All posts by Mosquito Joe

 
There is no quicker way to ruin a customer’s experience (or tank a 5-star rating) than a pest problem. Don’t risk a cloud of gnats hanging over the fairway, a few biting mosquitoes dining on guests on the patio, or a single rat that scurries into view. Commercial pest control service is as essential for retail spaces, as it is for country clubs, multi-unit residential properties and any other commercial property. But there is a lot that you and your staff can do to roll up the welcome mat for pests. These strategies should be a part of any business pest control plan.

Common Pests in Commercial Settings

Like the rest of us, pests go where they can meet their basic needs for food, water, and shelter. The pests common in commercial settings vary by the type of business you run. Food service companies attract pests that eat what we do, like rats, cockroaches, flies, and ants. Golf courses attract those that feed on the grounds and the golfers, like gnats, aphids, turfgrass ants, and mosquitoes. Mosquito Joe® commercial pest control strategies target the critters attracted to your premises.

Why Does Commercial Pest Control Matter?

You know commercial pest control is essential to protecting your property, resources, clientele, and customer base. Different pests can cause significant damage if they enter your premises unchecked (rodents, we’re looking at you). You invest too much money in your business supplies to have them chewed on and destroyed. Silverfish, cockroaches, and rodents damage paper products, while carpenter ants, bedbugs, and fleas damage and infest furniture. Moths and carpet beetles damage textiles and clothing, and rodents chew through electrical wiring. Mosquito Joe’s commercial pest control targets critters on your property so we can keep them out of your buildings and supplies.

Business pest control protects against more than property damage. The critters that eat up your supplies are unsanitary, risking health code violations and worse. Invest in pest control for businesses to protect your staff and customers from pest-borne diseases and allergens.

Pest Control Solutions for Every Industry

Every industry has its own commercial pest control challenges. Mosquito Joe provides tailored solutions for each, but proper facility hygiene is also critical.

Pet & Child Care Facilities

Protecting children and pets from fleas, ticks, and ants is essential. Regularly clean and disinfect floors and all surfaces. Keep play areas clean and treat pets for fleas and ticks.

Restaurants & Food Service Businesses

Rodents, roaches, flies, and ants are attracted to the same food we are. Strict sanitation procedures are essential, including storing food in sealed containers, regularly disposing of garbage, and maintaining clean drains.

Retail Stores & Warehouses

Rodents, moths, beetles, and roaches can find their way in through tiny cracks and crevices. To help keep them out, trim vegetation regularly, manage standing water to prevent mosquito breeding, and properly contain trash and food waste.

Event Venues & Hospitality

To prevent mosquitoes, flies, ants, and roaches from crashing the festivities, ensure proper waste management, use outdoor lighting that doesn’t attract insects, and keep food and dining areas clean.

Offices & Corporate Buildings

Ants, rodents, and cockroaches are not on the payroll. So, maintain cleanliness in kitchen and dining areas, manage waste efficiently, and minimize clutter where pests can hide.

Parks & Recreation Facilities

When mosquitoes, ticks, ants, or rodents come into play, no one has any fun. To help keep them out, trim vegetation regularly, manage standing water to prevent mosquito breeding, and properly contain trash and food waste.

Healthcare Facilities & Medical Offices

Caring for sick people involves resources that attract ants, flies, rodents, and cockroaches. Adhere to strict sanitation and waste disposal protocols, seal entry points, and regularly inspect and clean ventilation systems.

The most effective commercial pest control plan incorporates your efforts to limit pests’ access to your premise’s resources. Our service professionals will provide you with a detailed and customized plan to follow.

Benefits of a Proactive Pest Control Plan

At Mosquito Joe, our science-based commercial pest control program is designed by our team of Urban Entomologists. We’re experts in bugs, rodents, and other creepy crawlies, so you don’t have to be. Our pest control service professionals know where to look when to treat, and what to use to evict pests from your business. We don’t just treat the pests that are currently bugging your customers. We target every stage of the pests’ life cycle.

