While cartoons might make some rodents look like friendly critters, they are not vermin you want to have in your home. Rats and mice can spread dangerous diseases to you and your family without any direct contact from them or their waste. Their feces and urine can dry out, turn to dust-like particles, and spread viruses through the air in your home. Mice, in particular, are known for gnawing on wires, causing house fires. It’s essential you take steps to prevent a rodent infestation.
4 Ways to Keep Your Home Rodent-Free
Repair Holes
Rodents are quite the contortionists, fitting into spaces that seem too tiny for their bodies. An adult mouse can fit through a hole the size of a dime, and rats and squirrels only need an opening the size of a quarter.
You should regularly inspect the outside of your home to see where rodents can get in. If you find a big enough hole, repair it as soon as possible.
Keep Your Space Tidy
Rodents make their way into your home to find a warm, safe place to live that has easy access to food. They like to eat the same things your family does, pets included! Improperly stored dog food is a common favorite of rodents, and they also like your snacks and pantry stables, too. Keeping everything sealed tight is an important start for making your space less inviting to vermin.
Mice love to have a safe and cozy place to nest. Clothes and blankets thrown in the attic that aren’t stored in air-tight containers provide the perfect nesting spot.
Look, Listen, and Smell
You aren’t likely to spot a mouse, rat, or squirrel hanging around your home, so it’s important to look, listen, and smell for signs of them. You might spot feces or discover chew marks on your baseboards. Listen for scurrying in your attic or in walls.
Rodents don’t smell wonderful and rats, in particular, have a distinct musky smell. Your pets may even act differently, so watch for them paying special attention to areas of the house (remember Lady and the Tramp?).
Prevent Rodent Infestations Before They Happen
At TriGuard Pest Control, we believe preventive care is one of the best ways to keep rodents out. Call us today to learn about our rodent extermination services and how we can help keep pests out of your home in the first place.