It is not uncommon for people to experience some sort of infestation problem in their homes at one point or another. Whether it is bugs, rodents, or wildlife of some sort, knowing that there are living things in your home that should not be there can cause a very uneasy feeling. Based on what our past customers have told us, knowing there are mice and rats in your home may be the most unsettling of all. Did you know that nearly 1/3rd of the U.S. population faces issues with mice and rats in their home? If you want to keep from being part of that statistic, we suggest that you take the proper steps to keep rodents from running rampant in your home.
The First Thing You Should Know About Rodents
When it comes to mice and rats, their main goal is to find a cozy location in which they can build a nest and still have access to an ample food supply. This often means that rodents set up shop in kitchens or pantries where they don’t have to worry about finding food at a moment’s notice.
Once they find the proper place to reside, rodents will begin to reproduce at an extremely fast rate. Did you know that a female mouse can give birth to as many as a dozen mice babies every three weeks?! Additionally, female mice that are birthed can begin reproducing themselves as early as four weeks old. This should give you some idea of how a rodent problem can quickly transform into a rodent infestation. Keeping this in mind, prevention is key. Check out the tips below to ensure you don’t have to deal with an infestation in your home anytime soon.
Sealing
Looking around the outside of your home for cracks or holes is imperative if you want to keep rodents at bay. Be sure to focus a lot of your energy on looking around areas that have wires or cables that run from the outside of your home into the inside. Even if a hole or crack is the size of a dime, that is plenty of room for a mouse to enter your home. If you do happen to find a hole, make sure to fill it with something that a rodent cannot chew through. Steel wool or copper mesh are likely going to be your best options.
Foundations
You may not be aware, but this is the most likely place a rodent will enter your home. The foundation of your basement, as well as all of your windows, should be double-checked to ensure they are not loose or that the weather stripping hasn’t been compromised. You can avoid this by regularly replacing your weather stripping and checking out windows and doors for gaps.
Plumbing and Moisture
If there are spots in your home that easily gather moisture, they need to be monitored and cleaned often. Whether you are dealing with a leaking pipe or a clogged drain, rodents are attracted to moisture; therefore, these areas should be taken care of frequently.
Storage
As we mentioned above, any area of your home in which food is kept is extremely appealing to rodents. This means when storing things in your pantry or cupboard, you may want to consider buying plastic storage containers and storing things like cereal and pasta in them rather than their original packaging.
Another kind of storage you should consider is how you are storing extra belongings in your home. If you have an attic, basement, or garage filled with cardboard boxes, you may want to rethink this method. Rodents like to reside in dark areas that allow them to hide, and storage areas are specifically one of their favorite places to reside.
Clutter
Speaking of storage, if you are someone who has quite a bit of stuff in your home that you aren’t using, this clutter is a mouse’s dream. Whether you keep your clutter in the basement, attic, or a spare bedroom, rodents will find it. These little critters like areas like this because they are perfect for building nests in which they can breed. Keeping your home clutter-free is a great way to ensure you don’t have a rodent outbreak.
Landscaping
This advice is a little difficult, as we know you want your lawn to look nice and manicured. However, one of the best ways to ensure that rodents will be attracted to your home is to have dense bushes and plants around the front of your house. We’re not telling you to get rid of all of your beautiful and expensive landscaping by any means. However, properly caring for your landscaping is important if you don’t want your yard and, eventually, your home overrun by rodents.
Indoor Sanitation
Having a home that is clean is one of the best ways to ensure that you won’t have a rodent problem. This means making sure your home is clean, especially in areas where food may be dropped, like under the stove, around the fridge, or under the dining room table. Wipe down your countertops after each use and make sure that you don’t leave glasses of water out overnight, as these will also attract mice and rats.
Pet Food
Pet food is often an overlooked attractant for rodents in homes. To ensure effective rodent prevention, managing how pet food is stored and handled is critical. Here are some tips for keeping rodents away using proper pet food storage:
- Store in Metal Containers: Rodents can easily chew through plastic, so storing dog food, cat food, seed for bird feeders, and other pet food in metal containers with tight-fitting lids can prevent access.
- Regular Cleaning: Clean up any spilled pet food immediately and regularly sweep areas where pets eat to eliminate crumbs and residues.
- Feeding Schedule: Avoid leaving pet food out overnight. Feed pets at specific times and remove any leftover food promptly to deter mice and other rodents from feasting at night.
Natural Scents
Many homeowners are interested in natural alternatives for rodent control, particularly in using scents to repel mice. Some commonly discussed natural deterrents include:
- Peppermint Oil: Known for its strong aroma, peppermint oil can repel mice. Cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil placed in areas of mouse activity can help keep these rodents at bay.
- Cat Urine: The scent of cat urine can act as a natural mouse deterrent due to the predatory threat cats pose to mice. However, relying on this may not be practical or desirable in all settings.
- Other Essential Oils: Eucalyptus and citronella have also been noted to deter mice, though consistent application is necessary to maintain their effectiveness.
While these repellents can be part of a broader pest control strategy, they are often unreliable as a standalone solution for a mouse infestation. It’s usually more effective to combine such repellents with other methods, such as sealing entry points to prevent access, maintaining cleanliness to reduce food sources, and using traps.
Professional Rodent Control Services
Once a rodent infestation is established, professional rodent control services are often necessary to effectively resolve the problem. Earthwise Pest Management offers comprehensive solutions:
- Inspection and Identification: We start by identifying the type of rodent and the scale of the infestation through professional inspection, looking for signs like mouse droppings and gnaw marks.
- Exclusion Techniques: Sealing entry points to prevent rodents from entering the home is a key part of our strategy.
- Baiting and Trapping: Strategic placement of traps and baits to capture and remove rodents.
- Monitoring and Maintenance: Ongoing monitoring is essential to ensure the infestation is fully resolved and prevent future occurrences.
Contact Us for Rodent Control Services in Sacramento and Nearby Areas
If you’re dealing with a mouse infestation or any rodent issues in Sacramento or nearby areas, don’t wait for the problem to worsen. Contact Earthwise Pest Management for effective and humane rodent control solutions. Our expert pest control team is equipped with the knowledge and tools to tackle any rodent problem, ensuring your home or business remains rodent-free. Reach out today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a pest-free environment. We are the most trusted name in extermination in your area, and we take great pride in that. Call right now for more information!