Rodents are a common nuisance in homes. They can cause damage to property, spread disease and contaminate food. Rodents may enter your home through gaps in the foundations or walls or come up from sewers and drains. They can also enter your home through broken or rotting window frames or doorways.
Know your enemy
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Rodents need pest control as they can be very destructive to a home, and you’ll want to know what kind of damage they are capable of causing before taking action against them.
Mice can chew through wires, which could cause fires or electrical shocks; rats eat just about anything they can find, including wiring and insulation. Know the signs that indicate rodent infestation so that you can get professional help with pest control if necessary.
- Droppings have tiny hairs sticking out in different directions (pigtails); these come from their tails as they push them forward when dropping waste behind them as they move along walls and through cracks in ceilings. You may see piles of pellets outside near entry points into your home or hear scratching sounds behind walls where rats travel throughout your house.
- If there’s no evidence of any rodents living in your house, but you do see some droppings here and there, this could still mean that there’s an ongoing issue—it’s always better not to take chances with pests!
Move outdoor things inside and inside things outdoors
Rodents thrive in unsanitary environments. So keeping your home clean and organized is the first step to preventing rodents in the first place.
First, keep your garage door closed when not in use—rodents are notorious for taking up residence inside garages because of the abundance of food scraps and debris that can be found there.
Second, take care to store all food items in sealed containers or in a pantry that’s rodent-proofed (you can find this information on your website). Also, make sure to discard trash regularly, as well as pet food left outside overnight if you have pets living with you!
Repair leaks and roof damage
Rodents can get into your home through small cracks and holes. If you see any holes in the foundation or cracks in any of the walls, repair them immediately before rodents take up residence. It’s important to keep rats and mice out of your home for three reasons:
- Rodents can spread diseases such as salmonella, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), leptospirosis and bubonic plague through their droppings or urine.
- They carry fleas that can infest your pets and cause them to scratch themselves raw until they bleed.
- They damage furniture, clothing and food supplies that you have stored in your cabinets or pantry.
Eliminate hiding spots, especially in your garage
The garage is a popular spot for rodents to seek shelter, especially if it doesn’t have a door seal. If you have an unsealed garage, you can do the following:
- Remove boxes and other clutter from the garage floor. Make sure there are no food sources for rodents in your garage either; this includes things like bags of pet food!
- Keep the doors closed whenever possible to prevent rodent entry into your home by way of the opening between your house and the garage. You can even use a magnetic door seal to keep those pesky rodents out!
If you have rodents in your home, it’s necessary to get them out as quickly as possible. Rodents are known for spreading diseases and damaging items like wiring. Luckily, there are ways to prevent them from entering your home and keep them away once inside.