We also provide a custom plan for making your property more resistant to invasive critters and provide follow-up treatments to provide lasting protection and repel nearby colonies from exploring the same resources that attracted the initial pests.

Don’t Let Pests Become Your Business Partner! Call Mosquito Joe!

Mosquito Joe is your partner in effective commercial pest control. Bring in the customers, and we’ll take care of your pests! Like you, we are all about customer satisfaction, and we are certain you’ll be pleased with our service. The Neighborly Done Right Promise® and our own Mosquito Joe Guarantee back all that we do. We get the job done right the first time and work around your schedule so we don’t inconvenience your guests. Request a free quote today!

Join us in celebrating National Honey Bee Day on the third Saturday in August! Like World Honey Bee Day, every May 20th, it is an opportunity to raise awareness of the vital work done by honey bees and beekeepers. The debt we owe to the fuzzy little buzzers is about far more than the honey they make. According to the USDA, honey bees pollinate $15 billion (with a bee!) worth of crops every year. This includes over 130 types of fruits, veggies, and nuts. Without the honey bees, many of these crops would completely fail, while others would yield pitifully small harvests.

We rely on the honey bee and other pollinators for one-third of the world’s food supply. Yet pesticides, habitat loss, and invasive species pose deadly threats to all pollinators, specifically bees. These pollinators are so important to us all that Mosquito Joe® is committed to eco-friendly pest control and our Pollinator Protection Management Program.

In celebration of National Honey Bee Day, let’s plan to scatter native wildflower seeds, enjoy some locally sourced honey, share a dinner made from farmer’s market produce, maybe raise a glass of mead, post your praise of honeybees with #NationalHoneyBeeDay, and learn how to help honey bees by growing a pollinator-friendly garden.

Threats to Bee Populations: Why We Need to Save the Bees

Multiple environmental factors threaten honey bee health and their very existence. The indiscriminate use of broad-spectrum insecticides, loss of habitat, limited food sources in quantity and diversity, parasites, and disease burden the busy buzzers to the point of colony collapse. The pressures honey bees, other bees, and pollinators face are severe and growing. That’s why we need to #SaveTheBees.

We can all do our part and opt for ways to help honey bees:

• Use natural pesticide treatments from professionals dedicated to eco-friendly pest control
• Curtail the use of home pesticides and herbicides
• Plant a pollinator-friendly garden (even a single container of mixed flowering plants can help)
• Plant a flowering tree
• Never spray unwanted honey bees on your property — call your local beekeeper
• Support local beekeepers — buy locally sourced honey
• Help educate children about honey bees and the importance of pollinators
• Donate to save the honey bees programs and organizations

Let’s celebrate National Honey Bee Day by planting a pollinator-friendly garden. Your fruits and veggies will love it!

How to Create a Bee-Friendly Garden: A Haven for Pollinators

Creating a pollinator-friendly garden turns National Honey Bee Day into year-round support that benefits your garden and the bigger ecosystem. Whether planting an acre or a single container on a balcony, your efforts can make a real difference.

Grow a variety of flowering plants that attract bees.

Many flowering plants (though not all) attract honey bees. Plant a diverse selection of native wildflowers, trees, shrubs, herbs, vegetables, and fruits. Select long-blooming varieties and those with staggered bloom times to provide an ongoing source of nutrition bees need.

This table is just a starting place for choosing plants for your pollinator-friendly garden.

Allow your plants to flower.

Instead of cutting down basil, Swiss chard, or kale after harvesting, let them flower to support honey bees and other pollinators. Leave some radishes, lettuce, carrots, and onions on the ground. Their flowers are excellent for bees.

Learn to love the weeds.

Dandelions, clover, milkweed, and goldenrod are bee magnets. Allowing these weeds to flower is the easiest way to make for a more pollinator-friendly garden.

Avoid using pesticides and herbicides.

