The potential for two mice to generate up to 2,000 new offspring in just one year is enough to make anyone feel uneasy. The presence of rodents in your home, especially during festive seasons, can be debilitating. The mere thought of these creatures scurrying behind your walls and under your appliances can make you feel helpless and unclean. Rodents can transmit viruses, and their droppings can lead to lung infections and exacerbate asthma symptoms. There are several reasons why rodents may invade our homes, but there are also numerous ways to keep them at bay. For instance, peppermint oil or minty oil drops, ammonia, clover flowers, and eucalyptus are all effective deterrents. You can also eliminate any factors that may attract rodents to your home. Here are a few additional measures you can take to secure your home.
In-home Check-Ups
Mice and rats can’t regulate their body temperatures when the temperatures outside drop, so they seek shelter and warmth where ever they can find it. You’ll need to perform some maintenance and annual checkups to keep them out of your house. Mice can slip into spaces as small as a pencil. Shocking, right? Perform the following tasks:
- Check around kitchen cabinets, windows, and doors for gaps larger than 1/4 of an inch.
- Make sure your fireplace has a tight seal when not being used.
- Check pipes under sinks, behind washing machines, and dishwashers.
- Check lines that come into the home, gas, water or sewer lines.
- If there are any spaces or crevices, cover them with lath metal. It is important to check all spots of entry in your home.
- Check windows and screen doors and secure doggie doors with magnetic seals.
- You can use caulk to seal gaps around foundations or corners where the sealant has worn down. These are pretty easy and efficient ways to prevent entry.
Preventative Steps
The CDC recommends that food and garbage be sealed up. Loose foods like cereal and grains should be in resealable containers.
- Take the garbage out as soon as you can.
- Don’t leave animal food bowl out if possible.
- Keep floors and counters clear of crumbs, sugary spills or food that will attract rodents. They have a great sense of smell so you may not realize how attractive your home may smell to the little guys.
- Keep garbage cans, bushes, and wood piles 100 feet from your home by trimming bushes and keeping your yard tidy.
- Keep birdfeeders away from your house and arm them with squirrel guards to keep rodents away
By implementing these preventive measures, you can gain a significant advantage over these destructive rodents. In case your attempts at controlling them yourself have proven ineffective and they have already infiltrated your space, it’s recommended to reach out to your local pest control agency.
AANTEX Pest Control offers a variety of free inspections and services to the entire Bay Area. Call us at 1-800-471-5555
