Chronicles of a Technician: Rats in La Vaguada and the Invisible Mouse in La Manga

Last week was intense, with two very different cases that show that, in pest control, there is no one‑size‑fits‑all solution. If you live in a chalet or have a second home, you will probably relate to what we found.

La Vaguada: When Rats "Learn"

A homeowner from the La Vaguada (Cartagena) development called me. The problem was clear: a small infestation of black rats (or field rats) that threatened to enter her home.

The setting was two adjoining chalets with a very large garden area. This type of environment, also very common in nearby areas such as Canteras, Tentegorra or San José Obrero, is a paradise for rodents if it is not well protected.

What did we do? With the owners’ approval, we acted quickly. We placed bait stations in the perimeter corners. Here is the professional trick: we avoided first‑generation rodenticides.

Why? Because we have observed that the rats in this area have developed resistance. If you use a common poison, the rat needs to eat much more of it to die and it often does not work at all.

We opted for a paraffin‑based rodenticide. In irrigated and humid gardens, it is the only way for the bait to last and remain "tasty" (palatable) for the rodent. Fortunately, there were no pets in the house, which made our work easier because we did not have to hide the bait stations so much.

La Manga: The Mouse in the Pump Room

From Cartagena we moved on to La Manga. This time, the call came because of classic signs: mouse droppings in the pump room of an indoor swimming pool.

Everything pointed to the colony coming from the neighbouring house. Mice are extremely stealthy and, unlike rats, they can squeeze through any tiny gap. This is something we see a lot in closed apartments in Cabo de Palos, Playa Honda or Mar de Cristal.

The challenge: A cat in the house. Here the strategy had to be surgical. The client had a cat, so safety was the top priority. We placed the bait stations very well hidden, completely out of the pet’s reach. Inside we put a "cocktail" to make sure it worked: one paraffin block and two fresh baits with different formulations.

Unlike rats, which are wary of new things (neophobia), mice are more curious, so with this shock treatment we expect to drastically reduce the infestation in just a few days.

Is your home on the rodents’ "to‑visit" list?

Whether it is a chalet in Barrio Peral or an apartment in Los Belones, if you see signs, do not wait. As you have seen in the La Vaguada case, supermarket products sometimes only serve to "feed" resistant rats.

If you need a rodent control company in Cartagena that analyses your specific case (and protects your pets), call us. We do not sell "poison", we sell peace of mind.