Rodent Control Methods
Ear small
Eye small
Norway Rat Nose blunt
Tail shorter than head & body
Body heavy & thick
Prevention Practices Trapping and Baiting
Temporarily STOP FEEDING SEED, CORN, BREAD, ETC., Snap traps
to birds, squirrels, ducks and other wildlife until the Snap traps are economical and provide the ability to
problem is abated. control the disposal of the dead rodent.
Feed dogs and cats inside – if food is provided outside Peanut butter or bacon is good bait; tie it to the trigger
pick up the uneaten food promptly. DO NOT LEAVE PET with thread or thin wire if necessary.
FOOD OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT, rats feed at night.
Place snap traps perpendicular to the walls in areas that
Dog feces can be a rat food source - feces should be rodents are using.
collected and disposed of promptly.
Compost piles which are not turned regularly can be a
food source for rats. Follow proper guidelines to keep Poison bait & bait stations
the compost pile unattractive to rats. Take time to read the rodent poison bait label instructions
and warnings before opening.
Keep garages and sheds clear of CLUTTER - store items
off the floor and keep access to the walls and corners so TAMPER-RESISTANT BAIT STATIONS are recommended
you can see rodent activity such as gnawed wood or for dispensing poison bait. They will keep the bait dry,
droppings. covered and secure to protect children, pets and non-
target wildlife from contact with it.
Ensure that the foundation of the house & the garage
are in good repair – decayed areas & holes allow easy
entrance for rodents.
Cleanup and disposal
Wear rubber gloves for all cleanup work.
Sheds installed on wood, brick, pavers, stone or dirt can
allow for easy burrowing by rats. Inspect the base of the
Make a 1 part bleach to 10 parts water mixture to spray
shed to be sure there are no rat burrow holes visible.
droppings and urine, and then use a paper towel to pick
up the waste for disposal.
Remove all wood and brush piles from the yard and
keep firewood stacked at least 18” off the ground to
Dead rats should be wrapped in newspaper or placed in a
prevent rats from burrowing under it.
plastic bag before being put in a tightly covered garbage
can. Burying the rat is not recommended.
Cut tall grass, weeds & overgrowth from your property to
reduce areas for rodents to hide.
WASH YOUR HANDS WITH HOT WATER AND SOAP
AFTER HANDLING TRAPS, POISON BAIT, RODENT
Keep garbage in plastic bags inside of tight trashcans.
WASTE OR DEAD RODENTS.
The Delaware Public Health District is not DPHD Environmental Health Division
able to set bait stations. Contact a licensed [email protected] | (740) 368-1700
commercial pesticide applicator for
additional control assistance.
|DelawareHealth.org
Rev. 11/2023
