Can Dogs be Used in Pest Control?

We probably all know that factories, warehouses and even auto-repair shops sometimes will keep a cat on location to combat any rodents that may be trying to make that location into their new home. Cats have long been known as a valuable tool in the overall effort to fight pests. But can dogs be used to help rid a location of pests?

The simple answer is yes. But the more complicated answer is that dogs who have been trained to hunt rodents can be used by their handler to find them. Once the location where pests frequent has been identified, a trained pest control agent can set his baits and traps. The use of a K-9 helps cut down on the guesswork.

The K-9 approach is usually used for very large lands where the path of the rodents may not be so easily identified. For smaller locations there is simply no need for the use of dogs. The pest control expert can set some traps and the pests will find it soon enough.

Tips to Prevent Rodents

Rodents are some of nature’s best scavengers. This means they will catch a whiff of potential food from many hundreds of feet away. All it takes is one smell and these animals lock on. If their efforts are rewarded just one time, you can bet your bottom dollar they will be back.

Here are some good ideas to help prevent rats/mice/raccoons from infesting your property:

1. Make sure all trash is well sealed in a bag and the lid on your trash container is closed well.
2. If you have a fruit tree, make sure to police up fallen fruit and pick ripe fruit.
3. If you have a garden, make sure ripe fruit is picked right away.

Remember, these critters will eat almost anything. They need food to stay alive and will use just about any method to get it.

When Will You See Pests?

Rodents such as mice and rats will try to stay hidden from you. They know that you are a larger animal and they know larger animals either want to eat them or eliminate them as a pest. They will tend to do their worst at night or in the very early hours of the morning.

When there is more rain there is more cover for rodents. Tall grasses and weeds caused by heavy rains and lots of sunshine give rodents the perfect place to hide and move in your territory. Its a good idea to keep grasses and weeds trimmed around your property.

Pest Solutions

You can try classic rat traps yourself and see if you have any luck with them. Or, you can hire a professional pest control agent to employ a multi-pronged approach to get rid of your pest problem. Service is not expensive and you will most likely save yourself many hours.