Rodents like mice and rats might be cute but they are vectors for diseases and parasites, such as salmonella and Hantavirus. Bacteria and germs on their bodies contaminate surfaces, kitchen equipment, dishes, foods and anything else they crawl across. They are also notorious for gnawing on wiring inside of walls, causing shorts and sometimes house fires.
Prevent a Rodent Infestation
There are ways you can prevent a rodent infestation from happening in your home. Here are some tips to prevent rodent infestations this winter.
1. Keep attics, crawlspaces and basements dry and well ventilated.
2. Store firewood at least 20 feet away from your home. Rodents like to hide in wood piles.
3. Trim back shrubbery and foliage away from your home to avoid giving rodents a pathway inside.
4. Repair holes in screens. If they can’t be repaired, replace them right away.
5. Install door sweeps on exterior doors to help keep all pests out.
6. Seal cracks and holes on the outside of your house with steel wool and caulking, paying particular attention to where pipes and vents enter and exit the home.
7. Replace loose mortar and weather stripping around windows and foundation or basement.
8. Protect openings such as chimneys and vents with screens.
9. Store foods in air-tight containers. This includes both human food and pet foods.
10. Take garbage out regularly and store in air-tight bins.
11. Inspect items such as boxes and grocery bags before bringing them into the house.
12. Eliminate all moisture sites such as clogged drains, leaky pipes that can provide ideal breeding grounds.
Rodents reproduce quickly so if you suspect you have a rodent infestation, it’s important to act quickly. Call The Pest Force right away to take care of your infestation problem immediately before it gets worse. Rodents might be cute looking but the disease and structural damage they cause is anything but cute. We’ll take care of your infestation problem quickly, before it gets out of hand.