Rodents are a gross sight to see in your home. They leave gross droppings and stains on your surfaces. They can chew through plastic to get to the sandwich you were planning on eating in the morning. And as if they couldn’t be annoying enough, these critters can also spread disease.
Some rodents could spreadhantavirus pulmonary syndrome(a severe and sometimes fatal respiratory disease), leptospirosis (a potentially fatal bacterial disease) andsalmonellosis (a common bacterial disease affecting the intestinal tract), among others. These diseases can not only give you fever and colds, but also cause organ damage in the long term.
It can be difficult to get rid of rodents, especially if you don’t have the necessary experience and expertise. But not all hope is lost. There are a few things you can do to keep these critters away before calling a a local pest control services.
Inspect for signs of rodents
What’s frustrating about rats is that they’re so small that they often go unseen when they enter your home. As time goes on, however, they’ll leave disgusting signs of their presence. These often include droppings that look like tiny black grains. You’ll find these in dark corners of your home or in places where there’s a lot of food. Clean them up immediately with disinfectants like bleach diluted in water.
They may also leave a trail of destruction in the form of shredded food wrappers that they mercilessly bit through to get to your food. You may also hear rats skittering and scratching on your floors and walls late at night. This is even more apparent if you don’t have pets at home.
Don’t Let Them In
When it comes to eliminating rodent entry spots in your home, it’s better late than never. Go outside your home and check its foundation and walls for any large cracks or holes that mice could squeeze into. No gap is too small, as these rodents can squeeze into them with ease. Block foundation cracks and holes with masonry sealing materials.
As for the walls, use run-of-the-mill sealants from your nearest hardware store or Amazon. Check your door and window joints for any large gaps, too. Get them fixed if you think that rodents can slip through them.
Don’t Let Them Hide
Rats are intelligent for their size. Even if you do block off their entry points, they can still take shelter in your thick shrubs and even your garbage bins. Some of them may even get lucky and go through an open door while camping out in their trash shelter.
Keep thick shrubs away from your home’s foundation and walls. This way, you discourage mice from hanging around your house. If you have an outdoor bin, don’t overflow them. Make sure there’s always enough room to close them tightly. Pile heavy objects, like rocks, on them to ensure that larger rodents can’t lift the lid up and get into the bin.
Seal Your Food Items
Apart from seeking warmth, rodents sneak into your home because they smell food. Apart from making sure your refrigerator door seals are in good shape, you should also make sure that your dry food like flour and sugar are kept in tightly-sealed containers. These critters will likely ignore your home afterward.
Trap and Eliminate
The mere sound of rodents scampering around your home at night is disgusting. If mice and other critters have already infiltrated your house, you can stop them using live traps. Live traps restrain rodents humanely, meaning that you don’t poison or injure them. Just put some bait inside the trap and wait for them to get caught. Once they’re caught, you can take them to the local exterminator or just set them free.
When it comes to dealing with rodents, time is of the essence. When these animals set up a colony in your home, they can reproduce rapidly. Before you know it, you’ll have a family of mice gnawing on your precious food. Use these effective methods to deal with a rodent infestation and prevent them entirely.