HOW TO PREVENT RODENTS FROM ENTERING YOUR HOME THIS WINTER

Did you know that rats and mice can spread over 35 different diseases? These diseases can spread through contact with rodent bites, feces, urine, salvia, or handling them. If you see mouse or rat droppings, see visible holes in food packaging or hear scratching in the walls or attic, you might have a rodent infestation. Although this can be a very scary experience, you should know that it is also a very common occurrence. When the weather drops suddenly, the need to find warmth and shelter is an innate survival trait—your home is the perfect place with lots of shelter, warmth, with easy access to food and water.

There are a number of ways to get rid of mice and rats from your home this winter.

Look for holes or gaps to help get rid of mice and rats

Rats and mice are able to squeeze through a hole the size of a dime. Inspect the inside and outside of your home for holes or gaps and fill them appropriately.

Inside your home, look around the:

• Fireplace
• Doors and windows
• Pipes under sinks and washing machines
• Inside the attic
• In floor drains
• Between floors and wall junctions
• Inside and behind kitchen cabinets

Outside your home, look around the:

• The roof
• Windows
• Doors
• The foundation
• Attic vents and crawl space vents

Eliminate food and water sources to get rid of mice and rats

Rodents tend to enter your home in search of warmth and shelter during the winter months. If there are accessible food and water sources, they will make your home a permanent residence.

Follow some of these tips to help eliminate food sources for rodents:

• Store all food like cereal, dog food, rice, etc. in containers with tight lids
• Keep compost bins as far away from the house as possible
• Clean up spilled food immediately
• Make sure all dishes are cleaned shortly after use
• Keep garbage in a plastic or metal garbage can with a tight lid

Luckily, rodents are some of the more obvious pests to detect in your home. Following the tips above should help keep your home rodent-free, locating entrance pathways and repairing them is the key to success. Remember to call an experienced pest control company, like Environmental Pest Control if you think you might have a rodent infestation.