How to Remove Rodents From Your Yard

A rat in a Tennessee yard

Rodents are unwelcome guests in your yard. They can damage plants, dig holes, chew wires, contaminate food, and spread diseases. They can also move into your house and cause even more problems. To protect your health and property from the damage that these pests can cause, itโ€™s crucial to know how to remove rodents from your yard and prevent them from coming back.ย 

How to Identify Rodents in Your Yard

Several types of rodents can infest your yard in Central Tennessee, but the most common are:

  • Deer Mouse: This small rodent has brown or gray fur with a white belly and feet. It has large ears and eyes and a bicolored tail. It can carry hantavirus and other diseases.
  • House Mouse: This rodent has gray or brown fur and a light belly. It has small ears and eyes and a long tail. It can contaminate food and cause allergies.
  • Meadow Vole: Small with brown or black fur and a gray belly. It has short ears and tail and a round body. It can damage plants and grass by gnawing and tunneling.
  • Norway Rat: Large rodent with brown or gray fur and a pale belly. It has small ears and eyes and a scaly tail. It can transmit diseases and parasites.
  • Pack Rat: Medium-sized rat with gray or brown fur and a white belly. It has large ears and eyes and a furry tail. It can collect various items and nest inside of them.
  • Roof Rat: Medium-sized rodent has black or brown fur and a light belly. It has large ears and eyes and a long tail. It can climb trees and wires and enter buildings.

Signs of Rodent Activity in Your Yardย 

You do not want to share your home with rodents unless they are in a cage. But these unwelcome guests often invade thousands of houses across the U.S. every year. Like us,ย they are looking for a warm, cozy place and a reliable food source. Here are signs of a rodent problem in your yard.ย 

  • Rodent droppingsย 
  • Rodent tracksย 
  • Rodent burrowsย 
  • Gnaw marks on wood, plastic, wires, or plants
  • Shredded grass, paper, insulation, or cloth

Rodent Removal

If you notice any rodents in your yard, you must act quickly to eliminate rodents. The sooner you take action, the easier it will be to prevent an infestation from spreading or causing additional damage. To get rid of rodents in your yard, here are some steps to follow:

  • Eliminate food sources to discourage rodents from feeding in your yard.
  • Eliminate water sources, such as leaky pipes, faucets, birdbaths, or ponds.
  • Eliminate shelter sources they can use, such as piles of wood, leaves, or debris; overgrown vegetation; or holes or gaps in structures.
  • Use traps to capture and remove rodents from your yard.
  • Use repellents to deter rodents from entering or staying in your yard.

Call a Professional Pest Control Service

While you can try some DIY methods to remove rodents from your yard, they may not be enough to eliminate the entire infestation or prevent it from recurring. Also, improper techniques may harm your health or the environment.

That is why it is best to call a professional rodent control service with the expertise and equipment to handle any rodent problem safely and efficiently. A professional pest control service can inspect your yard thoroughly and identify the type and extent of the infestation. They can also apply the most appropriate treatment methods based on your situation and preferences.If you need help with rodent removal in your yard in Central Tennessee,ย contact The Bug Man today. We provide free estimates and guaranteed results for all our pest control services.

Fall Means Mice and Rats Chewing Wires

Some rats found in Central TN - The Bug Man

When we think of pest problems here in Central TN, the most destructive one that comes to mind is a termite infestation. However, during the fall and winter when termites arenโ€™t often swarming, arguably the most important destructive pests to worry about are rodents. Rats and mice are notorious for chewing through all sorts of things in our homes, including our electrical wiring.

If youโ€™ve noticed torn or tarnished cables in your home, you are probably dealing with a rodent infestation of some sort. Read on to learn more about rodent problems and what you can do to stop them with The Bug Man!

Why Do Mice and Rats Chew Wires?

Rodents are known to be sneaky pests. They can live in your home for months without you ever discovering them. During the fall, rats and mice look to find places in our homes to hide out from the impending winter. If you hear scurrying noises in your walls, attic, or crawl spaces, check around for signs of bite marks on your homeโ€™s structural pieces or torn electrical wires.

