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Summer is in full swing and you know what that means: Pests of all kinds are looking for places to nest, breed and feed away from the summer sun. Rats and mice are certainly no exception. To aid you in your effort to keep them out of your home, here are the four main things that attract rodents and some preventative measures you can take.
Warmth and Comfort
Rodents want shelter from the summer sun and warmth from the winter cold. The scorching heat can tire out and dehydrate a rodent just as easily as the winter can freeze them to death. Homes provide regulation from those weather extremes.
Rodents can live in your walls and home insulation without you even knowing it. That’s why it’s important to watch and listen for signs of an infestation. Do frequent checks for holes in your walls, periodically listen for faint scratching or squeaking sounds and take note of displaced insulation.
A Reliable Food Source
Rats and mice are constantly looking for their next meal. To keep rodents (or any kind of pest for that matter) out of your home, properly store away food. Never leave leftovers or dirty dishes out overnight. Ideally, all food—including pet food—should be sealed in airtight containers.
Food left out in the open is asking for trouble. In addition, leaky pipes can be a water source for rodents. If your water bill looks unusually high, chances are you have a leak somewhere. If you do have an unaddressed leak, don’t be surprised when rodents see this as an opportunity to move in.
Indoor Plants
Proper care for your plants can help them grow big and strong but also bring in an unwanted guest. While indoor plants don’t necessarily attract mice, they find the soil to be a handy storage space. Mice will burrow into your houseplant’s soil and damage their roots. Once they’ve dug down deep enough, they’ll store their ill-gotten food there. If you notice your plants dying, check around for holes in soil or soil on the floor near the base of the plant.
Easy Access
Having easy access to your home is the way most intruders get in. Gaps in your wall structure, chimneys and dog doors are some of the most common ways rodents enter your home. If you have a ground-level window, you may also want to make sure it stays shut during the hotter days and double-check that your weatherstrip is not worn. Check for droppings and tiny footprints near any opening in your home. This will help identify your infestation level and where they’re coming in.
As we head into the dog days of summer, rodents will frantically be looking for ways to beat the heat. If you’re not careful, your residence could become home to rats or mice. That’s the kind of unpleasant surprise we at Worldwide Pest Control want to help you avoid. If you know or suspect that you have a rodent infestation or any other kind of infestation, it’s time to call on the experts.
Our team of highly skilled technicians will put together a customized pest management plan for you and your home. Contact Worldwide Pest Control today!