Rodents can wiggle into spaces the size of a quarter or less, so it’s important to do a thorough home inspection. Look for rodent rub marks and droppings.
Store food in metal, glass, or heavy plastic containers that can’t be chewed. Take garbage and recycling bins out regularly. Cover outdoor pet food bowls and pick up fruit that falls from trees or gardens.
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1. Seal Up Cracks and Holes
Pest Control Rodents invade homes during colder weather in search of food, water and shelter. They are extremely skilled at getting into even the smallest cracks and crevices, so it’s important to seal up entry points in your home.
You can start by doing a thorough inspection of your home, or hiring someone to do one for you. Look around your windows, doors, roof vents and chimneys to find any holes that rats could be using to enter. Seal up any holes the size of a quarter or bigger with steel wool and caulk. For other smaller holes, you can use metal hardware cloth that is cut to fit the hole and then stuffed in place.
Another way to prevent rats and mice from entering your home is to reduce their sources of water. Make sure to remove any pools of standing water that might be near your home, like residual water from a pet’s water dish or in puddles under potted plants.
It’s also a good idea to store wood and rock piles away from the exterior of your house, or at least keep them at least 18″ from your home. You can also trim and thin out plant growth, remove debris and stacks of firewood from near your home. If you have to have these items stored close to your house, make sure they are kept in a well-ventilated area and that the ground is covered.
2. Keep Your Home Clean
Rodents are drawn to areas where there is food and shelter, so preventative measures are key. Cover garbage bins and clean up spilled or discarded food items right away to keep rodents from entering your home. Store trash and wood piles in containers, and keep them as far from your building as possible to minimize potential hiding places.
Keep your yard clean of debris, twigs, and leaf litter to remove potential hiding spots for rats and mice. Make sure that trees and shrubs are at least 3 feet away from the foundation of your house or other buildings. Trim bushes and limbs that hang over the roof or shed and make sure there are no bridges to get into the roof.
Regularly inspect your home, garage and outbuildings for signs of rodent activity, such as gnawed holes in drywall or joists and ductwork, tracks of rodents along walls and ridges and dirt burrows under trees and bushes. Use commercially available snap traps, glue traps or cage traps to catch rodents and remove them from your property. Avoid using live animal traps, as they cause suffering and can spread disease.
Check for cracks around utility lines, openings where vents meet walls and air conditioning, and warped basement windows as possible entry points. Seal these with caulk or silicone-based products to stop rodents from getting inside your home.
3. Get Rid of Nesting Sites
Rodents invade homes in search of food, water and shelter during colder months. Getting rid of their food sources, nesting sites and secluded areas can make your home less appealing to mice and rats.
Start by examining your attic or crawl space, and removing any clutter that might provide shelter to rodents. Next, examine all exterior doors and frames for cracks or gaps that need to be sealed. Check where pipes and wires go through drywall, as these are common points of entry for rats. Finally, look around the outside of your home, and scan the rooftops for gnaw marks. Seal all cracks and crevices with recommended materials such as caulk, steel wool or mortar. Consider adding rodent-proof metal guards to vertical pipes outdoors, as well.
Indoors, sweep up crumbs, wipe down counters, and keep food in tightly closed containers. Regularly remove trash from your home and store it in rodent-proof containers. Keep garbage cans in the garage or in the backyard rather than inside the house.
Rodents can enter through openings the size of a dime or quarter, so be sure to inspect all areas of your home, including attics and crawl spaces. Also, trim back bushes and trees that are close to the home so they cannot serve as bridges to the roofline. Use traps (such as snap or glue) and bait stations to catch and kill rodents, and place them along common paths that the mice or rats follow.
4. Get Rid of Food
Pests can be more than just a nuisance. Some, like termites and rodents, can cause structural damage to your home. Others, like ants, mosquitoes and cockroaches, can carry dangerous germs that can lead to disease.
The best way to keep these pests away is to deny them the food, water and shelter they need. Keep your kitchen counters and cabinets clean of crumbs, and dispose of garbage regularly in tightly-sealed containers. Don’t leave ripe fruit or grains in the open; they will attract pests. Store them in sealed glass or plastic containers with lids that clamp shut.
Clutter provides a good hiding spot for many pests, so make sure you clear out your attic, crawl space and basement regularly. A flashlight is a great tool to have when cleaning out these spaces; it can help you spot pest activity. Look for signs of gnaw marks and trails of ant or rodent tracks, as well as discarded fecal matter.
You can also help to discourage pests from making their home in your yard by planting native plants that are naturally prey on by local wildlife. Native plants also need less water and fertilizer than exotic species, so they will reduce your maintenance costs. You should also consider attracting natural predators of pestemite, such as birds, bats and ground beetles.
5. Prevent Mold Infestations
Termite infestations can lead to mold growth, which can be a serious health concern for people with respiratory conditions. The spores of mold can also damage building materials and weaken the structural integrity of a home or business. Regular pest control maintenance can prevent these infestations from taking hold and ensure that your property is protect from the damage they cause.
While there is no definitive cure for dry wood termites, there are several ways to protect your property from them and prevent future infestations. Preventive methods include physical barriers, such as concrete foundations or termite shields. These can help stop a termite colony before it has a chance to take hold and reduce the need for chemical treatments.
The use of chemical pesticides to treat a termite infestation can be expensive. It is important to consult with a licensed pest control professional who can recommend the best termiticide for your situation and apply it according to state regulations. Some pest control companies offer a spot treatment option, which involves drilling holes in the foundation and treating only those areas of the house where termites are detect. This method is less effective and can lead to re-infestation, as it only addresses the surface of the problem rather than the root system underneath.
Other preventive measures to consider include reducing wood-to-ground contact and eliminating the conditions that encourage termite activity, such as poor drainage and overgrown landscaping mulch. Termite droppings, called frass, can be a telltale sign of an infestation. In addition, tapping or probing wood for a hollow sound can help to identify a potential problem.
