When the colder months hit like a strong-armed linebacker, mice and rats start looking for shelter and food sources. Here’s how to avoid mice and rats during the colder months.
1. Perform routine yard maintenance around your house
By performing a yard maintenance routine, you’re keeping your home as pest-free as possible. Regularly mowing the lawn, trimming shrubs and trees, and cleaning up debris in your yard will keep mice out.
2. Seal up entry points
You can prevent pests from getting inside by sealing up entry points in your home. In addition, you should seal cracks, holes, and gaps around pipes, décor, windows, doors, and vents. Replace old weather stripping with fresh rubber or caulk.
3. Remove food sources
Food waste attracts rats, mice, and other pests. That’s why you must remove any sources of food around your home. Clean up anything left out, including pet food and garbage. Trash cans should be covered or secured in a cabinet to keep trash from attracting mice.
4. Keep your garage and attic clean
If you keep a garage or attic, clean it out and seal the cracks. Mice like to get into tight spaces, so if there’s acreage for them to hide in, they will do so with little problem.
5. Use baits and traps
Baits and traps can be used to trap mice and rats before they become more significant problems. Using a professional-grade rat poison may help, but you should always wear gloves and a mask when handling rat poison. This will keep you from becoming ill or getting injured.
6. Keep your home clean
Keeping your house clean will also help you avoid mice and rats. Wash your dishes right away, keep your countertops clear, and throw away any food scraps.
7. Store firewood away from your home
Mice and rats love to set up a home in piles of firewood, so store it away from your house. Keeping firewood off the ground will also help prevent infestations.
8. Use mulch
Mulch is a great way to keep rodents away from your home naturally. Place mulch around the outside perimeter of your home.
You can do quite a bit to prevent mice and rats from taking up residence in your home
No one can entirely prevent a mouse from visiting them from time to time. However, you can play a pivotal role in preventing these critters from using your home as a hotel.
Through routine yard maintenance, housekeeping, and using professional-grade rat poison, you can keep mice and rats out of your home. The most important thing is to keep your home as clean as possible. Any food residue or waste can be a potential path for mice and rats to take. Keep your counters clear, trash cans covered, and remove any old firewood stacked around the perimeter of your home.
A few simple things can protect your home and keep it rodent-free. If you find yourself amid a rodent infestation, it might be best to call a professional exterminator in McAllen and have them get rid of the mice or rats for you. If there’s one thing that’s for sure, these menaces aren’t going to leave by themselves no matter how nicely you ask them.