How to Choose the Right Product to Get Rid of Rodents
Different rodent products get rid of rodents in different ways. Learn more about each type of product to find the right one for you with Tomcat.
With a variety of product types available, understanding what type of rodent you’re up against and what type of product you prefer to use to get rid of them are what’s most important. In this article, learn about the different types of products available and the differences between each of them as you pursue the removal of rodents in your home.
Identifying the Type of Rodent
All of the products mentioned in this article are specific to catching rats and mice in your home. These rodents are the most common species to be found in your home and are more likely to be seen during the winter months.
| Type of Rodent | Where They Typically Nest | Type of Damage to Your Home | What They Choose to Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rats |
Underneath decks, in garages, near buildings, in homes and in gardens |
Chewed drywall, furniture, electrical cables, grease marks on floors |
Omnivores that eat things discovered outdoors, but also human food and pet food |
|
Mice |
Tall grass, thick shrubs, inside homes and buildings |
Chewed drywall, baseboards, electrical cables, furniture, food packaging |
Cereal grains and seeds, but also human food and pet food |
Rats
Rats are larger in size than mice and are wider and stockier in build. Species of rats that are more likely to frequent urban areas are notorious for scavenging through sewers, garbage bins and other unsanitary areas which can lead to hazardous pathogens that can cause serious illness to humans and pet animals.
For more information about rats and the common species of rats that are found in Canada, read our article on how to identify a rat problem in your home.
Mice
Although not known to carry the same diseases that rats do, mice have been known to find their way into your home for sources of water, food and shelter. Because of their small size, mice only require a mere crack in the baseboard of your wall to find their way into your home. As unassuming as they may look, mice can do serious damage to the foundation of your home should they continue to nibble and chew away at the wooden structure of your house over time.
For more information about mice and the common species of mice that are found in Canada, read our article on how to identify a mice problem in your home.
The Types of Products Available
| Rodent Removal Product | Product Is Ideal For: | Will You See Dead Rodents In the Trap? | Does it Require Poisonous Ingredients? | Is it Child & Pet Resistant? | Can It Be Reused? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bait Stations |
Mice & Rat Infestations |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Spin Traps (Mechanical) |
One Mouse |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Snap Traps (Mechanical) |
One Mouse or Rat |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Wooden Traps (Mechanical) |
One Mouse or Rat |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Glue Traps |
Up to 4 Mice or Rats |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Catch & Release Traps |
One Mouse (Single Style Trap) & Up to 10 Mice (Multi-Catch Style Trap) |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Bait Stations
In the case of getting rid of an infestation, bait stations for mice and bait stations for rats are used to offer rodents a poisonous bait block that can be shared amongst mouse and rat colonies. Bait stations allow rodents to enter and exit the enclosure whenever they like as they consume the bait block stored inside the station and take bits of it to their nest. It takes up to 48 hours for rodents to die when consuming a bait block.
For more information, read our article for a complete guide to using bait stations for rodents in your home.
Mechanical Traps
These types of traps involve a trigger mechanism that snaps on to rodents as soon as they get close enough to the bait used to lure them to the trap. There are three mechanical traps to choose from:
Spin Traps
Spin traps involve a trap chamber that spins shut when a mouse gets close enough to the bait that is set inside the trap.
Snap Traps
Snap traps for mice and snap traps for rats differ in size and snap down on a rodent before it can get close enough to consume the bait that is laid out for them inside of the snap trap.
Wooden Traps
Wooden traps for mice and wooden traps for rats are the most economic choices for trapping rodents. This method involves a wooden platform that holds the metal trigger in place to then activate once the rodent gets close enough to interact with the bait.
Glue Traps
With glue traps available for mice, as well as glue traps for rats, glue traps are designed to cater to both sizes of rodents. This product offers users a mess-free and ready-to-use way to trap rodents in their tracks by luring them on to the sticky adhesive tray that is also formulated with a scented bait.
Catch & Release Traps
These humane mouse traps offer users a more socially responsible way to catch mice indoors and release them back outdoors without harming them in the process. Catch and release traps come in a single mouse catch and release version, as well as a multi-mouse catch and release version.
