Finding evidence of rodents inside your home can be very unsettling. Whether you notice a mouse or rat, their droppings, or possibly even bites taken out of bread in your pantry, it’s likely that you’ll feel vulnerable or even afraid. As the weather gets cooler, especially here in the Pacific Northwest, rodents are looking for warm homes to spend the winter and have their babies in. If you don’t take preventative measures now, it could be incredibly difficult to rid your home of these pests once they’ve made themselves comfortable inside your walls. Here at Interstate Pest, we’ve compiled a list of facts about rodents that you should consider and some tips on how to prevent your house from falling victim to an infestation.
Inconvenient Rodent Truths
- Mice can fit through a hole the size of a nickel
- Rodents can carry fleas, worms, bacteria like salmonella, and disease
- Rodents spread germs to surfaces simply by walking on them
- Mice give birth 5-10 times a year, and each litter has 3-12 infants
- Rodents can chew through plastic, metal, and even brick
- Rodents can cause an electric fire when eating through your wiring
Rodent Prevention Tips From The Professionals
- Trim plants and trees back away from your house, because pests can use these as bridges into your home.
- Keep food in airtight containers, and take the garbage out regularly.
- Pet food and water shouldn’t be left out overnight.
- Firewood should be kept at least 20 feet away from the house, as pests like to live in stacks of wood.
- Weather-stripping on your garage door should be replaced if it’s loose.
- Check your foundation for holes and fill any hole, no matter how small, with copper mesh or steel wool. Remember to put a sealant like foam over it to keep it in place.
- Repair damaged window screens, put door sweeps on any exterior doors, and put screens over any exterior air vents (including the chimney).
- Leaking pipes and clogged drains need to be fixed, as these moist areas are the perfect breeding spots for rodents.
- Attics, basements, and crawl spaces should be well ventilated and dry.
- Call a professional if you have a severe infestation, or need help putting out traps.
Help is a Phone Call Away
These ten tips will make it very tough for rodents to get into your home, but sometimes even the smallest cracks can be overlooked. If you see evidence of a rodent in your house, there’s no telling how many could already be inside your walls. If you don’t want to take on the infestation yourself, give us a call and we can provide you with a free quote. Our rodent control services will keep you rodent free all year round!