Rodents are complicated creatures. They want to live in our homes but want nothing to do with us. They are happy to steal our food from our pantries but aren't willing to replenish it themselves. In short, rodents are lazy and demanding. They do not add any benefit to the residents of the homes they infest. In fact, they do the exact opposite. Today we are going to be sharing 3 things you should know about rodents so that you can properly handle them and keep them out of your home.
Common Rodents
When it comes to rodent home invaders, there are really only three: mice, rats, and squirrels. Of these three, squirrels are the least likely to invade homes here in Texas. In other states, they are pushed inside due to cold and threatening weather. But with our relatively mild weather, this is less likely. Rats and mice, on the other hand, prefer to live in our homes. Who would pass up a constant food supply, a temperature-controlled environment, and plenty of hiding places? As we established earlier, just because our homes have what they want and need, does not mean they belong there.
Problems Rodents Cause
The second thing you should know about rodents is that they are a serious risk to you, your home, and your pets. If you didn’t know, rodents have extremely sharp and tough front incisor teeth that never stop growing. And just like a cat needs to scratch to keep their claws worn down, rodents need to chew so their teeth do not grow too long. This drives them to do some severe damage within homes. This could be anything from a few gnaw marks on furniture to a severed wired within the walls of your home. The general rule is, if something is in their way, and they can chew through it, they will.
Rodents are also known vectors for a number of dangerous bacteria, several pathogens, and hosts for parasitic pests. When rodents wander through your home at night, chew through food boxes, and defecate in areas they shouldn’t, they put you and your family at risk. They can also be a threat to your pets. Remember those parasitic pests we mentioned? You might better recognize them if we call them by their common names: fleas, ticks, lice, and mites. These pests can also cause health risks in pets as well as humans.
Prevention Tips For Rodents
At this point, you are probably wondering, how do I keep rodents out of my home? Here is where the third thing you should know comes in, how to prevent rodents. To do this, here are some steps to consider.
Investigate your home’s exterior foundation for any holes, gaps, or cracks. Seal these openings up using wire mesh and a caulking gun.
Trim back bushes and tree limbs from your walls.
Clean clutter from your yard and remove natural debris such as leaf and stick piles.
Pick up dropped fruits from your yard and make sure no food scraps are left behind after outdoor cookouts.
Pick up pet food and water bowls before nighttime.
Clean indoors regularly, making sure to address food and liquid spills as they happen.
Put away leftover food inside plastic containers once you are done with it.
Repackage cardboard boxes and plastic bagged food inside of larger plastic containers.
Consider hiring a professional to help you with the process of rodent prevention.
How Addison Pest Control Can Help You
Keeping rodents out of your Frisco home can be a difficult and daunting task, but with the help of Addison Pest Control, it could not be easier. Our pest technicians have been highly trained in how to effectively get and keep rodents out of homes. No extra hassle, just results. To get rodents out of your Frisco home, or to have rodent protection services set in place, give us a call today. If there is one thing you should know, it is that you don't have to live in a home with rodents.