Category Archives: Rodent Control

How Far Do Rats Travel from Their Nest and Safe Nest Removal Strategies

white mouse in rat nest made of paper scraps and other nesting materialsVery few homeowners are independently interested in the habits of rats…that is until they are dealing with an infestation of rats taking over their home!

One of the common habits of rats is to build nests, which is worth learning about so that you can accurately identify nests and get them safely removed right away. Here’s an answer to the question, “How far do rats travel from their nest?” so that you can keep your home free of rats and mice throughout the year.

Understanding the Rats Nest

Rats build nests out of many different materials that they find around a home, including pieces of cardboard and insulation. Rats will shred these materials to build nests in attics, lofts, walls, and eaves. Fallen leaves, cotton, and sticks around the yard are other common nesting materials.

Rats tend to travel between 100 feet and 300 feet from their nests to search for more nest-building materials and food. This means that if you locate a rat’s nest, the actual rats likely aren’t too far away and could feasibly be trapped in the vicinity. In contrast, common house mice usually venture out only between 10 feet to 50 feet from their nests.

Other Signs of a Rat Infestation

In addition to nests, there are other telltale signs of rats and mice. These include holes gnawed through walls, noises in your walls, greasy marks, and urine odors. Rat droppings are brown and have a tapered shape that resembles the shape of a grain of rice.

Safe Rat and Mice Nest Removal in New Jersey

Homeowners in New Jersey often don’t know the extent of a pest infestation until they are in way over their heads and have sustained extensive damage to their homes. If you notice a rat nest on your property, it is a smart idea to call Precise Termite & Pest Control right away to look into the situation for you. It is possible that there are additional nests on your property or that the rats living here are carrying diseases that can affect humans and household pets.

We are your local experts in keeping homes rat-free in Northern New Jersey, and we’ve been doing exactly that for over 30 years. For effective, affordable, and prompt pest control solutions, contact us at the first signs of nesting materials for a free in-home inspection.

How Does Rat Poison Work and How It’s Used by Exterminators

black and white picture of mouse sticking its head out of a wallIf you notice evidence of rats or mice in your home, your first instinct may be to pick up some rat poison at your local hardware or home supply store. However, rodenticides can actually be very dangerous to use for DIY extermination because of the rat poison ingredients they contain.

Here is a look at how rat poison works and why it’s a pest control strategy best left to professional exterminators.

Types of Rat Poison and Rat Bait

Rat poisons, also known as rodenticides, are often anticoagulants and designed to stop blood clotting. These poisons stop a rat’s body from controlling its own bleeding so that an excess of internal bleeding occurs and leads to death.

Rat baits contain edible poisons that are attractive to rats and make them willingly eat poisonous chemicals. Rodent death typically results within about a day. Acute toxins and calcium releasers are other types of rat poison in addition to the anticoagulants.

The Dangers of Rodenticides

Rodenticides are definitely not something you want lying around the house if you have kids or pets. These substances are very toxic to humans and other animals besides rodents. If a pet or person accidentally ingests rat poison, it is crucial to call a poison helpline immediately.

Common Rat Poison Ingredients

Long-acting anticoagulants, bromethalin, cholecalciferol, and phosphides are the most common active ingredients in rat poison. Some rat poisons are slow-acting, while others are fast-acting. The fast-acting poisons require fewer doses, while the slow-acting poisons may take a few days of a rat eating them before enough toxins build up in its body. Diphacinone is an example of a slow-acting poison that kills rats within about four to five days.

Why It’s Best to Leave Rat Poison to the Professionals

At Precise Termite & Pest Control, we certainly understand why you don’t want mice in your home at this time of the year. However, setting out baits with rat poison on your own is rarely a good idea. Poison is just one of many extermination strategies available to professional exterminators, so we can introduce you to alternative ideas for rat control if you are concerned about kids or pets. We typically only recommend trying rodenticides after other control methods have been ineffective. If you do choose to use rat poison, our experts can make sure that baits are placed where nothing else will come in contact with them for the safety of all your household members.

To learn more about our rodent control strategies or to schedule your free home inspection for any potential rat problems, contact us online or at 866-971-2847.

How Do Exterminators Get Rid of Mice? An Inside Look at Professional Rodent Control.

exterminator getting rid of mice from homeWith so many DIY bait, poison, and trap solutions available in stores today, some people may wonder why they would ever need to call a professional for rodent removal. However, there are some household jobs that are best left to highly trained and specialized professionals for effectiveness and safety, and mouse and rat control is one of them.

Here’s a look at how exterminators actually get rid of mice and rats to create a safer and more comfortable home for you.

A Thorough Survey of Potential Entry Points

The first step in a professional exterminator’s job is to do a thorough inspection of your home to find the places where mice and rats can get in. This process begins outside to search for holes and cracks. Exterminators also check for gaps around doors, windows, and damaged areas of a home’s foundation.

Sealing Off Holes and Crevices

Once the entry points have been identified, it’s time for an exterminator to seal them up so that more rodents can’t get inside. This sealing process may involve many different materials based on the hole, such as wire mesh, hardware cloth, and sheet metal. Professionals know to avoid sealing holes with materials that rodents can chew through, such as caulk, wood, or plastic.

