Common Rodents and Rodent Control in Hawaii

To many, the islands of Hawaii are a paradise. Unfortunately, that includes the rodents that call it home. Unlike a delicious bowl of poke, no one wants a bothersome rat or mouse in their house. Controlling Hawaii’s common pest rodents, like roof rats, is vital for protecting your home.

Rodents spread disease and can do severe damage to some of the most important portions of your home. They may not be as prolific as they are in most mainland states, but they’re no less a nuisance. Read below to learn how to get rodents out of your Hawaii home and keep them out:

Rodents of Hawaii

The islands of Hawaii are home to a few different varieties of rodents. Occasionally, the Hawaiian mongoose is mistaken for a rodent, but it is in fact not. While they may look remarkably like a rodent, weasel, or ferret, mongoose are more related to cats than rats.

Roof Rat

The most common rodent you’ll see in Hawaii is also one of the most common worldwide. The roof rat, also called the black rat, is a widespread pest rodent that can be found almost anywhere. True to their name, roof rats like to nest in roofs and attics. If you hear scratching or squeaking coming from your ceilings, it’s likely this rodent.

Roof rats look like what likely comes to your mind when you hear the word “rat.” Their fur is typically black, but this rodent can also come in brown or gray, and they have a lighter grayish underbelly. The roof rat is around 5 to 7.2 inches long on average, in addition to their tail, which is around the same length. This makes them approximately 14 inches long on average.

Norway Rat

The next common pest rodent we’ll be discussing is the Norway rat, also called the brown rat. Despite the name, this rodent originated in China before spreading throughout the world. Like the roof rat, they’re extremely common and widespread. Unlike the roof rat, however, Norway rats prefer the coastline. They also like to dig, so you’re more likely to see a Norway rat in your basement or crawl space than anywhere else.

A typical Norway rat is larger than most rat species, with a body that’s 7 to 9.5 inches on average and a tail that’s 6 to 8.5 inches. In total, the Norway rat is 13 to 18 inches long on average. Their fur is usually brown with black hairs dotted across their coat, and like many other rats, Norway rats have a light underbelly.

Polynesian Rat

The Polynesian rat is the third most widespread rodent in the world, just behind the brown rat and roof rat. Just like their name implies, the Polynesian rat is found across Polynesia, including New Zealand, Easter Island, and Hawaii.

This rodent doesn’t often infest homes. It prefers agricultural areas to developed ones, but can still be found in residential areas on occasion. It’s also no less a pest out of doors; Polynesian rats cause an estimated 5 to 10 percent damage to macadamia nut crops every year on the Big Island, as well as disrupting banana harvests.

The Polynesian rat is very small for a rat and measures only 6 inches in total length, tail included. On smaller islands, like Hawaii’s Kahoolawe, they grow even smaller still at 4.5 inches total. Like other rats, the Polynesian rat has brown or black fur with a light underbelly.

House Mouse

The house mouse is the only mouse species you’ll commonly see in Hawaii. Just like their name implies, this rodent is found indoors more often than not. They like to set up nests in dark, out-of-the-way places in your home such as attics, basements, wall voids, and certain large appliances.

Just like the roof rat, house mice are a typical example of what you probably think of when you hear “mouse.” House mice are gray, with a slightly lighter underbelly, and around 2 to 3 inches long. Their tail adds another 3 to 4 inches, making them 5 to 7 inches long on average.

How to Get Rid of Rodents in Hawaii

When any rodent infests your Hawaii home, you need to get them out as soon as possible. You have two options when it comes to rodent control: traps and poison. Here’s how to use each to effectively remove your rodent problem:

Rodent Traps

When using a trap, the first step is to pick one out. It’s important to get the right trap for the right rodent. Mouse traps will not work on a rat, so ensure you get the right kind. You also need to decide whether you get a lethal or live capture trap. If you choose a lethal trap, use a classic snap trap. Glue traps, which are also lethal traps, are excessively cruel and banned in many countries.

Live capture traps allow you to release the rodent humanely, but are not recommended by the CDC due to possible hantavirus exposure. When using a live trap, take extra care to protect yourself against harmful bacteria.

Once you’ve picked out your trap, it’s time to set it up. Follow these easy instructions to set up your rodent trap:

• First, pick your bait. Peanut butter is the best bait for rodent traps since it’s calorie-dense and high in protein, which rats love. It’s also viscous, so the rodents can’t steal it off the trap as easily. Other good choices for rodent bait include jerky, nuts, and a Hawaiian staple food, Spam. If the bait gets stolen, try using less of it so that it’s harder for the rodent to do it a second time.

• Next, place the trap(s). The best place for rodent traps is up against the wall since that’s where rodents make their trails. If it’s a lethal trap, set it perpendicular to the wall with the baited end flush with the wall. If it’s a live trap, set it parallel to and flush with the wall so the rodent walks right in.