Spraying poisons all over your yard is a significant threat to all pollinators, including honey bees. Instead, pull weeds by hand and use eco-friendly pest control when possible. When pest problems get out of control, hiring the pros at Mosquito Joe for eco-friendly pest control gets rid of the problem without hurting the bees.

Mosquito Joe’s Eco-Friendly Pest Control: Supporting Pollinators and a Healthy Environment

Most people know about Mosquito Joe’s award-winning and comprehensive pest control services. But you may not know of our commitment to eco-friendly pest control practices. We fully appreciate the critical role pollinators play in every ecosystem in the communities we serve.

As proud members of the EPA’s Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP), we provide low-risk outdoor pest control to protect you and your family from nasty biters and away from your property. We aim to empower you to enjoy your outdoor spaces free from biting and stinging pests while preserving local pollinators.

You can count on being pleased with our eco-friendly pest control services. The Neighborly Done Right Promise® and Mosquito Joe Satisfaction Guarantee backs everything we do, ensuring your satisfaction. Just contact your locally owned and operated Mosquito Joe to request a free quote.

We’ll take care of the rest.

Bee the Change: Take Action to Protect Our Pollinators

How will you celebrate National Honey Bee Day? Will you share the buzz on social media for the day? Every bit helps! Did you know that the average honey bee produces just 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its entire life? That’s just 0.8 grams. Yet bee hives in the U.S. typically produce from 10 to 200 pounds of honey every year!

Like the honey bees, when we each do something small, our combined efforts make a significant difference. If you’ve never tasted locally sourced honey, try it for the occasion. If you already know how great it is, commit to only buying local honey moving forward, supporting local beekeepers and their hives. If you have a yard or balcony, plant a pollinator garden.

Every one of us can make a difference. Maybe you’ll even choose to become a beekeeper. What a bee-youtiful way to celebrate National Honey Bee Day.

 
Rodents are clever, curious, dextrous, and skilled at causing property damage. They are also playful, charming, dirty, and riddled with diseases, parasites, fleas, and yuck. These fascinating creatures are fun to study, but not when they are on your property. It’s just a matter of time before they move indoors with you! Understanding rodent behavior informs successful rodent prevention practices and helps you to identify signs of a rodent infestation.

Rodent Identification

Why should you care about rodent identification? The pest control services teams at Mosquito Joe® are experts on the many critters they control, and it’s critical for effective rodent control. Did you know that black rats love peanut butter, but brown rats prefer smelly cheese? Knowing your quarry lets you choose the right bait.

Mice

Mice are small rodents with a body length ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 inches and a scaly, furr-less tail measuring 2.75 to 4 inches. They may be brown, gray, or white, have large ears, and weigh up to one ounce.

Rats

Adult rats reach a body length of 9 to 11 inches, with a smooth, bare tail of 7 to 9 inches. They can be white, gray, brown, or black, with small ears, and weigh up to 1.4 pounds.

Another way rodent identification is important when setting traps is that mice are more inquisitive than rats and happy to explore new things in their environment. Rats are more cautious and more likely to outwit traps.

Signs of a Rodent Infestation

Of course, seeing the beady eyes staring at you and the long, naked tail when a rodent scurries away is the clearest sign you have a rodent problem. Hopefully, you’ll notice other signs of a rodent infestation outdoors first:

Droppings

Rodent droppings look like small grains of rice in a black or brown color. You may smell a stale ammonia odor. You’re most likely to spot mice and rat droppings near their burrows or along the pathways they use to find food or water.

Gnaw Marks

Gnaw marks on fence posts, outdoor furniture, plants, extension cords, and trellises are a clear sign of a rodent infestation.

Fun fact: Rats’ teeth grow constantly throughout their lives. They must continue gnawing and chewing constantly to keep the teeth from growing into their brains! They are such accomplished gnawers that rats can chew through glass, soft metals, cinderblock, and improperly cured concrete.

