Rodents come in all shapes and sizes, from fuzzy-tailed squirrels to hairless-tailed rats. No matter what kind of rodent it is, they all share one thing in common: ever-growing incisors. If they don't gnaw each day, their teeth will continue to grow and cause serious health issues; they may even die. This Pest of the Week belongs to all rodents and the problems homeowners face with them.

What Do Rodents Look Like?

Chances are you've seen mice and rats before. But these two pests aren't the only rodents you have to worry about. Some of the most common rodents that you'll find around your home include:

• Squirrels
• Chipmunks
• Groundhogs
• Gophers
• Roof rats

If you live near a lake or pond, you may also have trouble with beavers. Typically, most homeowners struggle with mice, rats and squirrels getting inside attics and basements and causing damage such as chewing through wood and wires.

How Did I Get Rodents?

The rodent's natural habitat is the outdoors, so when people build more and more homes and occupy more space, they cut into the rodents' territory. You're bound to see rodents on your property at some point. The issue is keeping them outdoors where they belong, not inside where they can cause problems for you and your home. Some reasons you may see more rodents than usual on your property include:

• Leaving pet food outdoors
• Having cracks and crevices around the perimeter
• Setting firewood too close to your home
• Not cleaning up the clutter in your yard

How Can I Get Rid of Rodents?

Getting rid of rodents means removing the things that attracted them in the first place. You'll need to bring in pet food from the outdoors, seal up cracks and crevices and reduce the clutter in your yard. Using mice traps will also help. If it's a serious infestation, you may need to hire a professional to assist your efforts.

A DIY Rodent Control Program

• Inspect your home for signs of rodents.
• Seal up cracks and crevices around your home.
• Keep food sealed indoors.
• Set out rat traps and rat poison to kill the rodents.
• Use glue boards to stop them where they travel.

Pedchem has a variety of rodent control products to help eliminate rats, mice and other pests in your home. Our Victor rat trap is a top seller and can help to trap these stubborn pests and let you get control of the problem.