Keep Rodents Out of Your Home

SERVING ALL OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA & MISSISSIPPI

Fortunately, most types of wild mice prefer to stay out in nature. However, as the temperature drops, your warm house starts to look increasingly appealing to these creatures. Mice, and even rats, are likely to make their way into your home if you give them an opportunity.

How Do Rodents Find Ways Into Your House?

Mice and rats don’t need large openings to get inside your house. According to the Humane Society, many mice can enter your house through a hole that is no larger than the size of a dime. Cracks and crevices that may not even be noticeable to you can appear as an open invitation to a rodent. Mice and rats tend to enter houses where there are cracks in the foundation or openings around entryways or windows. They can also find ways to enter the property where siding has become worn or in openings where pipes or wires are fed into the house.

Detecting the Presence of Mice and Rats in Your Home

These critters are not likely going to want to be seen by you. They are going to be most active in your home when you are sleeping or away. To detect the presence of rodents, you will need to look for signs that they have turned your home into theirs.

Common signs that you have a mice or rat problem in your home include:

• Scratching or bumping noises in your attic
• Droppings around the house that are roughly the size of a grain of rice
• Small holes have been chewed into food bags or boxes, most commonly in pet food bags that are stored in low cabinets
• Nests made of cloth, paper, cardboard or other materials might be found in cabinets, closets or the basement
• Signs of chewing damage to insulation, wires, siding or furniture

The Importance of Rodent Exclusion from Your House

A rodent problem must be addressed as soon as possible. Rodents along the Gulf Coast, and the fleas they bring, can be carriers of many various diseases. These pests and their droppings can pose serious health hazards to you, your family, and your pets. The structural damage caused to your home by rodents can also quickly become very costly. Not only can the mice cause damage to your walls, insulation and furniture, but they can also create a risk of a house fire igniting if they chew on electrical wires. This is especially true when you have “roof rats” making a nest in your attic.

Preventing a Rodent Infestation

The best way to deal with mice and rats in your home is to keep them from entering in the first place. In the pest control industry, we refer to this as “wildlife exclusion”. Since these pests come into your home through small openings along the foundation, it is essential to locate all of these weak spots and seal them. You can seal cracks and openings around your home using expanding-foam insulation, copper mesh, quick-drying cement, or caulking, depending upon the area you are addressing.

Getting Professional Help for Rodent Control

Anyone who has tried DIY methods for getting rid of mice or rats has probably figured out that it can be difficult to out maneuver these resourceful little pests. This is why it can be very beneficial to enlist the help of Presto-X, formerly Fischer Environmental if you need rodent control along the Gulf Coast. The pest control professionals at Presto-X, formerly Fischer Environmental are equipped with the tools and experience needed to detect, humanely remove and prevent mice and rat infestations. If you would like to cost efficiently and effectively protect your house from rodents as the temperatures drop, call us today for a free estimate.

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