Check out this awesome guest post from our friends at Take Care Termite and Pest Control in Tracy, CA!!
Most households have had encounters with rats and mice at some point or another. They sneak in through the back door when you’re watching a late night movie or may nibble their way right into your home.
This innate ability allows them to survive in closets, garages, and base voids behind appliances. And they’ll only come out when there’s little to no human activity.
Rats leave behind many signs that may suggest their presence. And that’s when you should be more alert. If you have an infestation that has affected your entire house, seeking professional help for rodent control is a must to completely eliminate them. Until you wait for a professional inspection, here’s what homeowners can do to protect their home. Read on to learn more.
How to Identify the Presence of Rodents in the House?
The house mouse is dusty grey in color and normally two and a half to four inches in length.
To begin eliminating your rodent problem, start with a good inspection to determine which type of rodent is present. And find out exactly where they are nesting.
- Rodent Droppings
Fecal pellets are the most commonly encountered signs in a rodent inspection. Even a small population of mice can produce thousands of droppings in a short period of time. Fresh droppings are dark in color and soft in texture. But after three days, they harden and lose the dark color.
- Entry Points
Runways are a prominent part of rodent infestations. Rodents continuously use these pathways to get to food sources and nests. Tree branches, foundation or sill ledges, electrical lines, and pipes are common pathways for these pests.
- Marks
Rodents carry dirt and oil on their bodies and as they brush past exterior and interior walls, they leave behind rub marks.
- Rodent Odor
Rats and mice urinate frequently urinate throughout the day. A mouse deposits three thousand droplets in a single day. It’s often deposited in runways and other frequented areas.
Large rodent infestations may result in a strong odor, something domestic animals won’t miss. Cats and dogs may easily identify the presence of rodents and their hiding spots by simply sniffing and probing.
- Sounds
Night inspections are especially important in identifying an infestation and locating the presence of rodents. Sounds like gnawing, high-pitched squeaks, digging, and scratching can be heard.
How to Get Rid of Rats and Mice:
1. Eliminate Entry Points
Rodents may move in and out of your house multiple times a day. And they might even bring in a few friends along if they have an easily accessible entry point. Entry points that are larger than a pencil are perfect for rats and mice to invade your home. To keep your home protected, it’s important that you seal and eliminate entry points. Put a seal on cracked walls, pipes, and vents. And make sure you do not use materials like wood, plastic, or rubber that allow rats and mice to nibble and penetrate. In addition, use weather stripping for doors and windows and ensure the sweep on your door creates a seal against the threshold when it’s closed.
2. Use Mouse Traps
Another old trick to get rid of rodents is using mouse traps. The good old wooden traps work just fine. But rodents can escape traps easily, even if you have placed a dozen of them around. Bait traps, glue traps, and multiple-capture live traps allow you to capture multiple rodents at a time.
3. Use Natural Methods
It may surprise you, but there are several natural ways you can drive rodents away. Here’s a look at these common ingredients that can be used to protect your home.
- Ammonia
Mix 2 spoons of detergent with a quarter glass of water and 2 cups of regular ammonia in a bowl. Place this mixture where rodents usually hide. The smell of this mixture will drive them away.
- Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is another great way to eliminate rodents since they can’t stand the pungent smell. Dip a few cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them in areas prone to rats. This scent again will drive them away.
- Pepper
Pepper has a relatively strong smell and makes it hard for rats to breathe in and threatens their survival. Sprinkle a little pepper in corners and holes where rodents often hide.
Rodents are definitely a huge domestic problem, but with the right steps to identify and eliminate them, you’re doing a huge favor to yours and your family’s health. Make sure to get regular pest inspections done in order to keep your house pest free and clean.
Author Bio:
When people find their homes and offices infested with pests, it is not uncommon for them to panic. Raymond Web has taken the task to educate people on pest prevention and control strategies helping them keep their surroundings healthy, safe and pest-free. Being the digital marketing manager for Take Care Termite and Pest Control, in Tracy, CA, he has an in-depth understanding of people and their pain points due to pests, which he uses in his content to educate.