up selling the house? By stating that the home was “rodent free”

Snakes in the garage

Many homeowners, myself included, have a habit of leaving the garage door open for most of the day. Snakes, whether chasing prey or just being curious, can enter the garage.

During many residential pest control services, the use of glue boards to track and monitor pests is a common practice. Oftentimes, these glue boards are placed on each side of the garage door. Their purpose is to capture pests that come into the garage and allow the pest control professional to gain some insight into the pest pressures around the home.

I have seen and removed many snakes from these glue boards. Many times, the homeowner is thrilled that a snake was captured BEFORE it could make its home in their home!

Releasing a snake from a glue board

If you have a snake captured on a glue board and would like to release the snake somewhere else, simply apply some cooking oil and the glue should release.

Snake Removal Chester County

If you live or work in Chester County and have a snake issue, Prudential Pest Solutions can help.

Give us a call or send us a message to get snake free today!

Natural Rodent Control

Natural Rodent Control

Natural Rodent Control
Natural Rodent Control Chester County

Natural Rodent Control Defined

When some people think of natural rodent control, they think of any treatment method that does not utilize poisons. While some non-poison methods of rodent control can be described as natural, not all are. In this post we will examine natural rodent control methods as well as other non-poison rodent control.

Poison Free Rodent Control

There are many types of poison-free rodent control methods. Below are a few of the most common categories of poison-free rodent control.

  • Repellants
  • Mechanical Trapping
  • Exclusion

Rodent Repellents

Rodent repellents come in many different forms and work in different ways. The concept of repellents is to make the area undesirable to the rodent and thus makes the rodent leave the area. These repellents work by smell, taste, or annoyance to evict the unwanted rodent.

Ultrasonic Rodent Repellents

Ultrasonic rodent repellents work by emitting a high frequency sound. This high frequency sound bothers the rodents and they leave the area. The ultrasonic rodent repellent requires electricity to run and must remain plugged into an outlet. Some emit the sound on a regular basis while others only emit sound when movement is detected.

I see ultrasonic rodent repellents on a lot of rodent control jobs. They have many drawbacks compared to some of the other methods we will discuss. First, since they must be plugged into an outlet, you are limited as to where they can be placed. Second, the high frequency sound does not travel very far and does not travel into walls. This really limits the effectiveness. Lastly, rodents can become desensitized to the noise over time and ignore it completely.

My thoughts on Ultrasonic Repellents

When we are called out to a rodent treatment and the homeowner has ultrasonic repellents installed, it usually means the repellent did not work. I have seen people use these ultrasonic repellents for rodents, bats, and other larger wildlife. In my experience, these repellents should be considered a short term option. Over time the rodents become desensitized to them or they move to another area of the home where the sound is not heard.

Natural Rodent Repellents

Some types of liquid based spray repellents are considered natural. These natural rodent repellents use mint, peppermint, or spicy tastes to deter rodents. Since rodents constantly have to chew, spraying a substance with a natural rodent repellent can make that object less appealing to the rodent. Always read the manufacturers directions and apply the repellent only as directed. Even though the product is natural, you never want to misapply a repellent.

Rodent Damage to Cars

We receive many calls a year about rodents causing damage to cars. The rodents will crawl into the engine area and chew at wires. This can cause severe damage to cars wiring and cost hundreds to thousands of dollars to repair. Most car damage occurs to cars parked outside. Since the car is outside, it is often difficult to treat the surrounding area for rodents. That means we must treat the car for the rodents.

Products such as Rodent Defense Vehicle Protection work great for protecting your car or other machinery from rodents. This natural product consists of water, vinegar, and peppermint oil to repel the rodents. The manufacturer states that the product can be applied to anywhere in the engine area. The idea is that when the rodents enter the engine bay and begin to chew on things, they will ingest some of the product. Since they don’t like the taste, they will leave and hopefully not come back. Read and follow all of the directions on the bottle before applying.

Other Natural Rodent Repellents

Other natural rodent repellents utilize similar ingredients as the product mentioned above. They will have mint, peppermint, or a spicy ingredient to make the surface less appealing to the rodent. Some repellents come in a granular form to be sprinkled around the perimeter of a home, garage, or shed. These repellents work by producing an odor, similar to mothballs, that the rodents do not like. I don’t use odor based repellents because our customers also don’t like to smell the odor.

My thoughts on natural rodent repellents

I like to use natural rodent repellents on physical objects that the rodents are damaging. This includes cars, machinery, lawn mowers, electrical lines, plumbing, and HVAC lines. Applications can also be made to anything that the rodents are damaging like lawn furniture. I’m not a big fan of any repellent that uses odor as its main deterrent. This is because the odor is often annoying to the client and the whole point of rodent control is to be comfortable around your home again.

Rodent Trapping Methods

We have all seen rodent snap traps and glue boards. Although they are poison-free methods for rodent control, their are better options out there. Multiple catch rodent stations allow the rodents to enter the station using spring loaded ramps. Once inside of the station, the rodents cannot escape, but are also not injured. More than one mouse can enter and be trapped inside of the station. Many clients use these traps and empty the stations daily. They will usually release the captured mice far away from their homes and then place the stations again.