Every rodent species has a pair of upper and lower teeth that never stop growing, called incisors. These teeth have to be constantly ground together or shaved away by chewing on whatever they can find. When rats and mice nest in our homes, they solve this problem by chewing up our wooden structures and electrical wiring. Noticing torn-up cable insulation is usually a sign of a rodent infestation.

Why Are Rats Dangerous?

When rats or mice get to the wiring in your car or house, they chew through the layer of protective coating that keeps the copper or aluminum safely encased. When it becomes exposed, it can cause sparks that pose a serious risk of fires, especially when surrounded by a houseโ€™s wooden structures.

Itโ€™s crucial to take precautions against rodents in the fall to ensure that you donโ€™t have any unwanted guests in the winter. You can take these steps to keep your property protected:

  1. Seal any gaps or holes in your foundation, roof, or walls
  2. Store your food promptly after eating and seal your trash cans tightly
  3. Set your baits or traps outside to keep rodents from entering your home in the first place
  4. Call your local pest control company for an inspection

How to Remove Rodents in Central TN

One of the main problems with rodents is that they could be in your walls right now without you even noticing. If youโ€™re worried that you might have rats in the house or mice in your attic, call up The Bug Man for an inspection. Our rodent specialists are trained to discover pest activity in even the most hidden and secluded corners of your home. To find out more about our services and receive a free estimate, contact our team today!

The Chill of Fall Brings Rodents Inside

Rodents that made it inside in Central TN - The Bug Man

As the Tennessee heat recedes back into fall, all sorts of pests try to inhabit our homes for some warmth and security. The most feared of these invaders are rodents. Because maintaining a high internal body temperature is integral to their survival, rodents are insistent upon chewing through whatever they can to create shelters and find food in our homes. Due to the dangers that rodents are associated with, itโ€™s important to know how to prevent them from making their homes in your house. Learn all about rodents in Central TN with The Bug Man!

Why Rodents Invade Our Homes

Rats, mice, voles, and other rodents invade our homes looking for food, shelter, and warmth. As small mammals, keeping a high, consistent body temperature is of the utmost importance.

When rodents decide to nest inside your home, they can cause many kinds of damage and health risks, including:

  1. Damage to your insulation, walls, and wires
  2. Fire hazards by chewing through electrical wiring
  3. Contamination of any food left out for them to access
  4. Risk of disease via their droppings and urine

How to Keep Rodents Out in Central TN

Keeping rodents out of your home is a two-part processโ€”you have to ensure both that there are no ways for them to get in and nothing excessive that could be attracting them. Rodents arenโ€™t picky, eitherโ€”theyโ€™re only looking for a warm place to stay and something to eat, so it can be quite difficult to keep them out. Here are some approaches you should take, though:

  • Seal off cracks near windows, doors, and the foundation with a silicone-based caulk
  • Keep your food stored away properly whenever you arenโ€™t cooking or eating
  • Purchase garbage cans with clamps to prevent rodents from finding food outside

Maintaining general cleanliness and orderliness on your property is the basic principle to keeping vermin out, as well as many other kinds of pests.

Rodent Control with The Bug Man

Sometimes, the source of a rodent infestation can be impossible to find or even hiding in plain sight. Rodents are able to squeeze their bodies through much tighter spaces than you would imagine, so you canโ€™t leave any part of your home unchecked. Your local pest control company will be able to identify any vulnerabilities that could lead to a rodent outbreak in your home. With The Bug Man, you can be sure that youโ€™re working with the most experienced rodent control experts in Central TN. For a free quote, contact us today!

Ticks in Tennessee will be active this year

tick in TN

Ticks in Tennessee during the summer can be very frustrating. Actually, as I wrote this blog there were several words describing ticks that floated to the surface: creepy, gross, worrisome, concerning… just to name a few. Mostly, people are very fearful. Not really about the tick, itself, but more about the diseases caused by the bite of a tick.

The best cure for tickborne diseases such as Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is to avoid getting bitten by ticks.

