As the winter is approaching, rodents will lookout for places to take shelter from the cold and your house may be their ultimate target. Rodents like rats, squirrels, and mice are a nuisance to everyday living.
They can destroy properties and contaminate food. So, you should look for ways to keep the rodents out this winter.
How to know whether there are rodents in the house
If you hear screeching noises at night or feel that suddenly something ran away as you switched on the light, then you can be sure that there are rodents in your home.
You will also notice chocolate like droppings all over the house, stains having the smell of urine or plastics, and boxes having holes. These are signs that rodents have infested your house.
How to prevent them from entering the house
As rodents can cause harm to your health and property, its’ better to take preventive measures so that they cannot enter your house in the first place.
Seal the entry points There are small holes or cracks around the house that you must seal. Rodents can squeeze themselves and enter the home through these points. If you notice any hole that is more than a quarter inches in diameter, especially near the windows and doors, then you should seal them.
You can use cement mortar or steel wool to close the gaps. You should also place runner sweeps under the garage doors so that rodents cannot enter through the gap. You must find out if your window screens are torn; if so, you need to replace them. You should also seal the cracks on the walls.
If there are gaps in places through which pipes enter the house, you should fill those up with caulk and mesh. If your home has a chimney then you should cover it with a chimney cap.
Do landscaping
You should do thorough landscaping before the winter to keep your garden and yard clean. If there are long grasses, bushes, or branches of trees, then these become the perfect hiding place for rodents. So, you should trim the tall branches of trees that are close to your windows or roofs. Rodents are good climbers so they can enter your home from the roof. You should remove the overgrown grasses, unwanted weeds, or dead plants.
Remove clutter
You must remove clutter and clean up your house. Rodents will hide in piles of papers or boxes. So, remove the stacks and other garbage. You should do a thorough cleaning of the unused places in your home like the attic or garage.
Store food properly
If you leave food on the countertop or other surfaces uncovered then it will invite the rodents. You must make sure that no food residue is left here and there. You should store food in a sealed container or cover them.
Place baits
You can place baits to catch rodents both inside and outside the house. You should place them near holes or corners which are the probable hiding places of the rodents. You might have to refill the baits with more food or move them around a few times before you will get some good results.
You should take all the preparation to prevent the entry of rodents in your home before the winter. Otherwise, you will have a difficult time dealing with them once they are inside the house.