Another option for a mechanical trap are electronic traps. These traps are humane kill rodent stations. The mouse enters the station and a shot of electricity or bolt kills the mouse immediately. These traps are considered humane and ethical since the action is immediate and causes no pain. Check out this trap from Automatic Trap here. Since the trap kills without poison, there is no danger to pets, or other predators that may eat the dead mouse

My thoughts on mechanical rodent trapping

I think mechanical trapping works best for homes that already have an active rodent infestation. They also allow for the safe and humane removal of the rodents from the property. I do not like using glue boards or snap traps as I believe they are not as effective and not as humane.

Rodent Exclusion

Of course the best way to treat for rodents is to prevent them from entering in the first place! Hind sight is always 20/20 and on many rodent treatments we are able to identify many possible rodent entrances. Had these areas been sealed up, the rodents would not have been able to enter the property.

Since rodents only need the size of nickel to enter a structure, a careful inspection around the outside of the property should be completed. If you have an active rodent infestation, place your traps or repellents on these entrances. Once the infestation has been eliminated, rodent exclusion can begin.

Rodents can chew through many very hard substances. Using caulk or sealant alone will only slow them down as they can easily chew through it. We use steel wool, copper mesh, or Xcluder to plug the entrances. Then, we will apply a sealant to make sure the exclusion fabric stays in place. The exclusion fabric works when the rodent tries to chew through it and cuts its mouse on the sharp parts of the fabric.

My thoughts on Rodent Exclusion

Preventative rodent sealing is ALWAYS the best treatment option. I love when we do a preventative sealing BEFORE the client ever has a rodent infestation. You would be surprised what a little steel wool and caulk will do to keep your home or business rodent free. Remember to look for very small openings and gaps down low to the ground AND up high.

Natural Rodent Control Final Thoughts

There are many different treatment options for rodent control that do not utilize poisons. Rodent control starts on the outside of the home so begin your rodent inspections there. Below are some additional resources to check out.

Pest Control Chester County
Pest Control Chester County

Prudential Pest Solutions Exterminators in Chester County

If you live in Chester County and have a rodent issue, we can help. Our fully licensed and insured technicians can walk you through our rodent treatment options and select one that works for you.

From natural pest control to other methods, we will get your home or business rodent free!

Give us a call or send us a message to get rodent free today!

Natural Rodent Control Chester County
Pest Control Chester County

Rodent Inspection and Treatment

Chester County Rodent Treatments and Inspections

Rodent Inspections

The first step in any pest control plan is to properly identify the pest. To determine if you have a rodent issue, a thorough rodent inspection must take place before a treatment can be done. Many times we have people call and report that they are hearing scratching sounds in the walls or ceiling. Immediately the first pest that comes to mind are rodents.

Your inspection should focus on finding evidence of rodent activity. This evidence can be rodent droppings, rodent nesting material, or even traces of rodent urine. In the house we inspected in Chester County, we utilized a UV light to find traces of rodent urine. Remember to inspect the floor as well as up high, as rodents are excellent climbers.

In the case of the Chester County home we inspected, we found rodent droppings along the basement floor. To learn more about some of the common areas that mice enter homes, check out our exterior rodent inspection video here.

Other pests that are mistaken for rodents

Other pests that can sound like mice include bats, squirrels, and even yellow jackets! Bats and squirrels seem pretty straight forward since they could be found in walls or ceilings. Yellow Jackets that have made their nest inside of a structure will often make a scratching-like noise. This sound can resemble a mouse or other mammal in the home. Bat droppings are very similar to rodent droppings in appearance and size. If you see what looks like rodent droppings in large piles in your attic, then you probably have bats.


Rodent Treatments Chester County
Rodent Treatments Chester County

Rodent Treatments

For the homeowner, there are 3 main avenues for rodent treatments:

  • Use Rodent Baits
  • Use mouse traps or glue boards
  • Seal up the outside of the house

Rodent Baits

Using rodent baits is a very effective means for rodent control. The rodents eat the bait and expire a few days later. Reading and following the directions on the rodent bait is absolutely critical and mandatory. Always apply rodent bait in areas where kids, pets, people, and non-target species do not have access to it. Remember that poisoned mice can also poison predators that feed on mice.

Mechanical Rodent Control

Mechanical rodent control means using rodent snap trap, multiple catch traps, or glue boards. Each of the following technique is different but performs the same function, capture the rodent. Snap traps capture and kill the mouse by using a spring loaded wire. Glue boards are sticky and the rodent gets stuck and cannot get off of the board. Multiple catch traps allow the mouse to enter the trap and it cannot escape. Remember to keep these devices out of reach of children, pets, people, and non-target species.

Rodent Exclusion

Rodent exclusion is ideally done BEFORE a rodent infestation occurs. This generally does not happen because you may not realize there is a rodent entrance until after you have a rodent issue. As with any animal work, do NOT close up the structure until all of the rodents have left. If the house is sealed up, rodents won’t be able to leave and will die in the house leaving a horrible odor.

Rodents can chew through some pretty tough substances. They can easily chew through caulk and sealant. Using steel wool or copper meshing and then sealing will greatly improve your chances of success.

Rodent Control West Chester

What should you do?

Some folks feel comfortable doing the rodent inspection and treatment themselves. For the Chester County resident that does not want to handle the rodent inspection and treatment themselves, Prudential Pest Solutions is here to help.

We offer rodent inspection and treatment for all of Chester County. If you want to be pest and rodent free year-round, our service plan is perfect for you. We offer discounts to seniors, teachers, veterans, and police/fire/EMS.

Give us a call or send us a message to get rodent free today!