It's August in Maryland! All the rodents have moved outside, right?

Have you ever seen the movie or read the book Charlotte's Web? If you have, do you remember the scene where Templeton the rat goes to the fair? He is enraptured as he finds tasty morsel after tasty morsel and grows fatter and fatter. Doesn't it make sense that rats and other rodents would spend all of their time outside during the summer months? After all, food is plentiful, the weather is warm, and all the other animals are outside, right? Well, it only works that way in books and movies.

While it is more likely that rodents will go outside more in warmer weather, if rats, mice, squirrels, or other rodents have taken up residence in your home, there is little or no reason for them to move out. Their nest is still soft. They still have the protection of your attic or wall voids, and when it is hot outside, they can find a nice cool spot inside your walls, perhaps near the basement. Yes, rodents who have made a home in your home are likely to keep right on living there, unless you give them some reasons to leave.

Here are some tips you can try to deter rodents from staying in your home:

• Clean, clean, clean. Keeping your home clear of food scraps, crumbs, and spills may prompt rodents to find another source of food; but keep in mind that they will likely still come back to sleep in their cozy nest.

• Remove water sources by fixing leaky pipes, sinks, tubs etc. Also, dry up areas around your yard. If animals can't find a water source, they may decide to find a more suitable place to live.

• Remove food sources from your yard. Don't leave pet food outside, and consider removing bird feeders or moving them far away from your home. If your rodents find food nearby, they will likely still return to their established nest.

• Try putting out some mouse traps. This may trap a few mice, or scare some away, but it is unlikely you will be able to trap them all. You may find yourself in a never ending battle as new critters move in to take their place or the mice left behind continue to have new litters.

While it is possible to reduce the number of rodents living inside your home, once your defenses have been breached, it is unlikely that you will ever know for sure if you have gotten them all. With the threat of the rabies virus, getting parasites, and contracting the other diseases that rodents carry, it is wise to call a pest control company when dealing with rodents.

Here at American Pest, we offer year-round pest control because rodents, and other pests, simply aren't likely to move out on their own, even when the weather is nice. Get rid of rodents in your Maryland home today, with help from American Pest.