Pest Control – Rodents

Rodents comprise of rats and mice, they are warm bodied animals with oversized front teeth that enable them to gnaw and chew. These rapid breeders are highly destructive, transmit diseases and are capable of squeezing through very small spaces. They posit a huge problem for home owners everywhere and there are ways to help prevent rodent infestations.

Ways to prevent rodent’s infestation:

It is always best to act fast; prevention methods must be implemented in order to maintain a rodent free home. Here are some simple and helpful tips you can use to keep your home free of infestation.

1. Check for signs of rodent presence; droppings left in the kitchen cabinets or pantry, gnawed surfaces such as developing holes in walls, nests in closets or garages and basements, partially eaten food, sounds in walls or cabinets and musky odor especially in a poorly ventilated room.
2. Locate entry points and permanently seal them, close any openings found using sheet metal, hardware cloth, or wire mesh as these will be hard for a rodent to gnaw their way through. Rodents like to hide in vegetation, you should therefore trim the vegetation close to the building, clean gardens deny rodents the food and shelter they need to breed and they can restrict a full out infestation. Rodents also like to hide under woodpiles; in abandoned cars, appliances, old machinery and furniture; and under waste bins so it is advisable to remove and properly dispose of all junk.
3. Keep all possible food sources away from places accessible to rodents. That may be in the home, small crumbs and garbage are popular attractions. There are also outside food sources that attract rodents to your home, such as pet food, fallen fruits from trees in your yard and fecal matter. Food should be well stored in glass containers or sealed metal to prevent contamination, fruits should also be well stored.
4. Proper management of waste. The waste produced during the daily running of a kitchen should not be left on counters, floors or in the sink. The disposal of garbage is also highly important in preventing potential infestation; one must therefore keep garbage cans sealed and clean them often.
5. Use of traps and baits. This may be efficient in capturing individual rodents but they may also be potentially toxic to humans or other pets in the home. One must therefore be careful when administering these traps in order to ensure that they are safely used. To use them, you should be aware of rodent habits in order to predict their behavioral patterns and effectively ensnare them. You can use food items such as peanut butter or bacon to attract them to a trap. In most cases, where it is one rodent it may be manageable but for extensive infestations it is advisable to seek professional assistance.

Implement these simple tips to ensure a rat and mouse free home with less chance of catching disease and for your peace of mind. Cleanliness and being vigilant will also go a long way in helping to keep an infestation from becoming a headache.