As cooler weather approaches, we all begin to migrate indoors and spend less time outside. Unfortunately, cold weather and long nights also bring unwanted houseguests who move indoors to escape the elements. A few hours spent excluding access to your home from wintering rodents can save you the worry of having to deal with them in your house later on.
Rodents Leave Calling Cards
Rodents, particularly mice, can create some angst during the cooler months, as they move into walls, closets, pantries, linens and furniture seeking warmth and food. In some cases, they can appear in large numbers, particularly if their normal resting places have been disturbed. Discretion is not their forte, as you can typically find evidence of their existence through droppings, urine trails, gnaw marks on food boxes and scampering and rustling sounds, particularly at night.
As cute as they may be (or as cute as some of you might think they are), rodents present serious health risks as they can carry a variety of diseases such as the potentially fatal Hantavirus. Rodents can also transport bacteria such as salmonella into your food.
An Ounce of Prevention
Food and water are the primary draw for rodents moving in, and in homes that sit near large water sources they can be a particularly bad problem. It would be very difficult to remove food from your home, but there are steps you can take to seal food in containers that are rodent-proof, such as plastic bins and metal canisters.
One step that goes a long way in preventing rodents from getting into your home is inspecting your property for gaps and holes where rodents can enter. Mice can squeeze through holes the size of a nickel, so be sure your inspection is thorough. Start with the kitchen by looking behind cabinets and appliances, but also check closets (especially the corners), around doors, under sinks, around drains, and where floors and walls join together. Don’t forget about crawl and attic spaces as well.
You’ll need to seal holes with materials that rodents can’t gnaw through, such as hardware cloth, cement, or metal sheeting. Seal any gaps or holes the size of a pencil or larger with plenty of caulking or other sealant product.
You can also do things around your property to discourage rodents from establishing themselves. Keep nesting materials and harborage sites such as woodpiles and thick vegetation away from your house. Your property should also be kept free of debris, rocks and logs that mice can make their homes. Other things to look out for include old cars and appliances which should be hauled away.
As an added precaution, you may want to consider placing mouse traps strategically around your home to catch any rodents that do happen to find their way inside. Clean up dead mice and any droppings or urine they leave behind with care, using latex gloves and a face mask. Anytime you handle dead mice or their droppings, you should consider the possibility of disease transmission. Hantavirus is one of the most serious diseases that can occur with rodent contact due to the severe respiratory distress it causes. You may also want to consider hiring a professional such as Western Pest Services to minimize the risk to you and to ensure that the removal of dead rodents and their droppings is thorough.