Exclusion – Refers to blocking entry points for pests such as caulking around windows, making sure door sweeps are tightly in place, patching holes….
Yard Maintenance – Pest presences usually come from outdoor populations. By keeping your grass mowed and trees and shrubs from becoming overgrown, you can help keep pest populations under control. Also, trees, shrubs, and plants should not be touching your home. It gives pests a bridge to crawl up and find places to come in. Pine straw and mulch should also be kept away from the exterior of your home. It serves as a place for many pests (such as cockroaches) to live and breed in.
Sanitation – Refers to keeping a space clean and tidy. Food that is left out in the open is attractive to pests and can be the reason they come in. If there are piles of clutter indoors it provides great shelter for pests to live in once they come in.
Traps – There are a variety of traps for mammals (mouse traps, live traps) and for insects (pheromone traps, sticky traps). Traps can be used to determine what kind of problem you have, to monitor the pest and can also be a way to help reduce populations. If you are live-trapping for release, it can help get rid of the problem if you have practiced exclusion by blocking the pests point of entry. This is especially good for larger mammals that may have somehow found their way into your home.
Baits – Baits are considered a safe chemical management option. Qualities of a good bait include: an odor that smells attractive to the pest, a pesticide that is effective against the pst, a holder or “bait station” that will prevent children or pets from being able to access it, and a design that is suited to the pests behavior.
These are just some of the tactics that can be used, but the main thing to keep in mind is that pests need food, water, and shelter. If you eliminate their food sources and shelter, pests will have to go elsewhere to fulfill their life requirements.
