Rodent control is exceptionally important. A rodent infestation can carry other diseases and pests into the home. If they get into your food and you later eat it, you can become ill. What are rodents in homes looking for? Chiefly, they’re after food, water, and shelter. This means each of these elements must be a factor in an effective rodent prevention plan.
Preventing Rodent Access
The first thing to do is to seal up holes and gaps that rodents might use to enter the home. This involves you inspecting all around your home. Rodents can squish down to a fraction of the size they appear – keep in mind that a good part of their size is fur. This means you must seal even small gaps with caulk to prevent entry. Pay special attention to areas where pipes and wiring enter the home, as these will often serve as rodent paths.
Cleaning & Storage
Rodents in homes are often there because of access to food and water. Clean up any sitting water or areas where water may pool. Make sure you clean up food preparation areas after you use them. Store your food in airtight plastic containers. Rodents have strong teeth and can easily chew through paper or cardboard to get at baking ingredients, snacks, cookies – you name it.
Make sure you secure pet food as well – this food provides rodents with all the nutrients they need, and homeowners sometimes forget to take it off the rodent menu. A hard plastic bin that snaps shut is a good choice for rodent prevention here.
Use indoor trash cans that have lids for anything that food waste or scraps will go into. Rodents will happily crawl in and out of trash in order to get at the food you don’t use. Take your trash out regularly.
Traps & Pest Control
There are a variety of traps that can be used for rodent pest control, including humane traps that don’t harm the animals. A Brevard County pest control service can help you with any rodent infestation. Strategies change by home, surrounding environment, and by the residents’ habits that may attract the rodents. This means if you’re having trouble shedding the pests, there may be a more effective strategy a pest control expert can recognize.