Rodents are more than your average nuisance pests. These small mammals are known to spread disease and cause damage wherever they go. Some pests are dangerous because they destroy property and some are dangerous because they transmit harmful pathogens, but rodents are particularly problematic because they can do both.
When a rodent infestation develops at home, it can seriously impact your quality of life. But you can help protect your home by knowing a few simple ways to keep rodents out of your home in Austin.
About Rodents
Mice and rats are the most common rodents to infest Austin homes. Mice are smaller than rats and have smaller heads in proportion to their bodies. The typical house mouse has grayish fur and measures only about three inches in length.
Rats tend to be larger with bigger, blockier heads and thick scaly tails. The Norway rat, or sewer rat, is a typical pest in almost every city on earth and Austin is no exception. The Norway rat can be identified by its brownish-black fur and large size, usually about eight inches in length.
Five Ways To Prevent Rodents
Rodents are attracted to our houses because we provide reliable food, water, and shelter. Your garbage bins can be an all-night buffet for rats and your attic can provide perfecting nesting grounds for mice. But with a little effort, you can reduce the presence of rodents on your property with these five tips:
- Clean up – Make sure there are no food scraps or spills in your home that could attract rodents. Wipe down counters and tables, sweep and vacuum, and don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink.
- Take out the trash – Keep trash bins as far away from your home as possible and always keep them sealed shut. Rats can chew through even sturdy plastic, so consider using metal trash bins if possible.
- Use stronger storage – Put any food in your pantry or cupboards in strong containers. Glass and metal are ideal for protecting against rodents, but plastic can be easily chewed up.
- Do some yard work – Remove outdoor hiding spots like stacks of firewood, piles of leaves, or any other clutter accumulating in your yard. Keep shrubs and hedges trimmed and away from making contact with your house.
- Go natural – Consider using some powerful organic pest control. Rats and mice hate the smell of mint, so planting some around your property can deter them. And adopting a cat is never a bad idea for effective natural rodent control.
Five Ways To Keep Rodents Out
Rodents are determined explorers and will find any way to enter your home. By examining the exterior of your property, you can identify and treat the entryways that rodents use to get in. There are few places, in particular, you should look at and a few methods you should know about.
- Check around the exterior – Examine the foundation, electrical junctions, plumbing, doors, and windows for any gaps or openings. Mice can fit through a hole the size of a nickel and most rats only need a ¾ inch opening to enter your home.
- Check around inside – Look for similarly small holes and openings around pipes and cables as well as fireplaces, doors, and in corners where floors meet walls.
- Seal openings with steel wool – Stuff any small openings with steel wool and fix the material in place using silicone caulk.
- Patch holes – Metal lath or mesh screen can be used to patch larger holes. A solid metal plate can also be used, but non-metal materials are susceptible to being chewed through.
- Replace weather-stripping – Sometimes rodents can simply squeeze under your front door. Examine your doors and replace any faulty weather stripping.
You can take steps to reduce and prevent the presence of rodents in your home, but once an infestation develops, it can be hard to get rid of. At Accurate Termite & Pest Control we can eliminate your rodent problem once and for all. Get in touch with our rodent control experts today.