The first evidence of mice and rats is usually noise from foraging, droppings or damage from gnawing. The droppings from Norway rats and Roof rats are about 3/8 inch to 7/16 inch, oval shaped and look like tiny footballs. Droppings from mice are significantly smaller 3/16 inch to 1/4 inch in length, black and look like rice. You can find droppings anywhere they forage, in drawers, cabinets, or on the table next to your Flying Pheasant Lamp.
Steps
Lamp Tables With Drawers
Step One: Measure the linear footage of your house or structure to be treated. The average 40' x 24' home will need at least 20 repackaged bait stations. Buy at least 15 packets or boxes of rodent bait. I do not recommend you buy a 10 pound container, you will never use half of it. Find the "Active Ingredients" on the package, Preferably 0.005% brodifacoum or equivalent from you local pest control or hardware store. Buy the least expensive sandwich bags at the grocery store.
Step Two: Acquire a step ladder and a flashlight may be handy. Empty packets of rodent bait in a clean dry bucket. By doing this you stretch your dollar. There is too much bait in those packets for one station. Put two rounded tablespoons of rodent bait in each plastic bag until all the bait is gone. Put 3 rounded tablespoons if it is rats. You want at least 20 repackaged bait bags for the average 40' x 24' home.The average home being a house with a cellar, living area and attic.
Step Three: Place one bag of rodent bait at 10 foot intervals on the cellar ledge or mud sill. Preferably behind the insulation or in such a way it can not fall to the floor. Place the bait OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN AND DOMESTIC PETS. In the attic toss the bags around the perimeter at 10 foot intervals.
Warnings and Tips
In their own environment mice have a foraging range of only 10 feet from their nest. Rats have a much larger foraging range. To prevent future problems repair any entrances 3/8 inch or larger. Repair any holes in fieldstone foundations or other obvious entrance areas. Stuff fine steel wool up the corners of the structure. You will start to get results in 4 to 5 days but allow 30 days for the problem to clear up. Rebait as necessary.
For foul odor, find and remove any bodies and use a masking agent, i.e. moth balls until odor subsides. It is better to have a little foul odor than to have live mice or rats. They gnaw on everything, including electrical wiring. Their teeth continuously grow, so they have to gnaw to keep their teeth a certain length so they can feed. When moving insulation wear a dust mask to prevent breathing in of dust and fibers. Washs hand before preparing food or eating.