Strategically Placing Deterrents

Professional exterminators know the best places to strategically place traps around a home and whether glue, snap, or live-capture traps will be most effective in these places. They also place bait stations to lure rodents away from your home and kill rodents when they access the poisoned food contained inside.

In severe situations, an exterminator may need to fumigate a home as a last-resort measure to get rid of rats and mice. The chemicals involved in fumigation can be dangerous and should only be handled by a professional.

Follow-Up in Rodent-Prone Areas

Rodent deterrents aren’t set-it-and-forget-it measures, and follow-up is needed after setting them to assess changes in rodent activity. This is because mice and rats reproduce quickly and also so that rat control strategies can be adjusted as needed. Some New Jersey homes require ongoing professional extermination services about once per month.

Planning for Preventative Tactics

A good exterminator will not only help you get rid of mice and rats but also prevent them from coming back in the future. This is done through ongoing monitoring of cracks and holes and by tracking common rodent travel routes to be proactive about controlling pests. Good exterminators will also provide you with daily tips and tricks that you can do to keep your home mouse-free even after their services have concluded.

Who to Trust with Your Professional Extermination Needs

For affordable, prompt, and effective mouse and rat control in Northern New Jersey, Precise Termite & Pest Control is the name to know. We employ only the very best professional exterminators in the industry who are highly skilled and truly care about solving your rodent problems. To see what we mean, request your free inspection today!

What Homeowners Should Know About Professional Rat Removal Services

two rats eating crumbs on the floorThere are few things more unsettling than knowing that you are sharing your beautiful home with rats. Rats are among the most common pests that take up residence in New Jersey households, yet many homeowners don’t fully understand what it means to have a rat problem.

From the experts at Precise Termite and Pest Control, here are the most important things to know about rats and rat removal.

Where Do Rats Settle in a Home?

Because of rats’ size and ability to squeeze through tight spaces, these pests can live in many different parts of your home. They are commonly found behind walls, in attics, in crawl spaces, and behind appliances. They seek shelter in the winter to escape the cold and find reliable sources of food, such as your kitchen pantry. With just one phone call, we can handle your rats in attic removal needs.

Diseases Rats Can Carry

Like mice, rats can carry and spread numerous diseases that put your family and pets at risk. These diseases are most commonly spread by direct contact with the rodent, which is why pest control is best left to the professionals at Precise Termite and Pest Control. Disease risks include hantavirus, leptospirosis, plague, salmonellosis, tularemia, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

How Rats Put Your Home at Risk

In addition to the health risks, rats can also compromise the structure and safety of your home and cause significant damage. They can chew through wires, wood, and furniture to get to places they want to nest and live. They destroy insulation by tunneling through it inside walls and in attics, and they can cause electrical appliances to short-circuit and create fires because of damaged wiring.

Differences Between Mice and Rats

Mice and rats may resemble each other, but there are distinct differences between the two pests and how they behave. Mice are typically smaller, have furry tails, and weigh less than rats. Rats are larger, produce fewer fecal droppings per day, and leave grease marks on surfaces they touch.

Rat Removal Techniques

Fortunately, Precise Termite and Pest Control specializes in both mice and rat removal to reduce your risks and help you feel safe and comfortable in your own home. Depending on the location of the rats in your home and the severity of the infestation, we may use professional traps or set up bait stations to draw rats away from your home.

Proactive Rat Prevention

Just as important as rat removal is rat prevention, which is why we make it a priority to rid your home of what rats would need to survive in the future. Effective prevention strategies include storing food (including pet food) in sealed containers, removing clutter from unused spaces of your home, and trimming shrubs and bushes around your home.

How to Find Rat Removal Near Me

If you’ve been looking for professional and affordable rat removal near me, then search no more, because Precise Termite and Pest Control has been keeping Northern New Jersey pest-free for over 30 years. We offer free inspections to learn more about your rat removal needs, so contact us at the first signs of rat activity at 866-971-2847.

How to Remove Mice from Garage and When to Call a Professional for Garage Mice Removal

mouse on a brown surfaceEspecially when our weather turns cold and snowy here in New Jersey, mice love to migrate from the outdoors to inside our homes. However, it’s not just houses that are susceptible to mice problems because garages are particularly attractive to mice as well.

Here are some expert tips for how to remove mice from a garage and when it’s time to call a professional for help with this type of mice infestation.

Signs of Mice in Your Garage

Signs that you may have mice in your garage include seeing mice fecal droppings, especially in corners and under workbenches and cabinets where mice like to hide. You may also smell the musky odor of mice urine in your garage and notice gnawed holes that are about the size of a dime.

A pest control expert is able to tell the difference between mice and rats based on a rodent’s size and appearance. Mice are smaller, have large floppy ears, and leave between 40 and 100 droppings per day. On the other hand, rats are larger, weigh about twice as much as mice, produce fewer droppings per day, and often leave grease marks on surfaces they touch.

