No one likes the idea of rodents inside their home, but let’s not lose our heads. There are many options to consider before choosing poisons, from the simple snap-trap to ultrasonic deterrents.

Sanitation is important. Clutter around house foundations and outbuildings is rodent heaven. Removing items such as lumber, tarps, old tires, etc makes your yard less hospitable for rodents. We have a state-of-the-art transfer station here in town. There is no charge to residents for bulk waste and only a nominal fee for construction debris.

Firewood should be kept away from the house. If you have bird feeders, bring the feeders in at night and clean up any seed litter.

Only use rodent resistant dumpsters and trash receptacles and make sure they are securely closed, every time. Ground cover such as pachysandra, ivy, and vinca also harbors mice and should be trimmed away from buildings.

Exclusion. It is critical to keep rodents from getting inside your home. Seal holes where rodents might enter, such as openings around pipes and cable wires.

A mouse can squeeze into spaces as small as ¼ inch, so closing entry points is most important. Sealing small openings can be an easy fix, but a carpenter may be needed for larger repairs.

There are also several sanitation and exclusion providers in our area that provide services to evaluate and seal openings where rodents can enter your home.

Make your yard unattractive to mice. The Japanese barberry-Lyme disease connection is well known. White-footed mice are highly susceptible to the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. They are the primary source of infection of black-legged ticks which, in turn, infect us with a bite. The barberry shrub provides safe shelter and moist conditions favorable to both mice and ticks.

Managing barberry on your property can significantly reduce the abundance of mice and ticks and the risk of tick-related illness.

But what has this to do with mice inside our homes? Especially in the fall, white-footed mice are seeking shelter to escape freezing temperatures and to find food. Given the opportunity, they will nest in attics, basements, or crawl spaces. So, in addition to sealing openings and removing clutter, it makes sense to avoid planting barberry, a plant mice favor.

Rodenticides are killing wildlife. Rodenticides (or rat poisons) are chemical pesticides meant to kill rodents. It must be understood that when a rodent enters a rodenticide bait box, it is not trapped inside. The poisoned bait is eaten and the rodent goes on its way. It will eventually succumb to the poison, but this could take several days.

Meanwhile the rodent is a poison time-bomb. A predator such as a hawk, owl, or fox who eats the rodent will also become a victim. For them, there is no antidote. By the time a wild animal (or even a pet) is found, it is often too late to save them from an excruciating death from internal bleeding.

Secondary poisonings of unintended victims are increasing at an alarming rate. Evidence is clear that rodenticides pose an unreasonable risk to wildlife, our pets, and our children.

Natural predators are key to rodent control. The use of rodenticides is counterproductive to controlling rodents. The poison kills the very animals that naturally regulate rodent populations. For example, a red-tailed hawk can eat 1,500 mice per year. Rodenticide poisons were never intended for preventative use where no proven infestation exists. And yet for many pest control companies, it is the first option they promote because plopping down a poison bait box(es) requires less effort and ensures a steady profit.

In reality, killing a rodent’s natural predators with poison results in rodent populations rebounding, ultimately increasing their numbers.

Before hiring a pest control company, find out if they employ an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. IPM is an environmentally sensitive, science-based approach to managing pests including rodents using a combination of biological, chemical, cultural, and physical tools to minimize risks to human health and the environment.

Poisons should always be the last resort. A competent pest control company will first do an assessment to determine how mice are getting in and will seal openings to exclude them. Then mechanical controls such as snap-traps are used to eliminate unwelcome guests inside.

For more information on alternatives and how you can help, go to APlaceCalledHopeRaptors.com.

The Invasive Insider is published quarterly in cooperation with The Newtown Bee by Newtown Conservation Commission. For more information or to reach the commission, visit newtownconservation.org.

A red-tailed hawk can eat 1,500 mice per year. —Jocelyn Anderson photo