Rodents, especially mice, can come into your home through incredibly small spaces. In order to keep them out, it’s important that you make sure there aren’t any cracks or gaps that they could slide through. Check the inside of your home for holes in the walls or floors, ensure that windows and doors are sealed up tight, and consider installing screens for an extra layer of protection. Outside of your home, do a thorough walk around the perimeter of your home, checking foundation for any issues and looking for any potential areas of entry. This step will make it that much harder for rodents to find their way inside, which is half of the battle.
Rodents love a good hiding spot to burrow down into, and attics and crawl spaces provide just that. Take a good look around in these areas for signs of rodent activity. This may include damaged insulation, droppings, or areas that look as if they’ve been gnawed on. If you see any of these signs, you will most likely want to enlist the help of a professional pest control technician to make sure the infestation is dealt with appropriately. You will also need to figure out where these pests are finding their way inside, and then take measures to have the area sealed up tight so that no other rodents can come in.
Heavy vegetation in your yard provides an excellent hiding space for rodents of all kinds. If they’ve set up camp by your home in your bushes, their next natural course of action will be to move inside to find better shelter, water, and potentially food to feast on. Keep your bushes and other landscaping cut back from the walls of your home, and trim trees so that limbs do not hover over your roof. This provides an excellent way for rodents to hop onto your roof easily, where they will often find access to your attic. A well-maintained yard is an excellent defense against rodent issues both outside and inside of your home.
If you suspect you may have a few rats or mice roaming about your home, you may want to set out traps in order to catch them. Traps can also be a great preventative measure, even if you have no suspicions of current activity. There are several different types of traps that can be used, and personal preference will determine what should be used in your case. Snap traps are a very reliable way to trap and kill rodents in your home. After the trap has been set and the rodent takes the bait, a kill bar will snap down on the rodent’s neck in one quick move. Electronic traps produce death to mice and rats by electrocution. These traps are easy to use and provide a more humane death than other methods. Multiple catch traps automatically capture more than one mouse, one right after another. These traps do not have a kill mechanism, and can be used for catch and release purposes. Glue traps are easy to use and dispose of, but many find these to be somewhat inhumane as the rodent is simply stuck to the trap without being killed. Whichever method you prefer should be a good way to cut down on a small infestation in your home.
Rodents are on the hunt for food and shelter, and a dirty and cluttered home is an excellent place to provide both of these things. A great way to prevent rodents from seeking shelter in your home is to keep your kitchen as clean and tidy as possible. Keep food put away in airtight containers, dirty dishes out of the sink, and floors swept and mopped frequently. Keep pet food stored away as well, and avoid leaving food out in bowls all day long. Clean up clutter in all areas of your home, and keep things as clean as possible. A clean home is an excellent defense against rodents and insects alike.
Keeping rodents out of your home is essential, not only for your peace of mind but for the safety of your family as well. These critters spread disease, and some types of rodents become aggressive when they are encountered by humans. If you suspect you may have rodents in your home, reach out to a pest control company in your area for help. Rodent infestations can be tricky to deal with, so enlisting the help of the pros is often the best way to go.