What Is Considered to Be an Infestation?

If your mice problem seems minor at first, you might wonder if the number of mice you have in your garage is really a big deal or would even be considered an infestation. If only one or two mice have entered your garage, this isn’t necessarily called an infestation, but a small mice problem can quickly escalate into a large one.

Mice often build nests in garages to give birth and take care of their babies. Keep in mind that mice typically have about five to 12 babies per litter. Mice also begin breeding as young as eight weeks old, so you could quickly have an infestation on your hands if you don’t address the signs of mice in your garage as early as possible.

Preventing Mice in Your Garage

Many homeowners are quick to set mousetraps all around their garage and hope they deter mice from taking up residence here. However, this is not an effective preventative strategy because mice will continue to come back despite the traps, causing damage and leaving their diseased droppings behind.

Instead, focus your attention on potential access points in your garage to determine where mice are coming in from and seal up those places properly. Also, don’t leave food or trash in your garage that could attract mice and keep them coming back for more sustenance during the winter.

When to Call a Pest Control Company for a Mice Problem

Since mice can reproduce and create an infestation situation so quickly, it is recommended to call your local pest control company at the first signs of mouse presence in your garage. We will perform a free inspection of your garage and surrounding areas to identify problem areas and come up with a solution to get rid of your mice and keep them away.

Precise Termite & Pest Control is just a phone call away, so contact us at 866-971-2847 for a mice-free garage.

5 Food Storage Tips for a Pest-Free Pantry

Pests often take up residence around the yard and in the attic in basement, but they can also infiltrate your kitchen and compromise the safety of your food supply. Various types of pests, including ants, moths, rodents, and beetles, love to take up residence in the pantry and feast upon your supply of groceries. To reduce your risk of food contamination and prevent the dreaded task of throwing away everything in your cupboards, here are five food storage tips for a pest-free pantry.

1. Clean Up Spills Right Away

Spills and crumbs are magnets for pests, so make sure to clean up any messes as soon as they happen. A simple wipe with soap and water should do the trick and keep pests away from your shelves.

2. Store Food in Air-Tight Containers  

Proper storage goes a long way in keeping your pantry free of pests. Make sure to use high-quality, airtight containers to seal all types of food in your pantry, such as Tupperware containers or glass Mason jars. Not only are these types of containers great for deterring pests, but they can also help keep your pantry more organized.

3. Inspect Grocery Bags After Shopping

Oftentimes, pests enter pantries from the outside world, and grocery stores are not immune to pest problems. While you’re in the supermarket, check food packaging to ensure that it hasn’t been compromised by pests. Then when you get home, inspect your grocery bags to make sure that pests didn’t hitch a ride back to your house.

4. Check Food Expiration Dates

Pests are likely to be drawn to rotting food that is going bad in your pantry. For your own health and also to deter pests, keep close tabs on the expiration dates of foods in your pantry. Toss any items that have expired or that have developed a bad odor into the trash immediately.

5. Try Bay Leaves in the Pantry

One creative way to help keep pantry pests at bay is to place bay leaves in your pantry. For example, you can tape dried, whole bay leaves to the bottoms and sides of your shelves to deter grain moths. Another suggestion is to add a bay leaf or two into dry goods containers that contain flour, sugar, and rice. This is a tried-and-true DIY method for repelling insects like ants, flies, and cockroaches because they detest the fragrance of this herb.

Precise Pest Control doesn’t just exterminate pests; we help homeowners like you prevent them too. We are experts in the types of pests that invade pantries in Northern New Jersey, and we want to keep your food supply safe and pest-free at all times. Give us a call at 866-971-2847 or fill out our online form for a free inspection and for more helpful tips like these.

Types of Mice and Common Questions About Mouse Infestations

Mouse gnawing on wiring of a home

A mouse in the house is never a good thing, but there are certain things you should know about mice to identify them and how to know whether you have a mouse infestation. In this article, we’re looking at the various types of mice, which ones are most common in New Jersey, and answering a few common questions that homeowners have about potential mice problems.

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Differences Between Mice and Rats and Pest Control Solutions for Both

A Mouse Peaking His Head Out of A Hole in a Wall

Mice and rats may look alike, but they are actually distinct types of rodents that have genetic, growth, and anatomical differences. Homeowners and business owners certainly don’t want either type of rodent in their spaces, which is why mice control New Jersey is so important to local families and companies.

Here we take a closer look at the differences between mice and rats and effective pest management strategies for each type of rodent.

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Get the Best Mice Control in Bergen County for your Upcoming Thanksgiving Festivities

Best Mice Control Bergen County NJ

The holidays should be a time of celebration, not a time of extra stress and worry. You have plenty of things to focus on without the extra worry of a possible mice infestation.
If you suspect that you are sharing your home with unwanted guests, such as mice, this is certainly no cause for celebration. Mice cause millions of dollars of damage to homes all over the world, and are generally not a pleasant addition to anyone’s household. However, there’s no need to panic. There are a few easy steps that you can follow to make sure that your home is fully mouse free for the holidays. Continue reading →