• Once your traps are placed, you need to monitor them. Check each trap at least once every 24 hours. If there’s a rodent inside, either dispose of or release it, as applicable. If there isn’t, leave the trap be.

Repeat the process until there are no more rodents. When you think the infestation is gone, always have your home inspected by a qualified exterminator or home inspector to be absolutely sure your house is rodent-free.

Rodent Poison

Your other option is poison. Unlike traps, rodenticides are fairly universal. The only difference between poison for mice and rats is the amount of poison that comes in the package.

When using poison, remember that the EPA only allows certain varieties. The rodenticide must take the form of blocks or paste designed for approved poison bait stations. If the poison you’re buying does not come with a bait station, even if it seems like the best rat poison available, it is not EPA-approved.

To use rodenticide bait stations, place them indoors in the same way you would a typical rodent trap. The rodent will take the bait and either eat it on the spot or take the poison back to its nest. Remember when using poison that you must never place rodenticide outdoors. In doing so, you risk harming animals outside your intended target, such as pets or innocent wildlife. If there’s rain, it can even carry the poison away and taint the local soil or groundwater.

How to Get Rid of Rodents Outdoors

If you have a rodent problem in your yard or garden, it can be tougher to remove than an indoor one. While you’re allowed to use lethal traps and rodenticides, they’re much more dangerous and can inflict severe harm to animals outside your intended target.

Rodenticides in particular are restricted by the EPA in order to limit possible damage. Rodenticide bait stations can only be used within 50 feet of a building, and should only be placed directly in a nest. Bait stations also must be tamper-proof to prevent anything aside from a rodent from getting into it.

If you’ve found a rodent nest outdoors, you may think you can flood it in order to get the rodents out. However, you should reconsider. Flooding an underground den can damage your home’s foundation or basement, especially if it’s close to the house.

These alternatives to lethal options can help you control an outdoor rodent problem:

Live Traps

If you use rodent traps outdoors, only use live traps. Lethal snap traps can seriously injure any animal that triggers it, including outdoor pets or innocent wildlife. Even small children can trigger snap traps, and if they do, they’ll likely need to go to the hospital.

These traps are strong enough to break bones and will cut off blood supply if they’re on for too long. If they get caught on an animal’s snout, it will also prevent them from eating. To be humane and eliminate the risk of accidental harm, only use live traps outdoors. Otherwise, you could severely injure or even kill a non-target animal.

Rodent Smoke Bombs

If you know where rodents have made an underground nest in your outdoor space, you can use a rodent smoke bomb as either a lethal or nonlethal method to remove them. Smoke bombs emit large amounts of smoke upon use, which will either suffocate the rodents or flush them out of the den.

If you want to use the smoke bombs as a lethal option, cover all entrances to the rodent’s burrow and set the rodent bomb off. The rodents will be unable to escape the nest and will suffocate from the smoke. If you choose this option, remember that you will have to remove the rodents from their nest manually.

To use a smoke bomb as a nonlethal option, leave one entrance to the nest open (not the smoke bomb entrance) and wait at it with a trap. When the rodents flee the nest, you can capture them in the trap and then release them at your leisure.

Habitat Modification

Finally, you can make your outdoor space inhospitable in the hopes of driving out the rodents. If you haven’t already, you should be following rodent prevention methods such as removing food and water sources, trimming shrubs regularly, and using outdoor floodlights. You can also use a rodent wall to keep rodents from nesting under your porch.

How to Dispose of or Release a Rodent

Your job unfortunately isn’t done once you’ve caught or killed a rodent. You need to safely dispose of it or release it, as applicable. When handling a rodent, always wear the proper PPE. You need sturdy jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, closed-toed shoes, gloves, and an N95 mask.

When disposing of a dead rodent, put it in a plastic bag and throw it away in an outdoor garbage can. If you picked it up with an instrument, sanitize it right away. If the rodent died to poison, ensure that no animals can get to the carcass, including pets. When another animal eats the dead rodent, the toxins will harm whatever eats the body. It can even move through the food web and harm multiple animals.

If you’re releasing a live rodent, on the other hand, take it in its trap to a wooded area at least five miles away from your home. If you release it any closer, you risk it returning to your home. Pick an area with a body of water, like a lake, between it and your home if possible. Finally, release the rat with a small amount of food to be humane.

Once you’re done with the rodent, wash all of your PPE, bathe thoroughly, and sanitize anything that the rodent touched right away.

How to Prevent Rodents In Your Hawaii Home

The first step when it comes to rodent control is prevention. Keeping rodents out of your home in the first place will save you a lot of time, money, and headache. To prevent rodents, focus on eliminating the conditions that attract them in the first place. If an environment is inhospitable to rodents, they’re much less likely to nest there.

Here are some tips you can use to keep rodents out of your Hawaii home:

• Seal Away Food: Any stray food will attract rodents. Seal anything that comes in a cardboard box, such as pasta, in a sealed plastic container.

