Rodents come in many shapes and sizes, and there are behavior differences between them. The steps you take to keep squirrels out of your home differ from how you keep mice out. The steps you take to keep Norway rats out of your home differ from how you keep roof rats out. Today, we're going to look at the basics of rodent prevention. These are general tips that will make it more difficult for all Aiken rodents to gain entry to your home.
1. Remove Hiding Places
Some rodents like to hide under, or inside, objects that are in your yard. They have a preference for natural materials, such as wood. If you have a stack of wood or a pile of wooden palettes, these are ideal rodent hiding places. Remove or elevate objects to make it more difficult for rodents to easily utilize them.
Rodents will hide under structures in your yard. A void underneath a shed, for instance, is perfect for a rodent to hide or nest in. If you see holes dug near a shed, fill them in. If there is a way for rodents to get underneath a structure, use fencing to keep them out. Make sure you install the fencing so that it goes at least a foot below the surface. This prevents burrowing animals from getting under.
Objects that are near your exterior walls are the greatest concern. The last thing you want is a rodent hiding close to your walls. Rodents chew on building materials. When a rodent chews a hole in your exterior, it is likely to squeeze into that hole and see what is inside.
Vegetation can provide hiding places for rodents. You can reduce rodent activity around your home by removing weeds, trimming bushes, and putting space between your plants. This will also help to reduce moisture. That leads us to our next tip.
2. Get Control Of Moisture
One of the pillars of pest control is effective moisture control. There are many potential pests that are drawn to humid or damp landscaping and puddles that form in areas of oversaturation. Moisture pests can be a food source for rodents. When you reduce pest activity, you make your perimeter less interesting to rodents. Puddles and containers of water can provide a drink for rodents. Here are some tips for reducing these attractants.
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Remove objects that capture rainwater.
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Clean your gutters and make repairs to your gutter system to prevent perimeter saturation.
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Repair spigots, pipes, or hoses that are leaky.
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Maintain open landscaping to allow the wind to keep the topsoil as dry as possible.
3. Remove Food Sources
If you have a lot of food in your yard, expect to have trouble with rodents. This is fairly straightforward. But you may be surprised by some of the things rodents consider to be food. Here are a few tips to help you reduce rodent food sources around your home.
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A rodent can find many food options in your trash. They're not picky. You need to make sure trash bags are stored in trash receptacles. It is also important to make sure your receptacles have covers. Rodents can climb and jump. Even a little mouse can get into a tall receptacle.
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Some rodents have a preference for seeds. If you have a bird feeder near your home, the seeds that fall to the ground will be a strong attractant. Some rodents won't wait for the seeds to fall on the ground. They'll do everything they can to access the feeder.
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Dog droppings can be an attractant for some rodents. If you have a dog, make sure you pick up droppings that are left in the yard.
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As we mentioned above, bugs can be a food source. You can reduce some insects by keeping lights off at night and by keeping your window shades closed.
4. Seal Entry Points
When rodents explore your home, you want to make it difficult for those rodents to find a way inside. Seal entry points around pipes and wire conduit and doors and windows, and address any cracks in your foundation walls.
Get Help
The best way to get control of rodent issues is to hire a rodent-control professional. At Aiken Pest Control, our team provides ongoing rodent control services that include the installation of tamper-resistant traps and the application of exclusion materials. If you have questions, or you'd like to request service, reach out to us at any time. We're here to help.
