Rodent Proofing your Home

Pest Control TipsRodents

A mouse can enter your home in a crack or hole the size of a dime. A rat, through a hole the size of a quarter. They come inside for the same reason you do. A nice, warm, cozy place to stay, drink and eat.

Not only do you not want them in the house because they give you the willies – they carry harmful parasites and can even spread the plague. Powerful chewing and gnawing can also lead to structural damage and fire from chewing on wires.

To ensure that you don’t end up with a family of rodents nesting in your home (when there is one, you probably have ten or twelve), we have compiled a list of common entrance points and solutions to block them.

Don’t allow easy access to food!

1. Keep pet food in sealed containers – even if it is stored in the garage.
2. Store bulk foods in rodent-proof containers. Metal containers are best.
3. Make sure crumbs and food tidbits don’t end up on the floor, behind the couch or under cushions. Especially if you have children. Even gaps between appliances or crumbs under the toaster.

Eliminate entry points into the house:

1. Seal all holes that lead into the house. Steel wool, copper gauze, hardware cloth, and plaster are all good materials to use.
2. Check for holes around pipes and cables that lead into the house. Seal these holes with cement or caulk.
3. Add metal weather stripping to doors.
4. Keep doors closed and screens on windows.Put screens over vents.
5. Keep floor drains sealed.
6. When checking the outside of your home, look for cracks where light shines through or for places where you feel air moving. This indicates a crack or hole that a rodent may access.

Keep outside the home clear of:

1. Overgrown shrubs or tree limbs that touch the house or the roof.
2. Elevate and store woodpiles away from the house.
3. Get rid of junk that doesn’t get used often. Rodents like places where they won’t be bothered or uprooted.

If you need professional help with rodent exclusions and prevention, we are also happy to help.

If you already have rodents in your home, see our blog post on “How to Set a Mouse Trap” or contact us for professional help.