Nests

Different rodents build different types of nests from soft materials like leaves, discarded weeds, shredded fabric, twine, cardboard, twigs, and soil. You may notice droppings around the round opening to the nest.

Rodent Prevention Strategies

Rodents are extraordinarily adept at making a living in proximity to human activity. They come onto our property and then into our homes seeking food, water, and shelter. Effective rodent control measures deny the critters the habitat they crave, so they go elsewhere. It is critical to remove rodents from your outdoor property before they move inside. Once they come indoors, the health risks to your family are far higher, and you’ll battle the fleas they carry as well as the rodents themselves.

Seal It Up: Don’t Let Rodents Find a Way Inside

Scrutinize your fences and walls from top to bottom, sealing any chinks or holes with caulk. Mice can squeeze through holes the size of a pencil, while full-grown rats can use holes the size of a quarter. Repair torn screens and replace bent window frames to help keep them outside.

Food Lockdown: Avoid Feeding Rodents Accidentally

Human garbage, rotting fruit and veggies, spilled birdseed, and scattered pet food offer rodents a smorgasbord. No wonder they won’t leave! Seal your trash cans, empty them frequently, and keep them clean. Store all food in air-tight containers, and promptly wipe up spills. Temporarily suspend feeding the birds, clean up spilled seed, and store feed securely. Never feed pets outdoors.

Going Dry: Don’t Provide Water For Rodents

Repair all leaky faucets and sprinklers. Get rid of all potential sources of standing water, and clean out the gutters and downspouts to remove any handy watering holes.

Yard Cleanup: Take Away Rodent Shelter

Harvest fruits and veggies promptly, discarding any that fall or rot. Mow your grass short, trim back shrubs, vines, and trees, keeping all foliage away from the house — mice and rats use limbs and vines to reach your roof. Use large, chunky mulch rather than finely shredded materials rodents love for their bedding. Clean up clutter that provides shelter or hiding places.

Dealing With A Rodent Infestation

Our tips above are more effective at rodent prevention than removal. Once you see the signs of a rodent infestation on your property, you’ll need to take more direct action to keep them from moving indoors.

DIY Tactics

There are several ways you can combat a rodent infestation yourself. Snap traps designed with a spring-loaded bar to catch rodents are highly effective. They also require frequent handling to remove the dead rodent (ewww) and reset. Use gloves and tongs. Remember that the rodent’s body and fluids contain many diseases, parasites, and fleas.

Essential oils, such as peppermint, lemon, citronella, or eucalyptus, can make an effective rodent repellent. Add two teaspoons of the oil to a cup of water, shake well, and spray where you see signs of rodent activity.

When to Call a Pro To Combat Rodents

If your signs of rodent infestation have become billboards, or your DIY rodent prevention is just not enough, call in rodent control professionals. If a family member’s health is compromised, getting rid of the rodents quickly and efficiently is critical.

What Exterminators Do Get Rid of Rodents

Professional rodent exterminators use various methods to rid your property of rodents. At Mosquito Joe, our service professionals use bait to lure rodents to humane traps so we can remove them from your property. We do not enter your home, and we use no toxic chemicals or poisons that could harm other wildlife or leave dead or dying rodents on your property. Finally, we treat your property with rodent repellent at strategic points to prevent local populations from moving back in.

Know the Risks and Exercise Caution When Dealing With Rodents

Make no mistake — signs of a rodent infestation are a serious health hazard.

Disease Risks

Hantavirus causes a severe and sometimes fatal respiratory disease. The most common way humans contract this virus is by breathing in dust contaminated with a rodent’s saliva, urine, feces, or nesting materials (sorry, but this is important). The virus can be transmitted through contact or through the air. Activities like sweeping or vacuuming up rodent bedding can aerosolize particles from their disturbed waste, making cleanup of rodent infestations hazardous. Even dead rodents are dangerous because of the diseases they carry.

