Whether you have an interior or exterior pest problem, the technicians at Guaranteed Pest Control Service Co are the most experienced in the industry and will provide you with proven pest control methods.

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that the pest won’t return as there’s nothing to stop a pest from walking across your property line. We want to help you keep your property beautiful, so we offer a great maintenance plan! After we resolve the issue, we’ll inspect your property once a month to help prevent future infestations. Call 503-646-2119 today!

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Commensal Rodent

Many of the rodents, especially the commensal rodents, are cryptobiotic animals. This means they possess a biology and behaviors that are secretive. Rats and mice are active at night, utilize secluded, hidden, or inaccessible areas as harborages, and are attracted to dark or shadowy areas during active periods.

Additionally, the cryptobiotic nature of the pests is accentuated by their quick movements in response to possible danger and their habit of remaining close to their harborage. Rodents quickly scurry for the nearest cover when they detect vibration or movements which enable them to often escape capture or detection. It is common for clients to state that they thought they saw something scurry out of the corner of their eye, but when they looked, it was gone.

Thus, rodents often remain undetected by people until their numbers increase. It is this cryptobiotic behavior that is responsible for the public to often perceive that these pests seemingly appeared from out of nowhere. Examples of other cryptobiotic pests in urban areas include bats, cockroaches, carpenter ants, silverfish, and termites.

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Integrated Pest Management for Rodents

We understand the issues facing pest management professionals (PMPs). We constantly strive to use new technologies and materials to help you fight rodent infestations.

The goal of integrated pest management (IPM) is to “work smart” with a comprehensive attack plan that uses the appropriate combination of tools, so you can cost-effectively control pests with the least amount of risk to the environment.

Elements of an IPM Program include:

• Inspecting structures and surrounding areas to determine the scope of the infestation and to identify conditions contributing to the problem.
• Correcting sanitation concerns, which may be providing rodents with food, water and shelter. Keep in mind; rodents are much more mobile than crawling insects. If sanitation efforts precede elimination, the rodents may relocate, compounding your problem.
• Identifying which species are present and the size of the population.
• Implementing infestation elimination measures tailored to the site. (i.e. sensitive locations such as food plants)
• Modifying structures can keep new rodents from entering. However, it may not help eliminate a breeding population already in a structure.
• Evaluating results and making necessary improvements to the program.

There is no specific “recipe” for Rodent IPM. However, a successful program starts with a commitment to do whatever is necessary to create a rodent free environment. From there, individual steps will depend on the particular situation.

The Trouble With Commensal Rodents

Commensal is defined as “sharing one’s table.” Commensal rodents, which include Norway rats, roof rats and house mice, live off humans without returning anything of worth. What they do return is the potential for serious problems.

• Spread serious diseases, including salmonellosis (food poisoning), leptospirosis, rickettsialpox and lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM).
• Carry fleas, ticks and other ectoparasites, which potentially spread other diseases, such as bubonic plague.
• Consume or contaminate about 20 percent of the world’s food supply.
• Gnaw, causing expensive structural damage. They also can start fires if they gnaw on electrical wires.
• Cause a great deal of anxiety for occupants (people and pets) of infested buildings.
• Pose serious risks for food facilities. Even a single rodent can cause serious problems for a food facility including fines, poor inspection scores, disgruntled employees and lost business

Reproduction

Mice and rats reproduce rapidly, as is generally the case with small prey animals. Their relatively short life spans, short gestational periods and rapid sexual maturity make effective rodent control critical. The reproductive cycle and number of rodent offspring increases with adequate food, water and harborage.

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Related Reproductive Traits & Characteristics

House mice, Norway rats and roof rats share several reproductive characteristics:

• After giving birth, they can be in heat and become pregnant again in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
• Females can be pregnant and still lactate to feed their current litter of pups. However, the gestational period may be slightly longer in this case.
• They will reproduce year-round in stable environments with adequate food, water and harborage. Less favorable conditions limit reproduction to spring and autumn.
• Research has found, most rats and mice do not survive a year in the wild. Predation, disease, starvation, cannibalism and rodent control professionals all take their toll.

The Inspection Process

Inspection

Rodents usually behave predictably. A rodent control expert is a detective searching for clues that point to an infestation. This knowledge is then used to choose appropriate rodent control tools and techniques, and know when to use them.

