Summer and Fall - Rodents in the Home

Rodents in the home can be a serious concern for homeowners, especially as the summer begins to wind down and we start to see cooler temperatures. Rodents can cause stress to a home, chewed furniture and belongings, and can also cause fire hazards if they chew threw electrical wiring.

Any home can become a nesting ground for rodents, as long as the home provides shelter and a potential to find food, they could see it as being ideal and move in. Rodents are unfortunately difficult to get rid of once they have chosen a new home. If you see a rodent in your home, you should automatically suspect that there is a nest somewhere. It is unlikely to see a rodent in the home if they do not live there as well. The nest could be in the walls, in the attic, in the garage – really anywhere that is sheltered and warm.

The most obvious sign of a rodent infestation problem is seeing droppings throughout the house. You may also find chewed packages from food, or pieces of wall and furniture close to the floor. Once you realize there may be a problem in your house, it’s important to work quickly to get rid of them. Mouse infestations can be difficult to remove.

The first step is to examine where in the home the rodents may have been able to get in – keeping in mind they can find through tiny holes. A good rule of thumb is that, if you can fit a pencil through the hole, it is worth fixing the hole. When you find possible entryways, close it off with wire mesh. For holes found inside the home, steel wool and caulking should do the trick.

Once entry points are closed off, set traps around the house. There are many different traps available on the market including sticky and spring-loaded (lethal) traps. The sticky traps are not lethal, but they are recommended against in some cases and mouse urine can spread disease. Location of the traps is important, as rodents are rather clever creatures. Place the trap near an area you suspect is high-traffic for the rodents, such as behind large furniture.

Dealing with a rodent infestation can be a headache. If the above steps don’t seem to be helping, it may be time to consult a professional. If doing it yourself is not working, you must ask yourself – how much energy and risk is it worth to do it yourself? In many cases it may be worthwhile to hire a professional who can get the job done right away.