Secure Trapping

Place the traps in the runways the rodents use and bait them with peanut butter. Then, hope that innocent wildlife or pets don’t find the traps first with tragic results. But hoping is not enough. It is best to place the snap trap inside a closed box with a small opening for the rodent to access. Keep children and pets well away from the traps. Wear gloves and use tongs when handling dead rodents. Place them in a plastic bag and tie it tightly. Discard in the trash and wash your hands well!

Repellent Caution

We understand how attractive some DIY solutions are. But when it comes to pest control, DIY can be a terrible idea. If the repellant doesn’t work, relying on it lets the infestation grow. Remember that some essential oils and other ingredients can be harmful to pets and wildlife.

If you see signs of a rodent infestation on your property, call the experts at Mosquito Joe to get rid of the critters. You can count on being pleased with our services because the Neighborly Done Right Promise™ and the Mosquito Joe Satisfaction Guarantee back everything we do. Request a free quote today!

Like honey bees and butterflies, wasps are pollinators that play an essential role in the environment. But they are also highly aggressive and territorial, stinging anyone who seems a threat to their nests. While a beekeeper should relocate a honey beehive on your property, wasp nests should be removed by qualified pest control specialists. DIY wasp nest removal can trigger swarms of angry wasps that may attack not just the person responsible but also any neighbors, children, and pets nearby.

The Many Dangers of Removing Wasp Nests Yourself

We get it. You don’t want to call for pest control services for every wasp or creepy crawly you see. And there’s no need to worry when you see a few wasps visiting your flowers. DIY efforts are great for preventing pests and dealing with nuisance critters, but wasp nests are dangerous. It may be tempting to grab a baseball bat and start swinging, but this is a terrible idea. Not only can it land you in the hospital or worse, but it’s also unlikely to be effective. Wasps will repair a partially destroyed nest and may rebuild on the same site.

Various DIY wasp nest removal techniques are dangerous for the following reasons:

• Wasps fiercely protect their nests and their young, repeatedly stinging any potential threat.
• Social wasps emit an alarm pheromone that calls in other wasps to join the attack.
• Unlike honey bees, wasps don’t die after stinging once. They sting over and over again in defense of their nest.
• An allergic reaction to wasp stings causes life-threatening anaphylaxis and trouble breathing.
• One or two stings can cause a person to develop an allergy to wasp stings.
• Too many wasp stings can be fatal, even without an allergy.
• People can slip and fall off the ladder they use to reach the nest when wasps fight back.

When contemplating the risks of DIY wasp nest removal, remember that surviving wasps are likely to rebuild in the same location. Mosquito Joe® professional wasp control services treat the nest site to keep displaced wasps from returning.

Reasons Why You Should Not Attempt DIY Wasp Nest Removal

Many DIY home maintenance tasks are fun and educational, with failure merely being disappointing, not dangerous. DIY wasp nest removal is an entirely different story. The risks to the person attempting removal and those nearby are too severe to take lightly. Consider the following reasons to leave wasp nests to the professionals:

DIY Wasp Nest Removal Can Be Dangerous

In addition to the dangers involved in removing wasp nests, homeowners lack the proper tools and protective equipment to do so safely. Further, they don’t know wasp behavior like the pros, making them more likely to get stung.

DIY Wasp Nest Removal Is Difficult

Wasps often nest in inaccessible areas, with only part of the nest visible. DIY wasp nest removal often leaves part of the nest intact, where wasps rebuild. Professional wasp removal services are guaranteed, but your own efforts are not.

DIY Wasp Nest Removal Might Cost You More Than You Bargained For

Making mistakes can be costly, causing stings and potential property damage. Wasp removal professionals are fully insured against injury or any property damage that might occur. Are you? And do you want the hassle? Further, a failed attempt to remove a nest can make follow-up removal services more difficult and potentially more costly.

