Rodent Control Tips for North Texas Homes & Barns
With all the construction and development around Lewisville, Flower Mound and North Texas, rats and mice seem to be showing up everywhere!
As land gets cleared and hiding places disappear, rodents go looking for somewhere new to settle. Unfortunately, your attic, garage, barn, coop or feed room might be just what they’re looking for.
Don’t let a few unwanted critters turn into a costly headache!
Little Critters, Big Damage!
Rats and mice can do a lot more than chew through a feed bag. They can damage electrical wiring, insulation, pipes and stored equipment. Chewed wiring can even create a fire hazard, and repairs aren’t cheap!
Rodents can also get into attics through gaps around rooflines, soffits and vents. Once inside, they may damage insulation, contaminate stored belongings and make a real mess.
Around the barn, they’ll help themselves to feed and can damage equipment, too. Keep an eye out for droppings, gnaw marks, scratching sounds and chewed feed bags. The sooner you catch a problem, the easier it is to get ahead of it.
Make Your Place Less Inviting
A few simple habits can help keep rodents from moving in.
- Seal up openings. Check around doors, pipes, vents, foundations and rooflines. Mice can squeeze through gaps about a quarter inch wide!
- Keep feed covered. Store livestock feed, chicken feed, pet food and birdseed in sturdy containers with tight-fitting lids.
- Clean up spilled grain. Don’t leave an easy meal around the barn or feed room.
- Clear brush and clutter. Woodpiles and stored materials make great hiding spots.
- Fix leaks. Remove easy water sources whenever possible.
And don’t forget to check around the roof and eaves. Rodents don’t always come in at ground level!
What’s the Best Way to Get Rid of Rats and Mice?
That depends on where you’re seeing them and how big the problem has become. Here are a few solutions to consider.
Mouse & Rat Traps
Traditional snap traps, like Victor mouse and rat traps, are a practical option for catching rodents. Place them along walls where you’ve noticed activity, safely away from children and animals.
Live Traps
Prefer a catch-and-release approach? Live-catch traps can capture rodents without using poison. Just remember to check traps frequently and follow local wildlife regulations. Releasing rodents elsewhere may be restricted, and trapping won’t do much good if they can walk right back inside!
Rodent Baits
For persistent problems, rodent bait may be another option.
Two products featured in our November planning are:
- Final® All-Weather BLOX: An anticoagulant rodent bait containing brodifacoum.
- Selontra® Rodent Bait: A non-anticoagulant rodent bait containing cholecalciferol.
These products work differently, so choosing the right one matters.
Always follow the label, use approved bait stations where required and keep rodent control products away from children, pets, livestock and wildlife. Promptly remove dead rodents to reduce risks to other animals.
Do Natural Rodent Deterrents Work?
Folks often ask about peppermint oil and other natural ways to keep mice away. Strong scents may discourage rodents temporarily, but they aren’t a dependable fix for an established problem.
Products like EarthKind® Fresh Cab® may help discourage mice in certain enclosed storage spaces when used as directed. But the best place to start is still the basics: Seal up openings, secure your feed and take away their hiding spots.
And remember, natural products aren’t automatically safe around pets or livestock.
Don’t Forget the Barn!
If you’ve got a barn, chicken coop or feed room, you’ve probably got a few things rodents love: food, water and shelter.
Keep feed bins closed, clean up spills and check behind equipment, hay and stored supplies for activity.
ProTip: Use metal containers for feed. Rats will chew through plastic and other materials. Even popular “Vault” brand containers are no match for rodents.
Got barn cats, dogs or chickens? Be especially careful where you place traps or bait. Not every product is right for every situation.
Stop Rodent Damage Before It Gets Expensive!
A mouse in the feed room or a rat in the attic might not seem like much at first. But damaged wiring in cars and equipement, roof repairs, ruined insulation and contaminated feed can add up in a hurry.
Don’t wait for a little problem to become a big one!
Need help choosing a trap, bait or deterrent? Come see us at Johnson Feed in Lewisville! We’ll help you find a good fit for your home, garage or barn.
Rodent Control Products to Ask About
- Final All-Weather BLOX Rodenticide
- Selontra Rodent Bait
- Just One Bite
- Victor mouse and rat traps
- Live-catch rodent traps
- Tamper-resistant bait stations
- EarthKind® Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent
Ask us about product availability. Always read and follow product labels and local regulations.
