Treating Rat Burrows at Residential Community in Red Bank, NJ

One of the residential communities that we service in Red Bank, NJ, was experiencing a significant increase in rodent activity once temperatures dropped as we enter the cold winter months. Mice will overwinter in our homes to escape winter’s harsh elements. Several of the homeowners reported to the property manager that they saw mice and even a few rats around some of the exterior areas of the complex. Fortunately, no one had yet reported observing rodent activity inside any structures — but, with these pests, if the outdoor infestation was not immediately resolved, it was only a matter of time.  

The property management team was proactive in taking steps to eliminate food and harborage areas for the rodents. When rodent attractants are removed from a property, the pests often move on elsewhere to forage for food and to seek shelter. For example, some of the residents had bird feeders. Although the homeowners were well-intentioned, feeders often wind up being used as unlimited buffet stations for rodents. Extra feed often gets disbursed on the ground and that tempting attractant is often how the trouble starts. Management wisely instituted a community-wide ban of bird feeders. This particular community also has small wooden trash can corrals on the exterior of each of the homeowner units. many of the homeowners were using plastic garbage cans. Rats and mice, with their large razor-sharp incisors, can make quick work of these plastic cans, easily chewing through them to enjoy the plentiful food supply inside. Once again, the management company took the lead and required all of the homeowners to replace any plastic cans with rodent-proof galvanized steel trash cans that had secure lids.

During my inspection of the exterior, I determined that the homeowners who had reported seeing rats were, in fact, correct. I found several active rat buttress along the sidewalk, close to the building. I treated the burrows with a tracking powder that sticks to the rodent’s fir. The rats then digest the powder when grooming themselves. I also set up rodent bait boxes in strategic locations around the building perimeter and close to the garbage corrals where rodents were found.

This particular job was a great example of how customers can partner and actively assist the pest control service to resolve pest infestations. When management takes proactive steps to reduce attractants and potential harborage areas as they did here, pest issues be resolved much faster.