DIY Wasp Nest Removal Can Be Harmful to the Environment

Amateur wasp nest removal attempts can threaten beneficial insects and local wildlife. The injudicious use of insecticides can impact birds and small mammals that prey on sprayed wasps and other affected insects. It can even poison the soil and water sources.

Is DIY Wasp Nest Removal Worth the Risk?

DIY wasp removal is one of those things that seems reasonable until you really think about it. That’s why you did your research to learn whether it was worth the risks. Now that you know how dangerous it can be for you, your family, neighbors, pets, and local wildlife, it’s best to call in the experts. Trust the pros at Mosquito Joe to eliminate the problem for you.

Why Hiring a Professional Is the Smart Choice for Wasp Nest Removal

Hiring professional wasp nest removal is a smart choice for many reasons beyond leaving the dangers to the experts:

• Accurate species identification: Professionals tailor their wasp removal strategies to the behaviors and biology of the specific insects they face.
• Professional-grade insecticides: Professional solutions are more effective at eliminating specific pests without undue damage to pollinators and the environment.
• Understanding nest structures: Wasps build elaborate structures that are often concealed or partially concealed within walls or underground. The pros know where to look and how to remove these hard-to-reach nests.
• Tools and protective clothing: Wasp control professionals have the training and experience to do the job right, as well as the appropriate tools and protective clothing.
• Integrated pest management: Professionals will advise on sealing entry points, removing attractants, and other strategies that prevent wasps from returning.
• Follow-up and guarantees: Professionals guarantee their work, providing follow-up service if needed to eliminate the issue.

Save yourself the time, stress, and dangers involved in wasp nest removal. Call on the stinging insects pros at Mosquito Joe.

Hire a Pro, and Let the Wasp Wars Be Someone Else’s Problem!

Mosquito Joe is your best answer to how to get rid of a wasp nest. Our service professionals will efficiently remove the problem. You can trust our services to be thorough because the Neighborly Done Right Promise™ and the Mosquito Joe Satisfaction Guarantee back everything we do. We take pride in our work and do the job right the first time.

Request a free quote today. We’ll take that wasp nest out of your way so you can enjoy your outdoor spaces again, sting-free!

Rats are clever, curious rodents who thrive on the outskirts of our homes and businesses. They make a better living off our scraps and trash than they can in truly wild lands. These canny critters are extraordinarily adept at survival, making getting rid of them challenging. Rather than using powerful poisons or cruel traps that can harm other forms of wildlife, the most effective way to get rid of rats in the yard is to stop giving them what they need. When you roll up the welcome mat, rats move on, looking for a cushy home elsewhere.

Signs You Have a Rat Problem in Your Yard

The most obvious sign you have rats is when you see one scuttling across your path or spot that long, naked tail whisking away through the foliage. (Ugh!) But there are other signs you may spot that indicate you have rats in the yard:

• Rat Droppings: Rat droppings look like small, dark, rice-like pellets, pointy at one end and rounded at the other. You’ll find droppings near food or the rats’ runways.
• Gnaw Marks: Rats’ teeth never stop growing, so they must gnaw constantly to keep them worn down. Gnaw marks on wooden fence posts, plant stakes, bags of soil, or organic plant food are common signs.
• Damage to Plants and Vegetables: Like many pests, rats feast on our plants, especially fruits and vegetables. Half-eaten veggies or plants indicate someone is busy in the yard.
• Burrows: Rats form burrows near walls or fences. A burrow has an opening about 2 to 4 inches wide, and all debris is cleared away from the hole.
• Funky Smell: A weird smell, like stale ammonia, can indicate a rodent problem.
• Footprints: Soft soils and mud may show tiny, thin footprints as rats go about their business. Rat tracks show four toes on the front feet and five on the back.

If you note any of these signs, it’s time to learn how to get rid of rats in the yard.

