While often depicted in cartoons as lovable creatures, no one wants to see mice or rats running around their homes. The appearance of these pests can make you feel uneasy and upset. Rodents not only get into your food, chew up materials in your home, and make messes, but they pose health hazards, too. Mice and rats carry diseases and can multiply quickly.
These home invaders can live in the walls of your home for months or even years without you being able to do much about the problem. But if you follow some basic guidelines, you can stop these annoying creatures from coming into your home and hanging around your property. Start today and stop them from making it inside your home.
Cut Off Their Food Supply
Like any pest in your home, mice and rats are constantly on the lookout for something to eat. Their keen sense of smell can pick up the scent of crumbs and other bits of food lying around your house. If you leave traces of food in your kitchen or other areas, you’re much more likely to spot evidence of these rodents at some point. The trick: Clean up often and thoroughly.
Keeping a tidy home will discourage mice and rats from taking up residence in your place. Sweeping and mopping hard floors in the kitchen are essential duties. You should also wipe down countertops and tables, keeping them free of any remnants of the day’s meals and snacks. Before you go to bed for the night, make sure there is nothing out for these creatures to nibble on. You’ll also want to keep food in tight containers since mice and rats can easily chew through plastic and cardboard containers.
Cut Off Their Water Supply
Similarly, limiting access to water will help to prevent mice and rats from living in your home. If rodents currently are in your home, removing sources of water will chase them away. Check your faucets for dripping problems and inspect your home’s pipes for leaks. If these are issues, fix them right away. Ensure that appliances such as your water heater, fridge, and dishwasher aren’t leaking any water. It’s also a good idea to not leave out pet food and water overnight. Taking the extra step to dry off your kitchen and bathroom sinks before you go to bed will make these areas less inviting to rodents who are looking for something to drink.
Bar Entry Points
Mice can fit through the smallest spaces and, even though they are larger, rats don’t need much room to get inside your house, either. Closing potential access points is essential. Inspect your house for cracks, holes, and other openings where these rodents are finding their way in. Seal openings around doors and windows with caulk. Patch up any holes in the siding or roof. You can also put up mesh coverings over vents or places where wires or pipes are coming in and out of the house.
Bait and Traps Options
Mouse and rat traps have long been a popular method to catch these pests. These spring-loaded devices lure in rodents with a tasty-looking bait. Once the rodent goes for the snack, a bar snaps down quickly, trapping and killing the creature. Placing these traps around your home under furniture, behind appliances, and in other crevices can do the trick. Sticky traps can serve the same purpose. There are also traps that catch but do not kill the rodents. The devices have a trigger that keeps the rodent inside a small box or container that won’t open until you release the animal.
Poison
Another possibility is to use poison to kill the rodents. Some come in the form of pellets or blocks that look and smell like food to the pests. The poison will make the rodents thirsty, forcing them outside where they will die. Other poisons are designed for the mouse or rat to take it back to their nests and feed the family, killing them all. Be careful where you place these poisons so they are out of reach of children and pets.
Professional Help
If you suffer a large infestation of mice and rats, you may want to enlist the services of a pest control company. Professional exterminators in Charlotte, North Carolina are trained to know how the rodents are getting into your home and where they are hiding. These technicians also use effective traps and poisons to kill entire populations of mice and rats in and around your home. Research different pest control companies near you and choose one that you feel comfortable has the best service and pricing options available.
Seeing mice or rats in your home can be quite a shock and scare. Luckily, there are ways to eliminate these pests and keep others from joining you inside. Follow these tips if you have a rodent problem.
Sources:
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a35872/how-to-get-rid-of-mice/
