Home and Family Author: Michael Brown

Using pest control equipment correctly can keep your home rodent free. Even if you think you have a fairly large problem.

Rodents make up around forty percent of mammal species. They are almost everywhere, and they are in huge numbers. Mice, rats, and squirrels are common, but there are also guinea pigs, voles, moles, and even beavers.  They all have the characteristic of endlessly growing teeth.  Because of the need to keep wearing down these incisors, rodents constantly chew. Not only do rodents carry disease and destroy stored food, but they cause untold damage to buildings and their installed services. Pest control equipment is available for most situations, but follow the steps below for a better protected home.

How Do I Keep My Home Free From Rodent Attack?

First thing you should do is get around the outside of your house. Check for anything that could make access easier for the little furry critters. Overhanging branches touching the house are like a freeway to most rodent species. Check for any holes that could allow a rodent access and either block them or cover them with a grill if they need to stay open.

Use materials that are resistant to chewing (basically anything made of steel) rather than something a rodent could chew through. Take control of your household garbage. Rodents like nothing better than a free meal, so easily accessible garbage will bring them in droves. An overgrown yard or one full of junk will give rodents a place to hide and easy access to your home.

Check everywhere in your house for rodent activity at least once a year. You will spot them from their droppings (these vary with species but are always numerous) or you can see evidence of chewing. Perhaps there will be chewed insulation.

Anywhere you find activity, set traps or poison or choose from a large list of available pest control equipment. Consider your kids and your pet situation carefully before using any of these methods. Keep checking on your traps or poison – not so often the rodents won't approach it, but at least twice a day. Investigate the pest control equipment that is available and you can choose the method best suited to your situation.

Crawl spaces are a heaven for rodents, so get in yours and check it thoroughly. Repair any rodent damage you find, remove any nesting material, and check all the possible access points. Use steel wire mesh from the hardware store to block any holes (do a proper job, as rodents are extremely persistent and intelligent).

If you have a garage or a wood or tool shed check these too. Make sure that anything that can be eaten or nested with is in rodent proof containers. Take extra care with pet food especially.

Remember that rodents generally will come into a house to seek shelter when the weather is colder, so once that first chill is in the air in the fall, keep your doors shut and make sure there is no easy rodent access into the garage or from the garage to the house. Make sure your pest control equipment is ready to use and restock any items you need.

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