Successful rodent management is essential not only to structural integrity but also to human health and safety, given that commensal rodents have the ability to spread more than 35 diseases and cause damage to our structures and resources. To remain successful amid evolving regulatory pressures and increasingly resilient pests, PMPs must move beyond routine treatment and embrace a holistic, adaptive strategy.
Experts from across the industry contributed their essential tips and insights on everything from advanced identification and inspection to behavioral control and exclusion techniques.
Key takeaways
- Look up and out: Avoid complacency by closely inspecting often-overlooked access points like fascia, gutter lines, dormers and roof/gable vents.
- Decipher field signs: Targeted inspections rely on correctly interpreting the texture and color of rub marks and sebum trails to determine if activity is current (greasy) or old (dry).
- Control behavior: Use non-chemical tactics, such as all-natural repellents, to influence where rodents stay and guide them away from high-traffic customer areas.
- Invest in quality IPM: There is no “standard rodent case” or silver bullet; success requires a full integrated pest management (IPM) strategy adapted to the unique situation, including proper species identification and customer education.
Dr. Joe Argentine
BASF1. Know your non-commensal rodents
“Rodent control usually focuses on the three main commensal species. However, other rodent species can also be a serious problem. For instance, there are several species of cotton rats, with the hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) being the most common in America, ranging from Arizona to Florida and Nebraska to Mexico.
Weighing up to 8 ounces, cotton rats can be distinguished from Rattus species by their grizzled fur and a shorter, ringed tail. Their preferred habitat is dense grassland with some shrub overstory. For this reason, it is important to keep grass and weeds mowed around all buildings, including outer buildings such as sheds.
Cotton rats can carry hantavirus, so in areas potentially contaminated with the virus, it is vital to keep these rats away from buildings. If hantavirus is possibly present, proper personal protective equipment (PPE) — including gloves, respirators and eye protection — is critical when cleaning up infested areas.”
Andrew Fisher, BCE, PHE
Neogen2. Interpreting sebum rails and rub marks
“Understanding rodent behavior is key to effective control and one of the most revealing aspects lies in the physical traces they leave behind. Rodents frequently travel along the same pathways, depositing distinct field signs.
Among the most reliable indicators are rub marks and sebum trails. These markings form when the oils and dirt from rodent fur repeatedly contact surfaces during movement. On light-colored substrates, they appear as dark, greasy smears; on darker materials, they may present as a subtle sheen visible under angled light.
The thickness, darkness and freshness of rub marks can indicate whether the activity is current or old. Fresh trails often feel greasy to the touch, whereas older ones are dry and faded. Correctly interpreting these signs helps direct trap placement and exclusion work to the most active zones, increasing control efficacy.”
Jon Paulsen
Liphatech3. Inspecting the overlooked access points
“Even experienced PMPs familiar with Norway (Rattus norvegicus) and roof rats (R. rattus) can become complacent and overlook critical components of rodent access. For instance, fascia, gutter lines and dormers should be closely inspected whenever possible. Vent openings are too often overlooked.
It’s also a good idea to inspect the ridgeline, roof and gable vents for gnaw marks or sebum stains and check whether interior screening is intact. Sometimes, unsecured edges act as a flap to allow rodent entry without a visible hole. Soffit vents also can be problematic in homes when aerial cables or vegetation provide a means of access.”
Andrej Blanc
PelGar4. Building your exclusion arsenal
“With the added pressure on rodenticide regulations, PMPs need to have a well-rounded rodent control program. In your rodent toolbox, you should have all the required basic exclusion tools at your disposal, including:
Understand how rodents enter each specific account and what they are searching for (food vs. shelter) to optimize how and where to exclude and treat. By having an effective exclusion program, you can increase the effectiveness of your baiting, trapping and monitoring efforts.”
- Stainless steel fabric
- Door seals
- Expandable foams labeled for the pest control industry
- Copper mesh
- Hardware cloth
- Barrier paste compounds for small cracks, joints and seams
Anna Iversen, BCE
Pelsis5. Leveraging video and non-chemical tools
“As an industry, it’s easy to feel uneasy about shrinking rodenticide options. But it’s worth remembering the many tools we still have for rodent management beyond rodenticides. From mechanical traps and monitoring blocks to repellents and exclusion methods, new alternatives continue to emerge.
One underused option, borrowed from wildlife management, is the use of trail cameras or other video tools. Such devices let us step into the rodent’s environment, revealing travel routes, food preferences and behaviors we might otherwise miss. With that inside knowledge, we can strategize accordingly, improving results without relying solely on chemical options.”
Gregg Schumaker
Wildlife Control Supplies6. Precision baiting and trap activation
“Rodent control success depends on precise trap placement and advanced baiting strategies.
- Concentrate efforts in high-activity zones such as wall voids, corners, utility chases and warm mechanical spaces where rodents naturally travel and nest.
- Implement pre-baiting and bait rotation to overcome neophobia and maintain lure effectiveness.
- Avoid peanut butter, as it can cause allergies, lacks a professional appearance and is frequently avoided by conditioned rodents.
- To improve trigger efficiency, apply bait to a cotton string and tie it to the trap’s mechanism. This forces the rodent to exert pressure, ensuring consistent activation.”
Susan Masciarelli
Web-Cote Industries7. Blending glue traps with the environment
“Blend, don’t stand out. When placing glue traps, one simple but effective strategy is to match the trap color as closely as possible to the surface it’s on. Even though mice are color-blind, they can still perceive differences in brightness and contrast.
Anything that looks noticeably different from the surrounding floor or wall can trigger avoidance behavior. By blending the trap with the existing floor color — whether that’s concrete gray, tan, or another tone — you reduce visual cues that signal “something’s changed,” so the rodent continues on its normal route right across it.”
Greg Pettis, CE
Nature-Cide8. “Herding into the kill zone” strategy
“A new tactic is emerging in the battle against rampant rodents: the “Herding into the Kill Zone” strategy. This approach focuses on shutting down mice and rats in critical areas such as residential living spaces and commercial production zones.
By leveraging repellents — a fast-growing protocol in modern pest control — we can influence where rodents stay and where they go, ultimately guiding them to their demise. The strategy uses all-natural repellents to keep rodents out of sight from customers, while directing them into controlled zones where trapping or baiting tools are in place.”
Isabelle Lucero
J.T. Eaton9. Three pillars of successful IPM
“Successful rodent management is essential to human health and safety, so here are three things to keep in mind:
- Don’t rely on “usually.” There is no standard rodent case; each situation is unique. Just as a roof rat can sometimes live in underground tunnels, a Norway rat also can live in trees or in attics. This also means there is no silver bullet for every situation.
- Use an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. A good rodent control program incorporates IPM decision-making, beginning with inspection and species identification, followed by treatment using a combination of multiple methods for rodent management that are determined based on each unique situation. Finish by educating the customer.
- Know the regulations for your area. As certain states begin enforcing new regulations on rodenticides and even glue traps, it is important that you keep up with these changes so you do not incur hefty fines.”
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<p>The post Rodent control insights from 9 industry leaders first appeared on Pest Management Professional.</p>
from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/advanced-rodent-control-tips/
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