If you are a homeowner, there is a risk for a rat or mice infestation. A rodent infestation, no matter how small, can be expensive and stressful if not properly handled. Worse still, having a rodent infestation exposes you and your family to a variety of parasites and diseases.
The reality is that every home is at risk for a rodent infestation. Earthwise Pest Management, your pest control company in Sacramento, offers reasons why you could be at risk for an infestation.
Seeking Shelter Around Your House
Rodents seeking shelter are often found in firewood piles in your yard. Firewood can serve as a great shelter for rodents as they can access it from the ground. There are other items you have in your yard that can act as a potential shelter for rodents.
If you have flowers or shrubs near your home, rodents may seek these out as shelter. Junk cars, discarded furniture and other junk in your yard are also attractive to rodents. A yard free from junk will go a long way in keeping rodents away from your home.
Seeking Shelter In Your House
Mice and rats are always seeking shelter that can act as a nesting site. If they can’t find anything outside of your home to use for their home, they will try to find a way inside your home.
Mice and rats are able to squeeze into tiny spaces to gain entry into your home. A rat can squeeze through a space the size of a quarter and mice can squeeze into spaces the size of a dime.
Since mice and rats can fit into small spaces, any gaps you have in your home will leave it vulnerable to an infestation. Check the areas where gas lines, sewer lines and plumbing lines enter and exit your house and make sure they are all sealed up.
Poor Sanitation
Poor sanitation could be one reason why you are suffering an infestation. Rats and mice are associated with unhygienic spaces. This rings true if you have bits of garbage around your home.
Rodents are scavengers and will seek out a place to bed down and raise a family. If your home isn’t clean, it will be a target for an infestation.
Rodents are also attracted to water sources. If you have a bowl of water placed outside for the pets, it may attract rodents. The same holds true for swimming pools and other water sources. Eliminate the water source and your chances of a rodent infestation decreases.
Why You Shouldn’t Try To Treat The Infestation Alone
If you have ever owned a rodent as a pet, then you know that they are intelligent and social creatures. Mice and rats don’t like being alone, so if you see one inside your home, it is very likely there will be more.
You might get the first few mice, but you can bet there are plenty more hanging out somewhere in your house. You might get rid of several mice and think the job is done only to soon discover that you were very wrong about that assessment.
Handling Rodents Can Be Dangerous
Rats, mice and the parasites that come with them can carry a number of diseases that can easily be spread through their droppings, saliva and urine. If you do not know how to properly handle a rat or mouse that is dead or alive, you are putting your family at risk.
How To Prevent Future Infestations
Putting an end to an infestation starts with a plan for the prevention of future entry. A true rodent expert won’t stop after getting rid of the infestation. Regular inspections are in order to keep the rodents out of your home.
Contact Earthwise Pest Management today.