• Interview customers for information about rodent sightings and sounds.
• Perform a thorough inspection, beginning with the exterior premises, if appropriate.
• Think three-dimensionally, looking both high and low. Rodents have been known to climb 30 feet to gain access to a structure, roof rats even more.
• Identify interior and exterior problem areas including: runways, nests, feeding sites, water supplies, vents and other openings, burrows, harborages, pipe outlets and inlets, and holes or cracks in the structure.
• Check all dark areas with a flashlight

Physical Signs of Infestation

Look for these common signs of rodent infestation:

• Runways – Paths will form between feeding and harborage areas. Rodents use scent and memorization to follow established pathways between harborage and food/water. They prefer to move along objects. Identifying rodent movement patterns helps to effectively place traps and bait stations.
• Urine – Look for urine stains. Rodent urine is often, but not always visible under black light. However, many other household and commercial products also fluoresce.
• Odor – A distinctive, musky odor may be present.
• Tracks – Footprints and tail drags may be seen in dusty locations. To view difficult-tosee tracks, shine a strong flashlight at a low angle across the dust. A non-toxic tracking powder, such as a mason’s line chalk, placed on a suspected rodent trail, and re-inspected the following day, also may assist in identifying tracks.
• Gnaw Marks – Fresh gnaw marks are light and will darken over time. Scratch-like marks, approximately 1/16 inch, are made by mice. Clear 1/8 inch gnaw marks are made by rats.
• Rub Marks – Rodents leave rub marks from body oil, grease and dirt along their runways. New rub marks may smear if you rub them with a gloved finger. Old rub marks are darker and may flake off.
• Droppings – The size and shape of rodent droppings can offer some clues to the nature of the infestation. However, they may also be misleading. Avoid making decisions on only one clue. Furthermore, fresh droppings are often soft and shiny while older droppings tend to be dry and dull. Moisture, or lack of it, in the environment can affect the way droppings appear.
• Upset Pets – House pets, such as cats and dogs, may become agitated when they hear rodents gnawing, digging, running and fighting.

Inspection Tools

• Flashlight (with a strong beam) to find rodents and their signs in dark areas.
• Black light to identify rodent urine.
• Knife, palette knife, or spatula to test age of droppings and to scrape droppings out from under objects for identification.
• Knee pads to protect your knees from sharp objects on floors and in crawl spaces.
• Specimen container to collect unknown specimens.

Prevent Infestations

Prevent infestations by changing the physical conditions of the building through exclusion and sanitation.

Exclusion

The best way to keep buildings rodent free is to prevent rats and mice from getting inside. Rodents fit through tiny openings and can gnaw through wood, lead, aluminum, copper, cinder block and uncured concrete. Mice can squeeze through gaps larger than 3/8 inch by about 1/2 inch and mature rats need an opening at least 3/4 inch in diameter. Juveniles may be able to fit through a smaller opening. They will enlarge openings that are too small by gnawing it big enough for their body to fit through. The following measures, with the proper materials, will make buildings less accessible to rodents:

• Patch openings in walls larger than 1/4 inch using gnaw-proof materials, such as steel sheeting, 1/4 inch hardware cloth, galvanized steel and concrete. Holes may be plugged with steel wool or copper mesh prior to patching.
• Seal gaps under siding at the top of the foundation.
• Close outside doors tightly when not in use.
• Install tight-fitting weather stripping on the bottom of all pedestrian doors and overhead doors.
• Cover all air vents with 1/4 inch hardware cloth. Make sure dryer vent “flaps” are working properly.
• Hand sanitizer (over 62% alcohol) to kill bacteria when soap and water are not available.
• Binoculars to make it easier to see what you can’t get close to.
• Eliminate water sources available to rodents.

Sanitation

Eliminating places that may provide rodents with shelter, water and food is the purpose of sanitation.

• Eliminate debris in and around buildings and grounds.
• Trim weeds and brush and keep grass short (3 inches or less) to minimize cover and food sources around the building perimeter.
• Clean up food waste and spillage daily.
• Store food 12 to 15 inches off the floor and 12 to 18 inches away from the wall for easy inspection and sanitation. Use rodent-proof containers when possible.
• Allow 24 inch aisles between stored materials and walls for improved sanitation and inspection.
• Screen dumpster drainage holes with hardware cloth.
• Don’t leave pet food out overnight. Clean up dog droppings daily.
• Clean up windfall fruits, nuts and bird feeder spillage daily.
• Clipboard, graph paper and pencil to diagram building and take extensive notes.
• Inspection checklist to act as a reminder to inspect critical areas.
• Respirator with appropriate filter to prevent inhaling dust, which may be contaminated with disease organisms. Consult with your safety equipment supplier for current recommendations.

Trapping Tips

• Store snap traps away from insecticides and chemicals that may impart a flavor. Remember, rodents have a keen sense of taste.
• Bait snap traps with food that is more attractive than other readily available food sources, such as gumdrops, peanut butter, bacon, nutmeats or dried fruit (raisins).Secure bait to the snap trap trigger – a length of thread works well. For rats, fish (tuna) and meat (cat/dog food) may be used to bait traps. Glue boards can be baited, if necessary, with non-oily foods. The use of peanut butter, bacon and other oily, greasy foods will cause the glue to lose its stickiness.
• Bait some mouse snap traps with nesting materials, such as cotton or dental floss, with a drop of vanilla. Mice constantly look for
• nesting material.
• Liphatech’s Rat and Mouse AttractantTM is often readily accepted by both rats and mice when used as a lure on traps.
• Place mechanical or snap traps and glue boards in areas unsuitable for rodenticide applications.
• Position snap traps and glue boards to intercept rodents in runways. Place snap traps with the trigger toward the runway – generally along a wall, in corners, behind and under objects and near abundant tracks and droppings. Snap traps also may be attached to pipes and beams used as runways.
• More traps are better than fewer traps.
• Pre-bait traps until rodents, especially rats, overcome their fear and take bait readily. This may take several days for mature rats.
• Glue boards shouldn’t be used in areas with excessive dust or wetness – both elements make glue boards ineffective.
• Check glue boards frequently to prevent rodents from escaping.
• For mice, repeating or automatic mechanical traps may be used. Watch for tracks in the dust on the top of low-profile traps, which indicate mice are running over the top of them.