• Clean Up: Any material such as paper or cloth can be used by rodents to make their nests. Clean up any garbage right away to keep rodents from nesting.

• Remove Moisture Sources: Just like all living things, rodents need water to survive. Clean up puddles and fix leaky pipes to keep the water from attracting rats or mice.

• Seal Entry Points: Rodents commonly enter your home through small cracks or gaps in your exterior. Do a lap and seal any openings with caulk and cover them with steel wool, which keeps out rats and mice.

• Trim Trees: Rodents can jump from tree branches to your roof. Keep your tree branches trimmed so that rodents don’t invade your attic or roof.

• Install Features: You can install certain features to keep rodents out of vulnerable areas, such as a rat slab for your basement or a rat wall for your porch.

• Turn On Lights: Rodents are nocturnal and do not like light. To keep them out, set lights to turn on intermittently throughout the night.

How to Prevent Rodents In Your Hawaii Yard

Preventing rodents in your outdoor space is just as important as your indoors, if not more so. Rodents need to access your yard before they can get into your home, after all. Just like inside, outdoor rodent control should focus on creating an inhospitable environment.

Follow these tips to keep rodents out of your Hawaii yard or garden:

• Don’t Leave Food Out: Outdoor food attracts rodents just as easily as indoors. After a backyard barbecue or a classic Hawaiian luau, clean up any food so that it doesn’t attract rats or mice.

• Remove Water Sources: If you have a birdbath, consider leaving it dry for a while if you suspect a rodent problem.

• Keep Wood Off The Ground: Firewood is both a common nesting site for outdoor rodents and a good source of nesting material. To deprive rodents of both, keep any wood piles off the ground.

• Turn Lights On: You can install outdoor lights to turn on every so often, which will help repel rodents.

• Trim Shrubbery: Rodents like to nest in overgrown shrubbery. To keep rats and mice away, trim your hedges and shrubs regularly.

• Exclusion: Just like your home’s exterior, rodents access your yard through gaps in your fence. Keep your fencing patched and in good condition to keep rodents out.

Cost of a Professional Rodent Exterminator

Unfortunately, some rodent infestations are too great to take care of by yourself. When a rat or mouse problem gets out of hand, it’s time to call a pro. The average cost of a professional rodent exterminator ranges from $245 to $430, but you can expect your cost to vary depending on many factors, such as the size of your home and the severity of your infestation.

You will also likely need to pay additional costs outside of the exterminator. You should always get a professional home inspection done after any rodent infestation in order to determine how much damage the pests have done to your home. An inspection will also be able to tell you if the rodents are truly gone or if there are more that the exterminator missed.

Depending on the extent of the damage to your home, you may have to make repairs. Rodents can chew through your electrical wires, which creates a fire hazard, or compromise your HVAC by making tunnels in your insulation or holes in your vents. If the rodents have infested certain appliances, such as your refrigerator, you may also have to replace them.

Finally, another necessity after a rodent infestation is a professional home deep cleaning. Rodents spread multitudes of germs and bacteria in your home, so you need to get it cleaned professionally in order to avoid risk to your household.

FAQ About Rodents in Hawaii

If I rent, is my landlord responsible for pest control in Hawaii?

Under Hawaiian law, landlords are responsible for keeping a rental property in habitable condition and are also subject to housing laws and building codes that govern tenants’ health and safety. This means that the landlord could, in fact, be responsible for taking care of pest control for their property, especially if the pests threaten the health of the tenants or compromise the property.

However, there’s no language in these laws that specifically covers pest control, so it may be something of a legal gray area. Your landlord may not agree to cover rodent or insect control for your rental home, especially if they can argue that you caused the infestation or were lax in preventing it.

What should I do if I find a Hawaiian mongoose in my house?

If you see a mongoose in your home, the best thing to do is to call your local Animal Control office. Block all exits to the room it’s in and try to keep the animal in one place while you wait for Animal Control to arrive. Do not attempt to scare the mongoose out or touch it. While mongooses are not usually aggressive towards humans, they will bite if they feel threatened.

Why are there no squirrels in Hawaii?

You won’t find squirrels in Hawaii for a few reasons. First of all, they’re not native to the islands. Hawaii also has laws regarding which non-domesticated animals, like squirrels, can be brought to the state. Squirrels are not approved, so you won’t find any in the wild. There are, however, some squirrels in Hawaiian zoos.

Find Your Hawaii Exterminator

Hawaii is home to many rodent species that you don’t want to invade your home. When rats, mice, or other unwelcome furry guests infest your house, it’s important to get rid of them right away.

If you have a pest problem in Hawaii, contact pest control professionals near you. They can help you protect your home from harmful rodents.

Main Image Credits:
Background: Art Wager / Canva Pro / License
Rodent: Pixabay