ANSWER: The UC Davis Integrated Pest Management website has great tips for controlling rats and mice: Our office and the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District can answer calls regarding mice and rats. The Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District can be reached at (707) 285-2200 or (800) 231-3236. Additionally, you can purchase mouse and rat bait from our office (see fee schedule).

Whenever birds are concentrated in a small area, the risk of a disease spreading within that population increases. Even so, feeding birds may not necessarily increase the rate of disease spread, and should not have a net negative impact on the House Finch population. House Finch Disease Survey data tell us that the disease has decreased from epidemic proportions and is now restricted to a smaller percentage of the population. See similar questions...

Yes, they do. If you've had problems with squirrels in the past we recommend removing bird feeders to keep the squirrels away from your house. See our squirrel removal page for more information. See similar questions...

No. Actually, natural vegetation does not provide the sort of food in quantities required to sustain a population of vermin. Some small mammals like mice, gophers and moles live in grassy areas, but do not pose a health threat. You may want to leave a mowed strip of two to three feet around your house as the weather turns cold to discourage mice from having easy access to your home. Moles and gophers do not enter homes. See similar questions...

The City's Public Health Department will investigate restaurants and food premises for evidence of mice, rats and cockroaches. Municipal Standards will investigate if a multi-residential property (apartment) has a problem. Contact Access Toronto at 416-338-0338 or accesstoronto@toronto.ca to find your area Municipal Standards Office telephone number. For private homes, check the Yellow Pages or similar business directories such as The Gold Book. See similar questions...

Unfortunately, no bulbs have the capacity to really scare off mice or rats. There are a few precautionary measures that can be taken to keep these pests from eating your bulbs.. First, plant the bulbs deeply enough and cover them properly with soil so that mice and/or rats are not attracted to the planting site. Secondly, cover the border where the bulbs have been planted with some finely meshed wire netting. See similar questions...

Of all the possible places for rats to set up home, underneath a properly installed deck is one of the most inhospitable of places. This is because a sterile area is created before construction using a weed-suppressing sheet held in place with a layer of gravel. Because a gap is left between deckboards to help drain the surface dripping rainwater does not make for a dry, secure home. A small pea, let alone sufficient food to feed a single rat, could not find its way through this gap. See similar questions...

Tube wild bird feeders are very popular with most backyard wild birds. They provide some of the most productive bird watching hours. Goldfinches will use thistle seed feeders. Most backyard songbirds will be happy to use your standard tube bird feeders that are filled with sunflowers or seed mixes. They come in a great variety of styles and prices. See similar questions...

Birds are prone to disease and having large numbers of birds feeding in one area may cause some birds to become sick. Anything that has been used for feeding birds should be cleaned to help stop the spread of any diseases. A bird safe disinfectant is ideal and can be used on bird tables, feeders and even nest boxes. Buy feeders which are easy to clean, these are normally feeders that have easy access and or dismantle easily. See similar questions...

We suggest that you wait at least until December 1 to put your feeder back up. However, if we have not had several days and nights of cold weather, bears may still be active and looking for food, and you should keep your feeder down until we have had several days of cold weather. In the spring, bird feeders should be put away by April 1. <return to top of page> Eventually, baby birds will become too large for the nest and will attempt to take their first flight. See similar questions...

Rodents are attracted to seeds dropped beneath feeders. Once a population is established, it can be very difficult to discourage. The first step is to discontinue feeding for a couple of weeks to encourage the rodent population to disperse. Next, consider ways to feed without any waste falling to the ground. There are several feeders available that will catch dropped seeds, but most of the catch trays aren't big enough to really do the job. See similar questions...

Rats have a higher potential of carrying and transmitting diseases than mice. Mice are not considered vectors. See similar questions...

Our wild birds tend to stop visiting our bird feeders regularly at least twice a year. They don't actually stop using the bird feeders, they just don't linger in the yard. This happens in spring and again in the fall. Migrating hawks make an appearance at those times. Spring and summer nesting season keeps the birds very busy. Wild Birds | Hummingbirds | Hummingbird Spring Arrival Dates | Butterflies | Hummingbird Moths | Plants to attract these creatures See similar questions...

These days there are so many types of hammers that can be used that you often have one hammer for each type of work you want to do with it. A walk in bath tub is fast becoming a trend nowadays. Personal hygiene has taken the next step to include personal relaxation, convenience and satisfaction as well. See similar questions...

Baffling your feeders (preventing squirrels from gaining access to the feeders) is the best way. Feeders can be strung from a thin wire, far from any object from which the squirrels can leap. String the wire with empty 35mm film canisters (lids on) which will spin and dump the squirrels off. There are many squirrel-proof feeders on the market. These may give the squirrels a small electric shock, may prevent them from reaching the seed, or may rotate or bounce to dump the squirrels off. See similar questions...

Birds become accustomed to a reliable food source and will visit daily. However, birds search for food in many places, so if your feeder goes empty, most birds will find food elsewhere. During periods of extreme ice, snow, or cold, the sudden disappearance of food might be a hardship. If you are leaving town during freezing weather, consider having someone fill your feeder while you’re away. See similar questions...

This question has at times been debated in the media. Feeders, especially improperly maintained feeders, can spread disease. However, there's no way to know if disease transmission at feeders is any less or greater than disease transmission in the wild. Birds that contract and spread diseases, such as salmonellosis, at feeders are typically social by nature and would aggregate whether at feeders or not. See similar questions...

Small rodents (such as squirrels, rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, and chipmunks, ) and lagomorphs (such as rabbits and hares) are almost never found to be infected with rabies and have not been known to cause rabies among humans in the United States. Bites by these animals are usually not considered a risk of rabies unless the animal was sick or behaving in any unusual manner and rabies is widespread in your area. See similar questions...

There are certian advantages to feeding your snake "prekilled" mice or rats. Ball Pythons are not the most aggressive snakes in the world; tossing an aggressive rodent in with your snake could be bad news for your pet. A live rodent will often bite or gnaw on a snake if given the chance. If the snake is not hungry, it will not defend itself against a rodent attack. Snakes have been known to be seriously injured and sometimes killed by a rodent attack. See similar questions...

Remember that rodents are nocturnal. They eat just about anything but especially love peanut butter. Rodents will travel the same pathways over & over. Those pathways are always along the base of a wall or similar vertical structures. Traps should always be placed in the pathways. Place the traps against the wall where rodents travel, orienting them so that the short side of the trap with the bait pedal, is against the wall. See similar questions...