This is another one of those situations where pest-related problems concern our health. Since we are in the business of pest control and are not health professionals, we generally prefer not to comment on the medical conditions caused by the pest. We do recommend ย information on the CDC site titled Symptoms of Tickborne Illness. If you have health symptoms that you suspect may be caused by a tick or other pest then we suggest that you contact your physician. What we can do is educate you on tick control in order to reduce the chance that you may be bitten by a tick.

Ticks are arachnids, not insects, and classified as an external parasite.

A lot of people are surprised to learn that ticks are actually in the same family (arachnid) as spiders, mites, and scorpions. They have 8 jointed legs and no antennae. They require ย a blood meal from a host in order to survive. A tick will attach firmly while they slowly feed on the blood of their host. They will feed, unnoticed, for several days before they release their grasp. They will feed on mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

There have been many species of ticks found in Tennessee. The three most common species are the American dog tick, lone star tick, and brown dog tick. All of these common ticks have four life stages- egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Each of the stages, other than the egg, requires a separate animal host to complete its development, which all together may be two or three years long. Each blood-engorged female leaves her host animal and lays a single mass of 3,000 to 6,000 eggs.

Ticks in Tennessee are most active from April through September. Though, it is not uncommon to see some tick activity through the winter months. During periods of high activity we recommend that you remain extra vigilant. Avoid areas known to be infested with ticks such asย wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. If you have to walk though these types of areas we recommend that you apply a repellent according label directions. Also, walk in the center of trails to avoid brushing up against vegetation.

Wear long sleeve shirts and pants. Tuck your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from climbing up the inside of the pant legs. Also, wear light-colored clothing so that you can detect ticks more easily. Upon returning from tick infested areas make sure to thoroughly check your body for ticks. You will want to quickly remove all ticks that are found.

Modify your environment to make it less desirable to ticks

Maybe you’re not going on a hike in the woods but you want to reduce or prevent a tick infestation around your home. There are several non-chemical things that you can do:

Make your surroundings less inviting to rodents and wildlife. They are often carriers of ticks. Reduce the rodents and you will reduce the ticks. It’s a win-win situation.

  • Repair areas where rodents can enter the home.
  • Remove wood piles and debris that make a good nesting area for rodents.
  • Keep pet food stored in sealed containers
  • Keep the lawn mowed and weeds to a minimum

Pets and tick prevention in TNDon’t forget about your four-legged babies, too. Please discuss tick treatment for your pets with a veterinarian. ย There are manyย treatment methods available and something that works well for one pet may not be best for the other. Cats and some breeds of dogs can be sensitive to some products. So, it is always best to check with your vet, first. Also, you will want to inspect your pets and their bedding frequently for ticks.

The final measure for tick management is to hire a professional such as The Bug Manย in Murfreesboro to treat the exterior of your home. Our technicians are very knowledgeable about areas that make a great tick habitat and areas that don’t. Most people are surprised to learn that ticks will avoid direct sunlight. So, treating the entire lawn is rarely necessary. We have noticed that customers on our mosquito program usually do not have a problem with ticks. This is probably due to the fact that mosquitoes and ticks have similar habitats such as the trees, shrubs, and shaded areas.

How Acorns are Contributing to More Ticks This Year

How Acorns are Contributing to More Ticks This Year

Did you know that 2010’s acorn crop is contributing to this year’s increase inย ticks?

It’s notย the early hot weather that we’ve had. It’s acorns!

While browsingย Twitterย the other day, we came across a story that theย National Pest Management Associationย (@PestWorld) tweeted. To read their full article on the topic, you can follow this link:ย Acorns, Not Weather, to Blame for More Ticks.

Basically, the increase in the acorn crop led to an increase inย miceย eating the acorns. And with more mice, come more ticks. The science of pest control has a lot to do with the predator and prey food chain. One pest affects another pest.

The Bug Man serves Rutherford and Wilson County in Tennessee. We have a specialized tick service. For more information on how we can take care of your tick problem, please call us at 615-217-7284 or email us at service@thebugman.us.

