In the United States, 14.8 million people have seen rats or mice in their homes within the last 12 months. Rodent infestations are problems that affect many homes, but there are ways that we can prevent this from happening.
Do you want to learn how you can avoid a rodent infestation in your home? Keep reading these tips to keep pests out of your home and to find the best home pest control options for you.
Seal Potential Entrances
The first thing that you need to do to prevent a rodent infestation in your home is to seal any potential entrances into your home. Holes in the exterior of your home allow these rodents to get inside your home, so sealing them will effectively prevent an infestation.
Some ways that you can seal entrances are to seal any cracks or holes on the exterior walls of your home, replace weather stripping on your windows or doors, and repairing damaged screens on your doors and windows.
Trim Overhanging Trees
While many rodents gain access to your home through holes in the wall or in other exterior gaps, there are other ways that they can get inside your house.
One way that rodents gain outdoor access to your home is with trees that have overhanging branches. A rat or mouse could easily climb up your tree and hop from a branch to your roof.
This may give them access to your attic or to the walls of your home. By keeping your tree branches trimmed, you can keep mice and rats away from your house.
Keep a Clean Yard
It is also vital that you keep your yard clean if you are worried about having a rodent infestation. When you have piles of clutter, garbage, and firewood in your yard, they are perfect nesting spots for rodents.
Even things like shrubs that are too close to your home provide protection for rodents.
By keeping these bushes trimmed and by removing any debris in your yard, you can keep rats and mice from nesting.
Look for Nests
Next, you may want to keep an eye out for rodent nests. Even if you do not see mice or rats in your home or property, they can be hiding and breeding.
Most often, rodents will use shredded materials to create nests. These include different fabrics, paper, insulation, and even leaves. You can check for nests in your home near your attic, in any crawlspace, or in any other dark, dry areas of your home.
It is important to catch a rodent infestation early, so make sure you contact a rodent control professional if you see the signs of a rodent nest. This way, you can keep the problem from worsening.
Remove Food Sources
Rodents will not stay somewhere if they do not have access to food. The easiest way to prevent rodents is to remove any potential food sources.
In your home, you want to be sure that you never leave out any food and that you store all of your food in airtight containers. You should also be sure to regularly take out your garbage to prevent rats from eating food waste.
Other common outdoor food sources for rodents are gardens and fruit trees. If you have fruit trees that drop fruit, make sure you clean these up before they can attract rodents.
You can also invest in rat guards for trees to keep rats from having access to the fruit on your trees. If you have a garden, you can plant natural rodent deterrents, like mint, or you can spray predator urine around the edges of your garden to deter mice and rats.
Keep a Clean Home
Not only do you want to keep a clean yard to prevent rats, but it is also vital that you keep a clean home.
As was mentioned before, leaving food out and failing to remove the garbage in your house may attract rats and mice. If they have a steady food source, they will never leave your home.
Make sure you always properly dispose of food, have rodent-proof bins and garbage cans, and avoid too much clutter in your home.
Hire a Pest Control Company
Finally, you may want to consider hiring a pest control company if none of these other tips have worked.
While pest control companies can help remove active rodent infestations, they can also help you prevent rodents on your property and in your home. Even if you do not suspect a rodent infestation, setting traps can help prevent it from becoming a problem.
If you recognize any warning signs of a rodent infestation, you can also call a pest control company to inspect your home. These inspections are often free and can help you identify and treat pest problems.
Get Help With a Rodent Infestation Today
Rats can be dangerous pests to have in your house and may cause a lot of damage to your property. By following each of these tips, you can effectively prevent a rodent infestation.
While there are many things that you can do to prevent a rodent infestation, they can be difficult to remove once they have begun to breed on your property.
To completely remove any rodents on your property, it is best to hire a pest management company.
Are you looking for help with an insect infestation or pest control near me? Pointe Pest Control can help! Contact our team today to learn more about our eco-friendly pest control, for more tips on how to prevent a rodent infestation, and for a free inspection of your home!