People who aren’t bothered by rodents are few and far between. If mice or rats make their way into your home you’ll likely suffer through many sleepless nights. Who can relax knowing that little – and large – rodents are tap dancing all over your kitchen?

Finding rodent feces on your cutlery and dishware is a particularly disgusting experience. Mice and rats can be carriers of nasty diseases too. Forget the fact that you’d be mortified if one of these little pesky critters decided to show its face when friends and family are around.

You can get rid of rodents naturally if you want to go the organic route. If you want to really maximize your pest control campaign consider using both organic and inorganic methods to keep your infestation situation in check.

Use Pets

Pets can help you fight your rodent problem. A well fed cat may just catch and play with mice to be of service but a hungrier kitty will get rid of the rodent for good. Cats have no problem eating an entire rodent in one sitting. These natural rat and mouse predators have all of the tools to decimate the rodent population within your house quickly.

Dogs are a different bird in terms of rodent extermination but they can do the job too. If your dog has a strong prey drive it will likely catch and dispatch of any rodent on its turf.

If you don’t have a cat or dog consider adding a furry family member to your home to lighten the mood and to keep your rodent situation in check. Just know that pet ownership comes with a series of responsibilities. You’ll be walking Fido and you’ll also need to change Tabby’s litter box from time to time.

Ask Nature for a Helping Hand

Birds of prey may feast on rodents freely. Many species of owl are voracious mice eaters. Attract barn owls by establishing a comfortable, well-stocked environment in your backyard. Think of making your property a fast food restaurant for birds of prey. Set up a shelter box in your yard for feathered predators. Make sure you include plenty of camouflage for birds of prey. This means less landscaping and more natural growth of your trees and bushes. Birds of prey are typically ambush predators. This means they rely on hiding and stealth to sneak up on unsuspecting rodents. Allow for a bit of overgrowth in your trees. Make your backyard a hospitable spot for owls, hawks and falcons. Just make sure that if you set up a shelter box that you don’t injure the bird with errant nails or other safety hazards.

Use No Kill Traps

If you prefer to allow your pets to do the dirty work use a no kill trap. Catch the rodent and release it in a wooded area by your home. Get rid of rodents by banishing them from your property for good in a kinder, gentler way than most people might envision.