Rats and mice transmit diseases to humans and can cause damage to buildings. The month of October signals the start of heightened rodent infestation risks in buildings of any type. We offer a pest control service to help you if that’s your case. Here is a little guide to help you, as colder temperatures are quietly making themselves known, inciting the little critters to come visit you.
How to prevent a rodent infestation?
To avoid unwanted visitors overstaying their welcome, prevention is key. The first thing to do would be to make your building resistant to those little critters. It’s possible to eliminate as much as possible any easy entry points, because rodents are experts when it comes to fitting through tight spaces. Indeed, mice can fit through cracks as wide as a dime. As far as rats go, they can fit through one as big as a quarter. Even little gaps in an old door step can be a way in for mice.
It’s thus possible to take certain actions to avoid unwanted visitors in your home.
Block access points
- Install metal weatherstripping under the doors and caulk windows.
- Fill up cracks in the foundation.
- Fill all holes around pipes with steel wool before covering them with caulking or plaster.
- Cover the dryer ventilation ducts, the attic vents and the roof overhangs with a fine metallic mesh.
Making your home less attractive to rodents
- Eliminate areas suitable for rodent nest building by removing everything that clutters the space around your house and your garage.
- Cut tall grass and weeds near your house.
- Put away your trash in containers with a hermetic lid.
- Elevate wood piles around 1 foot above the ground and get them away from your house.
- Do not put away greasy or oily trash, eggs or dairy products in the composting bin.
- Install a strong metallic mesh between the ground and the bottom of the composting bin.
- Eliminate water sources such as leaky faucets, dripping pipes and open drains.
- Keep your kitchen clean. Store dry foods and dry animal pet food in metal or glass containers.
How to know if there’s an infestation in my home?
If you suspect your home is infested by rodents, it’s important to act fast to prevent a serious infestation.
Rats and mice multiply very fast. Even if they’re just passing through, attack the problem head on without delay to avoid a serious infestation. Rodents, and mice in particular, proliferate quickly and populations can reach over 200 individuals in a few months. We’re talking 7 generations of mice in a single year, from a single couple. A good reason to act fast!
- If an infestation is present in your home, pay attention to noises during the night. It’s possible that you hear scratching noises through your walls.
- It’s possible that you find gnawed/nibbled objects, damaged food wrappers, etc.
- Presence of excrement and urine, holes in the foundation or nearby, as well as prints on dusty surfaces are also signs of an infestation.
How to intervene during an infestation?
Even though you have good intentions, it’s very likely that the infestation is much bigger than you think. If the situation is not taken care of quickly, the rodent population will proliferate quickly and become problematic. At Groupe Surprenant, we offer an experienced pest control service, including rodent infestation. Inquire about the methods we use, and the different options available to you. Prevent the situation from getting worse and get in touch with our team of experts to solve your rodent problem!
