Rodents: a timeless problem. Whether they are in your attic, chewing your cables, burrowing in your yard, or stealing your opened food, they have been a nuisance for centuries. There are manuals dating from the 1850s devoted only to effective rodent control tips in the kitchen – these include putting your table legs in large bowls of water so small rodents couldn’t climb up the legs and eat your freshly baked pies!
But in more modern times, Dallas-Fort Worth was still ranked number 16 on a survey of “Rattiest Cities”, which shows these pests are still at it hundreds of years later. Thousands of different types of squirrels, rats and mice are classified as rodents. Even gerbils and hamsters are, technically, although we don’t fault the cute ones that stay in their cages.
So what are some effective ways to identify and treat rodent problems in your house or apartment?
Why are rodents a problem?
These pests can also chew through wires, which is a fire hazard and risk to your home and property.Unsanitary droppings are another problem. Keep an eye out for droppings as it gives you a clue how big the problem is as well. It can also alert you as to possible points of entry/exit from your house and how they might be getting in. Animal feces can be harmful to animals or humans, especially children, so it’s important to clean and sanitize the area in your house thoroughly after disposing of the feces. Perhaps the most unsettling problem is the amount of diseases they can carry. According to the CDC rodents can transmit diseases directly or indirectly, some of which include: Plague, Hemorrhagic Fever, Rat-Bite Fever, Salmonellosis, Lyme Disease and West Nile Virus.
So what can I do to prevent rodents in my living space?
1. Trap existing rodents
You need to first rid your house of the rodents that already think it’s a safe place to go. Rodent traps are easily purchased from amazon or any hardware store, but make sure you read the directions carefully before setting them. Peanut butter is the most common food used to trap rodents, so spread a pea sized amount carefully on the snap trap before placing it against a wall or on a railing.
Rodents usually move alongside walls and wont run out into the open often, so make sure the trap is in a spot with not alot of human traffic.
There are more human traps that won’t kill the creature on impact if the thought makes you queasy. These are called “No Kill” mousetraps and can be found where most traps are sold.
2. Seal up all points of entry
Rodents are simple creatures, and they will search for food, supplies to build a nest, and warmth in the winter: and if there is a way into your house or garage, they will find it.
Make sure holes and cracks around your doorways, fireplaces, garage and attic are properly sealed. Mice and other rodents can flatten themselves to fit in almost any space, so no space is too small for you to fill.
3. Clean up
Food shouldn’t even be left out if you have had a rodent problem as they could have gotten into it and cause it to be unsanitary and dangerous. It also will attract rodents to your house so make sure all food, trash and animal food is properly sealed at all times.
Outside your house, clean up fallen fruit from trees and all trash should be completely sealed.
Trash and waste is one of the easiest things for rodents to get into so make sure all bags are sealed and put in a trash can with a lid. Cardboard boxes can also be used to make nests, and are easy for rodents to bite their way through, so putting your clothes and things in plastic boxes is a better alternative.
You can also try a strategy that has been used for thousands of years for rodent control – get a cat!
Get Rodent Control Help
Remember, you can always call the local pest control experts at Gecko Green for rodent prevention. Services include a full sweep of your house and outdoors to identify points of entry and eradication of current rodents as well.
