Did you know that an average female rat has four to seven litters a year? Each litter will contain 8 to 12 pups. Pups reach sexual maturity within as few as 12 weeks of age. This means that a rodent population can get out of hand, very quickly. What does that add up to? Believe it or not, in just a year’s time, two rodents can be responsible for up to 15,000 new rodents!
Many of our Portland neighbors are looking for a way to manage their rodent population without using dangerous poisons. Not only is poison free control attainable, but new contraceptive products are proving to out preform their poisonous predecessors. We are proud to say that we now offer totally non-lethal rodent programs with ContraPest.
Rodent birth control is safe!
This rodent birth control has no known secondary effect on animals up the food chain. The product is processed through the rodent’s liver and therefore, does not transfer any negative effects to its natural predators. The product is also safely guarded inside a tamper resistant box to prevent pets and children from gaining access to it.
How does it compare to traditional rodent baits?
There are not many similarities between a traditional rodenticide bait and a liquid fertility control product. Both are rodent specific and kept inside of tamper proof boxes, but that is pretty much where the similarities end.
Rodenticide
First, once consumed, rodenticide results in hemorrhaging, seizures, weakness, and difficult breathing in rodents. Poison can also cause rodents to die in unreachable locations in your attic or crawlspace, creating even more issues. A percentage of the poison can also transfer to any natural predators that may get a hold of the rodent after it consumes the bait. Although it is not our recommendation or personal favorite, we do have to be transparent about rodenticide and mention some its benefits. Rodenticide offers relatively speedy results and is much more cost-effective. It is also typically monitored on a quarterly basis.
Rat Birth Control
Conversely, rodent birth control offers a non-lethal way to reduce the rodent population. It is monitored monthly due to the high consumption rate. (Rodents LOVE it!) This type of plan also produces better results on a long-term basis. If you’ve had the unfortunate experience of rodents in or around your home, you may have discovered that they are pretty smart little creatures. They can learn that eating bait from rodenticide boxes results in a less than stellar experience for their friends, which causes them to actually stop eating the bait after a prolonged period of time. This is not the case for the liquid birth control product. Rodents like the taste, and don’t notice any negative results!
Customers can expect a waiting period of about 70 days from the start of their program before rodents become infertile. Due to the ingredients in the product itself, specialized equipment, and more frequent monitoring it is a pricier option compared to a traditional poisonous baiting plan.
If you are interested in implementing a rodent birth control plan at your home or business or if you want to chat with one of us about any questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 503-303-8303. We are here to help you with all of your rodent problems in Portland!