Start at the property line.
A yard tells a story. Smooth runways through grass, burrows about two inches across, droppings under a feeder and gnaw marks on a shed all show where rodents live and feed. Fixing the yard cuts the number of animals that ever reach your walls.
Many New Canaan properties sit near open space. The town has large green areas such as Waveny Park, with 300 acres, and the Nature Center on 40 acres, and a lot beside any large green space has a long boundary where wildlife moves. We make no claim about those places themselves. We simply suggest you note any such edge, and we begin the yard walk there.
What feeds and shelters rodents.
- Bird feeders that spill seed.
- Compost heaps and open garbage cans.
- Pet food left outdoors.
- Firewood, lumber and pallets stacked on the ground.
- Thick ivy or ground cover pressed against walls.
- Sheds with gaps at the base or no floor.
You do not need to remove everything. Pick the feature closest to the house first, because that is where animals cross from yard to wall.
Burrows and runways.
A burrow beside a foundation is a clear sign of rats. Fresh burrows have clean soil at the opening and smooth, packed paths leading away. Old ones are cobwebbed and overgrown. The technician maps each one and sets traps along the paths.
| Yard feature. | Change to make. | Result. |
|---|---|---|
| Wood stack on the siding. | Move several feet away and raise it. | Removes cover and a route to the wall. |
| Seed under a feeder. | Add a tray and sweep daily. | Cuts the food supply. |
| Ivy on the foundation. | Trim it away from the wall. | Leaves fewer hidden routes. |
| Shed with a gap. | Seal the base with metal. | Stops nesting underneath. |
Linking yard to house.
Yard work only goes so far. If animals have already entered the house, rat control and mouse control cover the indoor side, and entry point sealing closes the openings. A short inspection covers both inside and out.
Seasonal habits.
Tidy the yard before the first freeze, when animals begin looking for shelter. Check again after storms, because debris can hide a new burrow. A weekly walk of the foundation takes five minutes and catches most early signs.
Safe order for droppings: what to do and when
Agencies broadly agree on how cleanup should go. Their shared steps are collected in short form here.
- Dust kicks up the moment dry waste is brushed, so put the soaking step before everything else.
- Do not enter a sealed outbuilding cold. Ventilate it, then give it around thirty minutes.
- Disposable gloves and reusable rubber ones both work. Wash the gloves, then yourself.
- Dampen every stain and pellet with disinfectant, then allow about five minutes before lifting them away.
- One tightly closed plastic bag can take droppings, towels and a carcass out to the trash.
- Watch your own health for several weeks. If a fever or breathlessness appears, give your doctor the full story of what you handled.
Public guidelines this page relies on
These public pages give the full text of recommended steps and rules.
- EPA: rodenticide product limits: Which rodenticide products are restricted, and why some never reach store shelves.
- CDC: hantavirus prevention: The CDC's three-part message for keeping rodents out: seal, trap and clean.
Give us the street and the sign you noticed, and we take it from there.
Ring (888) 686-4821