Where Rodents Hide in Your Home: Common Nesting Spots to Check
Rodents are sneaky creatures, they come out mainly at night and scrounge around for food in your kitchen while you are having pleasant dreams. A rodent infestation is more than just an inconvenience, rodents can carry diseases and they will attract other pests like ticks and fleas.
They also have a tendency to chew on wires, which is a definite fire hazard. Rodents, such as mice and squirrels, look for quiet places that offer warmth, shelter and protection from predators.
Once they have gained entrance, they will lie low until the sun sets and you go to bed. This is when they emerge and start rummaging for food and materials to make a nest. You might not see them, but they leave behind droppings, greasy marks and a musty odor.
Rodents are always gnawing on things because their teeth never stop growing. So everything in your home is fair game including books, furniture and food packaging. Earthwise Pest Management, your pest control company in Sacramento, offers places where these pesky rodents hide in your home.
Kitchens
For the most part, rodents try to avoid making a nest in a bust area. However, your kitchen is an exception to that rule. One major selling point is that it is very close to food sources. Your kitchen is prime rodent real estate.
If you have an infestation, you will likely find rodents holed up behind appliances, check behind your refrigerator or stove. They will also slip in behind loose baseboards and settle under your cabinets. You might even find them in your cabinets.
The best way to keep rodents out of your kitchen is by keeping crumbs and other food off of the floor and sealed up.
Inside Walls
MIce and rats take advantage of the cavities in your walls. They basically give them free access to the entire house. You might even have a squirrel that somehow finds their way into your walls and can’t figure out how to get out.
If you hear funny noises, like scratching and rustling, in the middle of the night, it probably isn’t due to ghosts. The culprits are likely rodents.
The bad news is that rodents can perish while exploring your wall space, then you might suffer the lingering odor of a dead rodent.
Garages
Garages offer a lot of places for rodents to hide. In addition, many people store pet food and other types of food in the garage.
Chances are that you have boxes stored in your garage, which attracts rodents as they can use them for their nest. Your garage might also be somewhat messy, rodents love clutter as it gives them the cover they desire.
Attics
You might wonder how a mouse or rat can get all the way up into your attic. Well, it happens all of the time. You see, rodents are opportunistic and love searching for quiet spots. Rodents can climb and hop and can get to out-of-the-way spaces. They might even climb a tree to access your roof and attic.
Crawlspaces
The area underneath your home is the perfect shelter for rodents. It is likely that you have stuff stored in boxes down there and it is certainly dark and lonely. If you think you have an infestation, you might want to check your crawlspace for evidence of rodents.
Sheds
Well, sheds aren’t typically located inside your house, but yours might be full of rodents anyway. And if you do have rodents in your shed, it is probably just a matter of time until they find their way into your home.
Check Entry Points
If you want to keep rodents out of your house, the first thing you want to do is check all entry points. Check your doors and windows closely to make sure there are no visible gaps. If you find one, get it closed up.
Inspect the Foundation
Inspect the foundation of your home for any holes or other gaps. Any hole that is large enough for a rodent to enter should be sealed. The best materials to use are foam or wire mesh.
Avoid Clutter
Clutter inside and outside your home should be cleaned up to help prevent a rodent infestation. Rodents dig clutter.
If you think you have a rodent problem, give Earthwise Pest Management a call.