Although they are more common in winter, rodent infestations can happen at any time of year. Utah pest control experts know that once mice or rats find their way into your home, they breed very quickly, making it difficult to get rid of them. That’s why it is important to prevent a rodent infestation at all costs. Here are five ways that you can stop a rodent infestation before it happens.
Seal Any Openings in Your Foundation
A mouse can enter your house through a space no larger than a nickel. Your home’s foundation can have a number of openings and cracks large enough to let rodents in, and it is important that you plug these openings as soon as possible.
Take a walk around the outside of your house and look for gaps around windows and doors, the foundation, the roof, and near entry points for gas and electrical lines. Caulking can work for small cracks and gaps, while larger openings can be plugged with cement or sheet metal.
Not only can this help you deal with rodents such as voles, but it also can help you withstand the harsh winter and prevent moisture from seeping into your foundation.
Plug Mouse Holes With Steel Wool
After you have sealed openings in your home’s foundation, take your search inside and look for mouse holes. Check behind appliances and inside cupboards. Again, a rodent can get into your house through a hole as small as a nickel. If you find any openings inside your house, stuff a ball of steel wool inside. Steel wool is one of only a few materials that are too tough for rodents to chew through. For added protection, apply caulking around the steel wool.
Store Food in Rodent-Proof Containers
Often, rodents will enter your house in search of a quick meal. If a mouse or rat gets into your food, it can pose health risks to you and your family. Keep food elevated off the floor and sealed in metal containers. If you spill any food while cooking or eating, clean it up immediately. Make sure to wash your dishes immediately after a meal, and if you have pets, don’t leave their food out overnight.
Feed and grains for barnyard animals should be kept in metal bins with secure lids. If you have livestock, be sure to collect unused feed at the end of every day and return it to the appropriate bin, especially if you live out in the Utah countryside.
Have an Outdoor Firewood Pile? Separate It From Your House
Firewood piles offer mice a place to find shelter and warmth. This is also true of compost piles and overgrown shrubs. If you keep your compost and firewood along the side of your house, or if your garden is overgrown, it can provide ample shelter for rodents. When mice are living so close to your home, it’s rather easy for them to get inside where it’s warm. Keep firewood and compost at least twenty feet away from your home, and trim back shrubs and plants that could offer shelter to vermin.
Door Sweeps Can Keep Out Unwanted Guests
One of the easiest ways for a mouse to enter your home is through an exterior door. When it comes to gaps around the edges of a door, caulking and steel wool won’t do. Mice can enter your home through a gap as small as ¼ inch, so a door sweep can do wonders for preventing an infestation. There are a number of different types of door sweep available. Plastic and rubber door sweeps can be effective, but they tend to wear down quickly. A brush-style door sweep will stand up to wear and tear while keeping rodents out. Plus you have the added benefit of better insulation for your home to protect against the harsh Utah winters.
A rodent infestation is a serious health hazard that can affect your quality of life. Mice, rats, and other rodents breed quickly, and once they get into your home it can be difficult to get them out. By following the above five tips, though, you can prevent an infestation before it starts. If your house is already infested, contact a Utah pest control company today.