Why It’s Important to Get Rid of Rats in Your Yard

Some homeowners want an oasis free from anyone but family, while others are not just tolerant of wildlife — they cultivate it. The world is big enough for both views, but even wildlife lovers should not welcome rats as neighbors. Not only are the rodents utterly filthy, scattering their urine and feces everywhere they go (sorry!), but they also carry a wide range of diseases, bacteria, parasites, and germs that can make people and pets sick. Further, unlike most wildlife, rats are delighted to move right into your outbuildings or even your home, where they promptly cause significant property damage. Feed the birds and watch the deer if you like, but getting rid of rats in the yard is critical.

Understanding Why Rats Invade Your Yard

Rats are highly practical and come to your yard looking for just three things: food, water, and shelter. These essentials are typically easier to come by in our yards than “in the wild.”
While rats can climb trees in search of nests full of eggs or baby birds, rooting around in our garbage is far easier and more rewarding. Spilled birdseed and leftover pet food are also welcome meals. Leaky faucets, full catch trays, and water caught in tire swings or debris offer the water they need. Cultivated soil, long grass, and overgrown shrubs and flower beds provide plenty of shelter. Eliminating these attractants is the key to getting rid of rats in the yard.

How to Make Your Yard Unattractive to Rats

Leaky faucets and spilled birdseed act like the equivalent of a neon motel “vacancy” sign on the highway. The best way to get rid of rats in the yard starts with eliminating the amenities they come for. Take these steps for effective rodent control:

• Eliminate food sources in the yard.
  • Temporarily remove bird feeders.
  • Clean up all spilled birdseed, and tightly secure any stored seed.
  • Tightly seal all garbage cans and keep them clean.
  • Keep the composter tightly closed.
  • Harvest fruits, vegetables, and nuts promptly.
  • Don’t leave pet food outdoors.
• Eliminate leaks and standing water.
  • Fix leaky faucets and irrigation.
  • Empty plants’ catch trays and bird baths until the problem is resolved.
  • Eliminate clutter that can hold water after a rainfall.
  • Unclog and clean gutters and downspouts.
• Eliminate hiding and highways.
  • Mow the grass regularly.
  • Trim all shrubs, vines, and trees, keeping growth away from the walls and roofline.
  • Chop up fallen leaves, and do not mulch more than 3 inches deep.
  • Choose large bark chip mulch rather than finely shredded materials.

How to Trap Rats in Your Yard

We know you’d rather clean up the yard ten times than trap a single rat. The tips listed above will eventually succeed in getting rid of rats in your yard, but if you’ve got a bad infestation, you may be reluctant to wait.

When ridding your yard of rats is urgent, snap traps are highly effective. Set the trap along the rats’ runways and bait it with peanut butter. A nonlethal trap that catches multiple animals without hurting them is a tall, smooth-sided bucket with peanut butter and crackers in the bottom. Provide a ramp for the rodents to climb and use a purpose-built lid that drops the hungry rodent into the bucket. The smooth sides prevent the rats (mice or squirrels) from climbing back out. Then, drive at least a mile away to release the animals away from housing.

Considering Professional Rodent Extermination

If your rat problem is bigger than you can manage, consider rat exterminators. Mosquito Joe® offers effective methods for getting rid of rats in your yard, so you don’t have to face the problem alone. We’re mindful of the potential impact on the environment and other wildlife, so we avoid potent poisons and killing traps. Instead, we use humane lures to trap every rodent on your premises. We remove them from your property and leave a repellent in strategic locations to prevent local populations from moving in.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Mosquito Joe!

When knowing how to get rid of rats in the yard isn’t enough to get ahead of the problem, call on the pros at Mosquito Joe. We’ll make sure they scuttle away and leave your property in peace. Not sure what kind of pest you have in your yard? Our Mosquito Joe pros can tell the difference between rats or other rodents. The Neighborly Done Right Promise™ and Mosquito Joe Satisfaction Guarantee back all of our pest control services, ensuring your satisfaction.

If you’ve got something better to do than learn how to get rid of large rats outside, we’re ready to help! Request a free quote today.