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Rodent Control – How to Keep Rodents From Invading Your Home Or Business

Rodents are carriers of many pathogens that can be spread through direct contact or by breathing in dust contaminated with rodent urine and feces. Some of these diseases can be fatal.

Rodents enter buildings for food, shelter and water. They are attracted to open bowls of pet food and water, garbage cans that aren’t sealed tightly, holes around utility pipes and cracks in the foundation. Contact Rodent Control Tampa now!

Rodents are nuisance pests that can damage property and food storage containers, as well as pose a health risk by contaminating foods and spreading diseases. Fortunately, there are many preventative strategies that can be employed to deter rodents and keep them from invading homes and businesses.

Look out for signs of a rodent infestation: droppings; gnaw marks on food packages or furniture; shredded paper and fabric that suggests nesting materials; scampering noises in walls or ceilings. Also, be sure to inspect sheds and garages frequently — these areas are a particular attraction for rats and mice due to their sheltered nature.

Keep garbage cans tightly closed, and clean up food spillage and crumbs promptly. Use metal or plastic storage containers instead of cardboard boxes, which rodents can chew through. Ensure garbage bins are regularly emptied, especially when full, to avoid overflowing and attracting rodents. Store bird feeders and pet food away from the house, and sift through discarded seeds and nuts before storing them. In the garden, weed and brush debris should be removed to eliminate hiding places and prevent rodents from scavenging. Keep fruit trees clear of fallen fruit, and plant members of the mint family in the garden to repel rodents.

Rodents can enter buildings through cracks, crevices and holes as small as a quarter inch in size. Sealing these entry points with caulk and steel wool can help deter them, as will ensuring that vents, drains and plumbing pipes are properly screened and sealed.

In addition to sealing entry points, Hulett’s rodent exclusion services can be a great way to deter them. We can inspect your property and identify and block all potential pathways through which rodents might enter a structure. We’ll also place nontoxic monitoring bait blocks in tamper-resistant stations in non-visible or inaccessible areas, and visually inspect these locations frequently for rodent activity. Our team can also install self-closing doors on frequently used exterior doors, and add limiting screens to pipes and vents to further discourage rodent entry into the home or business. This preventive approach can be more cost effective than dealing with costly repairs once rodents have already invaded.

Inspection

A rodent infestation can cause health hazards for humans and pets. Rodents can spread diseases through bite wounds and contaminated water and food. They also gnaw electrical wires, resulting in fires and costly structural damage. In addition, feces can contaminate food.

The first step in any successful rodent control program is inspection and characterization of the problem. A trained professional will identify the species of rodent and determine how large the infestation is, what types of damage have been done, and the size of the area that requires treatment.

Rodent inspections can be carried out using a variety of methods. One of the most effective is to use a smoke detector to find entry points. Smoke detection can pinpoint areas of weakness in your home’s foundation or exterior walls, which are easy for rodents to chew through.

Other inspection methods include looking for fecal droppings, tracking marks, grease markings, runways and burrows. It is important to inspect all dark recessed areas that mice and rats frequent for signs of rodent activity. It is best to do this during the rodent’s period of highest activity, usually at dusk or just after dark.

Rodents are attracted to food, water and shelter. Keeping the environment around your South Florida home or business clean and clutter free will help prevent rodents from entering. It is recommended to store foods in chew-proof containers and place them away from stoves, in refrigerators or pantry shelves, and to clean up food spillage and garbage regularly.

In order to eliminate a rat or mouse infestation, it is necessary to eliminate their access to food and water. During an inspection, your Truly Nolen professional will also look for a number of other things that can be addressed, such as holes in the roof and walls, clogged gutters, and tree limbs touching the roof or allowing rodents to climb into your home. Then, they can “rodent proof” your home by repairing these areas and sealing any cracks or crevices. This will keep the rodents out and give you peace of mind. In the case of a recurring infestation, your Truly Nolen professional will use exclusion methods to keep them out.

Bait Stations

For locations where it is not possible to make a building rodent-proof, permanent bait stations can be placed inside buildings and along the outside walls of structures. When kept filled with anticoagulant rodenticide, these baits will destroy rats and mice in the area, helping to control their numbers. When used in conjunction with outdoor trapping, bait stations can be very effective.

There are many different types of bait stations available. Many can hold multiple types of rodent control tools, such as snap traps, glue boards, and rodenticide baits. Most of these are made from sturdy plastic and have hinged lids with childproof latches. They may also be fitted with baffles or other devices that prevent larger animals from accessing the bait. They can be designed for use with solid baits such as grain or pelleted seed mixtures, blocks, or liquid baits.

Generally, bait stations should be located where rodents have been seen feeding or living. These include places where there are gnaw marks, grease smears, or poop. They should be positioned away from areas where children and pets are likely to encounter them. They should also be positioned in travel routes that rodents commonly use.

Since rodents are suspicious of new or unfamiliar objects, it is important to regularly inspect and monitor the effectiveness of bait stations. This can help determine if the bait is being taken and how quickly the population is declining. When the number of rodents begins to decrease, the frequency of inspection and bait refills can be reduced.

The type of bait used in a bait station can be determined by the rodent problem being addressed. Some are specifically designed for mice or rats. Other types of rodents, such as squirrels and rabbits, can be targeted with non-toxic baits such as whole peanuts. Some are even water-soluble and can be mixed with liquid repellents to minimize the impact on non-target species.

Regardless of the type of bait used in a bait station, it is recommended that people wear gloves when handling and storing the product. This will help reduce the likelihood of accidental poisoning by children or pets. Most manufacturers of bait stations provide instructions for proper storage, labeling, and opening of the device. Some are also available in landscape versions that resemble rocks and blend with the overall environment.

Treatment

Rodents are attracted to food sources and can cause damage to structures by chewing through wires, insulation, wood rafters, or cardboard boxes. They also pose a health risk by carrying diseases that affect humans and pets. They defecate in attics and crawl spaces, which can destroy energy-efficient insulation, and leave contaminated dust behind that can be breathed in. They can also gnaw through wooden or metal structures causing fire hazards and compromising the integrity of buildings.

The best way to prevent rodent infestations is by eliminating their primary food sources and hiding places. Regularly storing food in sealed containers, cleaning up spills and crumbs promptly, and reducing outdoor trash, pet food, and compost piles are just a few examples of preventive measures that can help reduce the appeal of rodents to your property. Routine professional inspections and effective pest control can also thwart the spread of rodents.

Despite these preventative measures, rodents are persistent and can develop into infestations without warning. When this occurs, treatment strategies must be employed to ensure that the rodent population is kept below a tolerable level. These strategies include bait stations, snap traps, glue boards, and live traps.

Snap traps and glue boards are mechanical traps that use a spring-loaded bar or adhesive to capture the rodents and eliminate them. These are effective in both homes and commercial settings, but should only be used when a visual inspection of your facility indicates that the rodent population has become problematic. Using these traps along travel paths or near entry points, and monitoring them for signs of activity is recommended.

Other physical/mechanical controls include blocking holes in walls, chimneys, vents, and around pipes. Sealing these gaps with steel wool, caulk, or expanding foam is an efficient method of preventing rodent access to your home. In addition, removing potential rodent nesting sites like leaf piles and deep mulch can also be beneficial.

Finally, regularly trimming trees and removing overgrown vegetation can also help prevent rodents from accessing your home. This is because stray branches and overgrown shrubbery provide shelter, food sources, and hideouts for rodents, as well as serving as bridges to your house.