rodent control


What are Rodents?


Rats and mice are the common rodents found in the Kitsap County area.

Figure 1. Norway Rat: Ratus Norvigicus

Why are Rodents a Problem?

Rodents such as rats and mice carry diseases, fleas, lice, mites, and internal parasites. Some of the more common and well known diseases carried by rodents and their population of fleas, lice, and mites are bubonic plague, typhus, tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Hantavirus. The Norway Rat above (Figure 1) is the most common rat seen in Kitsap County. The Roof Rat below (Figure 2) is common to the southeast United States.

How do I keep rodents away from my home?

The only way to keep rodents out of your house or yard is to take away their food, water, and shelter!

Figure 2. Roof Rat: Ratus Ratus

What foods bring rodents into my yard and house?

• Garbage, left uncovered or not in garbage cans.
• Food for pets or birds that has not been eaten, such as pet food left outside or birdseed on the ground.
• Fruits and berries that have fallen on the ground
• Dog droppings.
• Any human food out or spilled on counters, floors, appliances, and tables.
• Grains like cereal, oats, rice, and; vegetables like potatoes, and carrots.

Where do rodents live?


In your yard under wood piles, bushes, rocks, in abandoned cars and junk, and in holes under buildings.
In your house in the walls, in the crawl spaces, under cupboards, in attics, and near your hot water heater and furnace.

Figure 3. House mouse

How do I get rid of rodents?

The simplest and best way to get rid of rodents is to allow them no food and shelter.

• Remove feeders and pet food.Keep garbage in cans with tightly closed lids.
• Keep fruit and vegetables off the ground.
• Do not compost animal products.
• Cover all openings to your house. All openings greater than an inch should be covered.If this does not work or if you have an infestation then.
• Trap them using wooden rat traps available at you local hardware store.
• Bait the trap with apple, potato, raw bacon or peanut butter on a cotton ball.
• Attach the trap to the ground or solid place to keep the rat from dragging it away.
• Place the trap near where you have seen the rodent or the rodent droppings.
• Make sure the trap is safe from people, children, pets and other animals that could get hurt by it.
• When you catch a rodent, wear gloves to remove the rodent from the trap, bag them up and place them in the garbage.
• Wash your hands afterwards.

Poisons are not recommended for rodent control!

Children or other animals may eat the poison by mistake. Also, poisoned rodents may die in hard to reach places causing a very bad smell.

The Health District adopted the Bremerton-Kitsap County Board of Health Ordinance 1999-14, Rodent Regulations to prevent the spread of infectious and contagious diseases by rats, mice, and other rodents. These regulations require property owners to take measures to prevent rodent infestations that could adversely impact public health.

related links

The National Pest Management Association