The More You Know, The Better the Program

While there are tried and true tools for managing rodent populations — baits and traps being the most popular, with 98 and 91 percent of PMPs (respectively) using them — the most effective rodent programs also evolve as knowledge grows and technologies improve. Forty-three percent of PMPs told PCT they have modified, or are planning to modify, their rodent management programs due to impending EPA rodenticide label changes, but they’re updating their programs to improve efficiency and effectiveness, too.

Melisa Arnold, owner of Horizon Pest Solutions in New Cambria, Kan., explained how she has evolved her program over time. “Years ago, I would just go in, put a bunch of bait stations down and tell the client I’d be back in a couple days to check. Today, I’m much more proactive with the inspection and service: Residential customers get three services in the first week, two in the second week, and one in each of the following two weeks. I’m more cognizant of family dynamics, too — allergies, pets, farm animals, etc. Depending on the situation, I’ll usually start with bait and snap traps inside stations so there’s no harm to pets or people.”

Once the monthly course of treatment is complete, Arnold assesses the results. “If rodent activity persists, I repeat the service, reevaluate whether the customer is doing their part to clean, and reinspect to determine whether there are indoor or outdoor conducive conditions that have changed over the course of treatment. I also switch the type of bait and traps or the locations where I have them set,” she said.

INCLUDING EXCLUDING. For Victory Pest Control in Myrtle Beach, S.C., keeping up with demand for rodent services in hotels and vacation homes, as well as other residential accounts, has required not only a smart baiting and trapping strategy, but also exclusion services. “We’re getting into a lot of metal bending, boxing the soffit area in with a sheet of metal that we bend accordingly to keep rodents from utilizing past trails,” explained Ryan Ewalt. “In contrast to hardwire mesh, the solid metal flashing offers a seal that rats, mice and squirrels can’t chew or tear through.”

David Turner shared that National Exterminating Company, Newport News, Va., uses “serious foam with metal shards in it” for exclusion work. The foam is specifically designed for rodents, including smelling and tasting bad to them so they won’t go back to the area. It’s one of many improvements National Exterminating has made to its rodent program in recent years, Turner said.

“We have a burgeoning population of rodents in our area, which comes with the growing resident population, and so we’ve changed our rodent program to be more strategic,” he explained. “For example, instead of the old-school practice of putting bait around a building and hoping for the best, we’re doing more trapping and monitoring so we can identify the kinds of populations we’re dealing with and where they’re coming from. Plus, we’re doing a lot of exclusions, because you typically can’t resolve a rodent issue unless you exclude the area.”

Turner shared that National’s program also includes a repellent that stirs up rats in large industrial buildings, pushing them off their regular routines to make them more vulnerable to treatment protocols. “We try to think outside the box, and with every customer, it’s a case-by-case basis; there’s no one-size-fits-all rodent program. We send an inspector out for each individual case and tailor the solution to the specific situation.”

ELECTRONIC MONITORING GAINS. More PMPs are using electronic monitoring tools than ever before. In 2024, 12 percent of PMPs reported using these devices; in 2025 that usage has doubled, to 24 percent. Jeff Keller says electronic monitoring equipment has become integral to Burns Pest Elimination’s rodent program.

“When we get activity triggers via remote monitoring, we can rebait stations and reset traps faster versus the old way of monthly checks,” he said. “We’ve been using electronic monitors for the past two years, and it has made a huge difference. Our clients appreciate that we’re not only reacting faster to their needs but also providing them with more data than we ever could in the past.”