I came back from a vacation to find that rats have created a republic under the back porch. I'm so grossed out I can hardly step outside, but we have to do something about this. I went to Home Depot to look for solutions. The options seem to be packets of rat poison, spring-type trap or a device which uses electric shocks.
I do not want to use poison since we have a dog, and there are plenty of visiting squirrels. I also do not want to use the glue traps. I would appreciate suggestions about the efficacy of other methods, and also whether calling in an extermination service would be the best option.
I think the birdseed attracted them, so I am planning to switch to the hulled sunflower seeds.
Thank you,

Priya
Zone 7, Maryland

Priya, Boy can I relate to your dilemma! No rats but rats, mice, voles are all the same to me and need to be GONE as quickly as possible. I found the Tom Cat Live traps to be the safest thing to use where there are other animals around such as squirrels, dogs, cats, etc.

This is the product that I have and 2 yrs. ago it caught 6 mice/voles out behind my kitchen in less than a week and we didn't even use bait. http://www.tomcatbrand.com/product/24-multiple-catch-mouse-trap.

They also have bait stations that are prebaited and sealed up for rats and micehttp://www.tomcatbrand.com/product_line/3-bait-stations

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

I use Tomcat Vitamin D3 mouse poison,which is supposedly more pet friendly,etc.

http://www.tomcatbrand.com/product/10-vitamin-d3-mouse-poison



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Cheers,Bob
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a
Lexington,Ky.
It's Spring!

Priya I feel your pain! That's why I only use suet sandwich and hummingbird feeders.I have never used seed feeders I do plant native plants.

Like Penny I had an awful vole problem and when the summer comes I will have an awful chipmunk problem. I am not a handy person but I would like to put up a screech owl nestbox because Owls love to eat voles that's their main food I heard a screech owl last summer at night calling very close to the house but I haven't heard him since I would like to put up some boxes for the screech owls The other day while outside raking I heard then saw a red tail hawk flying above I think they love rats too.

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B