Pest Control

Rat poison and pets: only one of the four common active ingredients has an antidote. The other three leave a vet with supportive care only.

Rat poison rules vary sharply by state — six now restrict it beyond federal limits, with Maine’s taking effect June 16, 2026. Here’s what’s still legal

Peppermint oil for mice bothers a mouse; it doesn’t stop one. A mouse fits through a quarter inch, and no scent changes that. Here’s what does.

Ultrasonic pest repellers do produce a real reaction from rodents. USDA testing of six commercial units found it gone within three to seven days.

Best rat trap picks are half the job. Research in dirt crawlspaces put capture rates at 19% along the wall-burrow line and 3% on open floor

The best mouse trap is one of six, spaced about 10 feet apart. Five trap types compared by household, plus two rules most buyers never check

Mouse traps not working usually means geometry, not bad luck — traps belong within 10 feet of activity, trigger against the wall

Proofing a house for winter starts with a date you look up, not a season you guess. NOAA sets the first freeze at 32°F — your schedule follows
it.

Sealing mouse entry points is a 1/4-inch problem, and the material you pack
in decides whether the hole is still shut a year from now.

Mice get into a house through openings over a quarter inch — and the
twelve that matter are mostly structural, not the visible hole you’re
picturing.

Deer mouse vs house mouse comes down to the tail — but CDC’s cleanup
steps are identical for both. What changes is how far you have to escalate.

Roof rats vs Norway rats split the house between them: one works above the roofline,
one works the foundation. The ½-inch door gap belongs to both.