This is How Mice Keep Getting Into Your Washington D.C. Home
01/30/2022
It is estimated the more than 20 million homes in the U.S. each year are infiltrated by rodents such as mice and rats. Mice are small rodents that ...
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Rodents are pretty smart little creatures. They know how to work hard, they prepare ahead for rough times, and they know how to have a ton of fun. Squirrels only have one mate for life, so they obviously figured out how to get along better than most people can and mice are awesome at raising a family. Rodents are so smart, in fact, that they spent the autumn months making sure that they would be able to meet their most basic needs of food, water, and shelter over the long, cold winter.
Rodents know that once the cold winds begin to blow that these very precious commodities will be scarce, so they plan for that eventuality. By now, these resourceful creatures are most likely already tucked away in some attic, basement, or wall void where they can remain nice and toasty warm all winter long and have access to all the food they can dream of right there in the kitchen cupboards or on pantry shelves. They aren’t too worried about water, either. They are well aware of that slow drip in the pipe inside the kitchen wall – a drip that you are not even aware of yet. And they are not worried one single little bit about what the winter holds because they are pretty well set up living the high life perhaps right inside your home.
There are a few things that you can do in late summer and fall to ensure that rodents, like mice, cannot easily gain access to your home. Keep clutter in your yard to a minimum by removing leaves and other debris as soon as possible. Also, make sure that trash is stored in receptacles with tight-fitting lids and regularly removed from your property. Inspect your foundation and seal any cracks, gaps, or holes that are the size of a dime or larger; a tiny hole is all it will take for a mouse to squeeze in. Make sure that your exterior doors have door sweeps installed, and fix any gaps around utility entrances. Next, move to your roofline. Rats, such as the Norway rat, will try to gain entrance there. Be sure that soffits and eaves are intact and that roof shingles are in good working order with no lifting, cracking, or wear. Fortify screens on attic windows and make sure there that the window framework is solid. Finally, make sure to store food in plastic or glass containers with tight lids, clean out under large appliances in your kitchen, and make sure crumbs and spills are quickly dealt with – even those crumbs that tend to gather under the toaster. These tips will surely help you to avoid living with rodents this winter, but they are not a surefire cure-all.
The only way to completely outsmart rodents like squirrels, mice, and rats is to put in place a year-round pest protection plan like the ones offered here at American Pest. Our rodent protection service is one of the most comprehensive, effective ways to eliminate rodents that are in your home or business; and once they are gone, our rodent specialists will identify entry points and seal them to ensure that rodent access to your home is denied. To learn more about how our year-round Preferred Care plans, our commercial ProCare plans, or our rodent protection service can help you become and remain rodent free, give us a call today.
