Rodents Seek Shelter

During the winter season, rodents seek shelter in more than 21 million homes in the United States. This means many homeowners will be dealing with mice or rats in their home over the next few months. You could be one of them.

Rodents & Disease

Rodents can spread dangerous diseases and can cause major property damage. Rodents, such as rats and mice are known to spread more than 35 diseases. Rodents can spread diseases directly to humans through contact with feces, urine, or saliva, and through bites.

Some believe that treatment for rodents is only necessary for the winter because that is the only time they enter a home. The truth is, rodents reproduce all year long, and proper control measures during the spring, summer, or fall are necessary to limit population sizes that will try to enter your home.

Recommendations

We recommend excluding your home to prevent rodents from invading your home:

• Inspect both the exterior and interior of your home for rodent droppings and any gaps where they might gain entry.
• Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home.
• Inspect wires, insulation, and walls for gnaw marks, which may indicate a rodent infestation.
• Store boxes off of the floor to prevent them from residing in undisturbed areas.
• Keep branches and shrubbery trimmed away from the home.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet from the home and five feet off the ground.

Many cat owners believe their furry feline friend will save them from a rat infestation. Sure, cats may occasionally gift rat carcasses to their owners, but they’re not effective at controlling overall rat populations. Rats breed rapidly and can escape to small spaces out of paw’s reach. Trapping is the fastest way to remove rodents from your home. Rodents are very cautious when it comes to new items entering their pathways. Purchase mouse/rat traps and place them in areas that you have seen droppings.

If you suspect or discover a rodent infestation on your property, contact us to properly assess the situation and develop a plan of action. You can also download our DIY Pest Guide to learn more about rodent prevention, exclusion, and treatments.