Look at the back corner of the yard and ask what a rodent would see. A feeder drops seed. A woodpile offers cover. A compost heap provides scraps and warmth. Together they form a camp, and the house is next door.
The three usual suspects.
Each of these items is useful on its own, and none is wrong. The trouble arises from where they sit and how they are managed. A feeder five feet from the siding is a different matter from one at the far end of the lawn.
- Bird feeders: seed spills and gathers on the ground, where rodents feed after dark.
- Woodpiles: stacks against a wall give cover right at the foundation.
- Compost: warmth and scraps attract animals, especially when cooked food is added.
Ranking the changes.
| Change. | Effort. | Payoff. |
|---|---|---|
| Move feeders away from the house and clean up fallen seed. | Low. | High, because it removes a steady food source. |
| Raise firewood on a rack and keep it a few feet from the wall. | Medium. | High, because it removes cover beside the foundation. |
| Switch to a closed compost bin with a lid. | Low to medium. | Medium, because it limits what animals reach. |
| Pick up fallen fruit and nuts weekly. | Low. | Medium, because it removes a seasonal food source. |
| Trim shrubs and ivy back from the siding. | Medium. | Medium, because it opens sightlines. |
Start at the top and work down. The first two changes cost almost nothing and often do the most.
How to tell if animals use the area.
Look at the ground under the feeder and around the woodpile. Fresh soil, smooth paths through grass and droppings in clusters point to regular use.
- Burrow mouths near the base of a woodpile or under a shed.
- Gnawed corners on a bin or a bag of seed.
- Droppings on the ground under a feeder.
- Flattened runways leading from cover to the food source.
Mention these signs on a call. Our page on backyard and outdoor rodent control shows how we rank the changes for a specific yard.
A compost routine that works.
Use a closed bin with a lid and a solid base, and keep it away from the house. Avoid cooked food, meat and dairy, and bury fresh scraps under dry leaves or soil. Turn the pile regularly and watch for burrows nearby.
If you already have a heap, you need not tear it down. Cover it, cut the supply of food scraps and check the edges for signs of digging.
Because rodents entrench fast, an early call tends to be cheaper than the repairs that follow a long wait.
Dial (888) 686-4821Estate-sized yards.
Larger properties around Centerport, like the 43-acre estate that holds the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, show how much outdoor space some places include. A big yard may hold several feeders, woodpiles and outbuildings. Walk the full boundary, not just the area by the house, and make a list.
If a neighbor's yard feeds rodents, you cannot change it. You can still seal your side and set traps where animals approach.
When habits are not enough.
If you see burrows, hear noises in walls or find droppings indoors, yard changes alone will not do. Book trapping and exclusion as well, and read about rat control if the signs are large.
Leave burrows alone until a technician has seen them. Plugging a hole with no plan tends to send the animal digging a fresh one nearer the house.
A quick wet-cleanup primer
Most of the job is avoiding airborne dust, and the steps beneath show how.
- A fast dry sweep looks harmless but lofts particles that hover for ages.
- An attic, garage or shed that has been shut up smells stale for a reason, so open it fully and stay outside for half an hour.
- A pair of gloves keeps your skin clear of droppings, urine and bedding.
- Saturate before you collect, because the pause holds dust down during the wipe.
- Tie the bag, put it in the bin, then give your hands another wash.
- Should illness set in during the next few weeks, tell the doctor you were around rodents, because our work is limited to pests.
Official references used on this page
Taking our word is optional, since the pages behind these notes are all named below.
- CDC guide to wet cleanup after rodent contact: The case against pushing a broom or vacuum across dry droppings.
- CDC hantavirus prevention pages: CDC suggestions for limiting rodent contact inside homes, sheds and vehicles.