And, we’re active onย Twitterย andย Facebook. We frequently post updates about pest issues in our area, as well as funny photos and videos. Join us there!

Green Pest Control: EPA Implements Changes to Rodent Regulation

Changes to Rodent Regulation

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)ย recently made changes to how rodents are regulated. As your resident rodent catchers, this affects howย The Bug Manย takes care of you: our customers.

Let us start by saying that the best way to manage the rodent population is through a fancy term called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It’s also known asย Green Pest Control.

When it comes to rodents, IPM is essentiallyย batteningย down the hatches of your home. Imagine that a hurricane was coming. You’d board up your windows and make your home secure. To protect yourself from a hurricane invasion of rodents, you should do what you can to protect the entry points to your home. We’ve described this process in our blogย Rats! I’ve got mice! Tips and Tricks for Keeping Rodents Out of Your Home.

 

When you callย The Bug Man for your pest problem, you’re calling an expert who can show you how to secure your home to protect it from pest invasion. Anybody can go to the store to buy a can of pest spray or a mousetrap. Securing your home doesn’t only involve spraying a product. It also–more importantly–involves utilizing our trained and educated technicians to show you how you can keep your home or business pest-free.

One of the biggest changes implemented by the EPA is that all rodent bait now needs to be stored inside a bait station so that children and animals will not be able to access the bait. With this new EPA law, we are now required to use bait stations, so there will be a nominal fee for the bait stations. If you have questions about the bait station fees, please call us at 615.217.7284.

Both our office staff and our technicians want to partner with you to keep your home pest free through IPM and Green Pest Control.

Rats! I’ve got mice! Tips and Tricks for Keeping Rodents Out of Your Home

Tips and Tricks for Keeping Rodents Out of Your Home

Rodents are rapidly running inside homes this holiday season. Check out our blog for tips and tricks on how to keep them out. Baby, it’s cold outside. And, just in time for your holiday gatherings, rodents are moving inside your home to steal a meal.

To rodent-proof your home, here are a few tips and tricks:

  1. Thoroughly examine the exterior of your home. If there’s a hole larger than a quarter or a dime, then a rodent can get through it. If a rodent’s nose fits through the hole, then their entire body can fit through, too. Check the area around pipes, heating/cooling hoses, etc., etc.
  2. Use steel wool and/or caulk to seal up any holes you may find.
  3. Remove any vines hanging down the side of your home, because rodents can use those to climb up to your roof and potentially get inside.
  4. If your doors and windows have gaps, seal them. Not only will this help keep pests out, but it will also keep you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. #winning
  5. Trouble with rodents? We would be more than delighted to help you. Call us at 615.217.7284 to schedule an appointment.

We’re onย Twitter,ย Google+, andย Facebook. Introduce yourself, we’d love to meet you.

Cooler Weather Brings Rodents Inside: How to Oust the House Mouse Louse

How to Oust the House Mouse Louse

Cooler breather is bringing pests inside, especially rodents. Check out this blog for quick tips on pest-proofing your home. As cooler weather chills our climate, the temperature isn’t the only brisk thing around. Rodents are beginning to scurry inside warm houses to hunker down for the winter.

With the ability to squeeze through holes the size of a nickel (mice)ย or a quarter (rats),ย rogue rodents are quite clever when it comes to finding a way inside your home. Sadly, though, they don’t bring you any lost coins when they enter. But they may cost you some coin if you need to get rid of them.

As we discuss onย our website, the dust of a rodent nest can lead to hazardous bacteria. They can also damage your home or business by chewing through siding or wiring, increasing the possibility of a fire.

How to Oust the Mouse or Scat the Rat

Make rodents unwelcome by sealing up any cracks and voids around doors or windows that are larger than the size of a pencil. Also, divert the water from your gutters away from the building.

After rodents have nested inside a structure, it can be difficult to remove them. A professional pest management company is usually needed.ย Call The Bug Manย at 615.217.7284. We’ll identify nesting areas and feeding grounds and then eliminate them. Upon completion of the ousting, your house will be free of the mouse louses.