Rodent Control

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Raptor’s technicians are trained to identify, inspect, and use the best methods and equipment available for dealing with rodent infestations. We are strong believers in exclusion over mass poisoning, and although the use of rodenticides is sometimes a necessity, we try to limit their use as much as possible.

Inspections include finding all harbourage sites, food and water sources, and access points. Inspections can take some time and it is often necessary to make several visits to locate all problem areas.

Raptor strongly recommends a monthly service plan to help prevent future problems.

Rats (top left image) are highly intelligent, and are suspicious of anything newly introduced to their environment. They Can cause severe structural damage and contaminate foods. Mice (top right image) however are not dependant on water sources and are strong survivors, they extract the water they need from food.

RATS

The most common pest found in BC, they can show up just about anywhere. The most commonly seen is the Roof rat, which is an excellent climber, and usually makes its home in the attic or wall void of a structure. Norway rats are the diggers, and will usually burrow under foundations, or move into basements and ground level areas. Both species will establish a nest quickly, and are very fast reproducers. Nests are made from almost anything they can shred, such as insulation, cardboard, newspaper, plant matter, etc.

• Rats require an extremely detailed inspection to determine all their nesting and access points.
• Rats are highly intelligent, and are suspicious of anything newly introduced to their environment. It can take time for traps to be effective.
• One female rat can give birth to 55 babies per year.
• Urine and feces build-up creates a very unpleasant odour.
• Can cause severe structural damage and contaminate foods.
• Vectors of many transmittable diseases and parasites.

MICE

Although not as nefarious as their rat cousins, mice may be the most destructive pest in the world. It is believed that over half the worlds food production annually is contaminated by mice. Mouse populations can explode in the proper environment; a pair of mice can produce several thousand offsprings in under a year. They are also very destructive within a building, especially attacking rigid foam insulation.

Due to their small size, inspections have to be extremely detailed in order to find all access holes and nesting sites (mice can fit through a hole the size of a dime). It can take several visits to identify all problem areas.

• Urine and feces smell very prominent with large infestations.
• Although deer mice are usually not found in large cities, it is worth noting that they are carriers of the Hantavirus. Homes bordering forested areas should use extra precautions to keep mice out.
• In cases of large infestations, rodenticides are often necessary to “knock down” the population before proper treatment and trapping can be successful.
• Once large populations are knocked down, mice are easier to control with traps then rats. Mice tend to be curious towards changes in their environment.
• Unlike rats, mice are not dependant on water sources, as they extract the water they need from food.