Rodenticide Application

When the situation permits, rodenticides usually provide the most cost-effective approach to rodent control. Select a rodenticide with an active ingredient and formulation that works well for the particular environment. Correct bait placement is key to an effective integrated pest management program. Proper placement ensures rapid rodent control and protects children, pets and non-target animals from bait contact.

Rodenticides Types

Two primary types of rodenticide baits are available – non-anticoagulants (acute) and anticoagulants.Non-anticoagulants. Bromethalin, cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) and zinc phosphide based products are examples of acute baits which have no antidote. Palatability is generally low with wax blocks containing these active ingredients.

• Non-anticoagulants are considered single-feed baits because rodents typically stop feeding after one meal. If a lethal dose is ingested, rodents usually die within 24 hours. If a sub-lethal dose is eaten, rodents tend to develop bait shyness.
• Anticoagulants. The preferred rodenticide type among rodent control professionals, anticoagulants inhibit the blood-clotting mechanism, causing rodents to die from internal bleeding. Some of these rodenticides are singlefeed and effective within several days. The delayed effects of anti-coagulants help reduce bait shyness.
• The antidote to human or non-target animal poisoning is Vitamin K1.

Rodenticide Formulations

With older, multiple-feed anticoagulants (chlorophacinone, diphacinone and warfarin) rodents must feed more than once before ingesting a lethal dose. Modern, single-feed anticoagulants, such as Generation® and. Maki® (difethialone and bromadiolone) provide a lethal dose in a single day’s feeding. Product formulations include: soft bait, mini blocks, paraffin blocks, pellets, tracking powder, and place packs (pellet).

• Soft baits deliver excellent results for Norway rats, roof rats and house mice. They can be used anywhere traditional block bait is used, often with a lower cost-per-placement and better results.
• Mini blocks contain food grade ingredients with a multi-edge design for abundant gnawing surfaces, and a center hole for securing to structures or bait rods in bait stations.
• Paraffin bars resist moisture, making them ideal for moist environments. Maki paraffin bars are labeled for sewer applications.
• Paraffin pellets resist moisture and molding for longer lasting palatability. In bulk, paraffin pellets are an excellent choice for Norway rat burrow baiting.
• Tracking powder adheres to rodents’ feet and fur and is ingested during grooming.
• For mice, repeating or automatic mechanical traps may be used. Watch for tracks in the dust on the top of low-profile traps, which indicate mice are running over the top of them.

Rodenticide Application Tips

• Neophobia – the fear of new objects – makes roof rats and Norway rats extremely nervous about changes in their territory. It takes several days for rats to accept a new object in their environment, including
• bait stations.
• Place rodenticides in areas inaccessible to children and non-target animals, preferably in properly installed, tamperresistant bait stations, such as Aegis® bait stations. Bait stations not only provide added security for children and non-target animals, but also protect bait from the elements and provide a comfortable place for rodents to feed and groom.treatment. In fact, Maki and Generation are the only pelleted rodenticides on the market that are paraffinized to withstand the moist environment in some burrows.
• Use the proper rodenticide, FirstStrike^®, Resolv^®, Generation, BlueMax^™, Maki or Rozol^®, for the target rodent and the best formulation for the environment. Maki and Generation paraffinized pellets work well for burrow
• Use a sufficient amount of product to assure an uninterrupted supply of bait between service visits.
• Rozol tracking powder (a restricted use pesticide) can be used in wall voids and in burrows adjacent to buildings, if suspected as a means of entry. It is most effective in dry areas where food sources are plentiful. Rodents groom themselves and each other approximately 20 percent of their waking hours. Tracking powder rodenticide is ingested during this activity.
• In areas of identified mouse activity, rodenticide bait placements should be no further than 8 to 12 feet apart due to their limited home range. Place control material as close to the nest as possible, and between the nest and food source.
• In areas of identified rat activity, rodenticides should be placed every 15 to 30 feet. Concentrate placements in runways and near burrows or gnawed openings.
• Pre-baiting is the process of placing non-toxic bait prior to toxic bait in order to increase product acceptance. This practice generally is used for acute baits (e.g., zinc phosphide) with low palatability. Pre-baiting is usually unnecessary with highly palatable FirstStrike, Generation, Resolv, or Maki anticoagulant baits.
• To speed up service calls and comply with regulations, keep a detailed record of bait station placements, rodenticide formulations, amounts used and service dates.