Author: Kurt Treftz, Cascade Pest Control
Rodent control… As long as humans need food and shelter, there will be rats & mice seeking to capitalize on it. It seems impossible to eradicate these furry gnawers, who are nuisances at best and a serious health concern at worst.
So, what’s a home or business owner to do? Never fear, technology is here. That’s right. Technological innovations have evolved in the world of rodent control (as they seem to have everywhere else). Today’s traps are smarter, faster, and more automated than ever before, so the rats & mice don’t stand a chance.
Advanced, Smarter Rodent Control Solutions
High-Tech Snap Traps
The traditional snap tray has been around for a minute. The simple process of spring loading a bar that snaps when triggered and kills the pest is likely a standard in most mouse and rat-prone households. But now the traditional trap has gotten an upgrade. Instead of a simple block of wood, a spring, and some metal bars, snap trays come in heavier, reusable materials with sensors.
- The snap trap still gets baited and used as it always has. But now there is an app that communicates with the trap. It will alert the homeowner or pest control company of rodent detection. This real-time feedback can help to more precisely and efficiently target the rats and mice.
- This method is non-toxic and perfect for industries with zero tolerance for rodent activity like restaurants, labs, hotels, and homes. Because of the quick insight into detection and trap engagement, rodents are disposed of quickly. An early warning system can help to stop the spread of an infestation. They can be baited with non-toxic attractants as well.
- The traps are also reusable so you aren’t filling up the landfill with used traps. And they aren’t rodenticides which can have a dying mouse or rat expiring in a hidden spot where they aren’t able to be located and disposed of.
High-Tech Electronic Traps
Another new innovation in rat and mouse eradication is an electronic trap. There are a number of these on the market that attract a rodent and then quickly and humanely introduce an electric shock that kills the critter immediately.
- These traps are automatic and reset after each kill so they require very little maintenance. They are primed and ready to go 24/7. Some need a replacement CO2 cartridge (which rapidly releases the catch bar that traps the rodent for a quick shock) after a couple of dozen kills and the bait pastes every six months or so. Others will need to have batteries replaced periodically. Regardless of the trap you use, they are much less user-intensive as they don’t require checking the trap daily and ensuring that it is baited.
- Most electronic traps are non-toxic as the bait attractants are completely safe and the lethal electronic shock kills without poison. For certain outdoor traps, an additional benefit is that the rats and mice can then be eaten by other scavenging animals leaving no trace behind. (And even less maintenance). Other electronic traps catch the rats and mice, administer the shock, and then hold them in the trap until it is emptied.
- Some provide Wi-Fi-enabled notifications that come to your smart device, which monitors the battery life and tracks the number of kills.
High-Tech Repellent
If you are looking for a no-kill option in rodent control, you can check out an ultrasonic repellent that weaponizes sound to be used against pests. High-frequency sound waves are like fingernails on a chalkboard for mice & rats (even though most humans and their pets can’t even hear them).
- A non-toxic option that repels rats and mice rather than killing them. It can be plugged into an outlet and basically forgotten about as it does its job undetected.
- These repellers don’t use toxic or lethal means to eradicate the pests – just sound waves. The more innovative repellers have non-repetitive volume and frequency patterns so the rodents don’t become inured to it.
- Positioning is key to the efficacy of this option though. Sound waves can’t travel through solid objects so they should be placed in as open a space as possible. (Preferably one that allows sound waves to cross any doorways/entryways.) This is not always conducive to every household / home which challenges its effectiveness.
With the rise of high-tech rodent control techniques, we have more tools in our tool box when dealing with rats and mice in our home or business. Let these advances give you peace of mind as they work behind the scenes to eliminate your rodent infestation.