Did you know that a rat can fit in a hole the size of a diameter? Mice can squeeze through a hole the size of a nickel. Go ahead. Try it. Place a nickel up against your wall and see how small this hole could be. Sounds unbelievable, but these little rodents can crawl through almost every crack inside your Pensacola home or business. Not only is seeing one of these furry rodents inside your home creepy enough, but they can do irreparable damage to your home or business’s structure. Rats and mice can chew through your cardboard, insulation, and even wires to build their nests. These gnawers will chew on just about anything.
Mice and rats are living beings like us who need to survive and will go to great lengths to find it. That includes entering your business or home. Fortunately, you can take some preventive measures to help prevent them from getting in, and we’re going to share them with you. Here are a few tips and ways to help prevent rodents such as mice and rats from targeting your business or home and making it their own.
Seal Up Any Holes Or Cracks Inside and Outside of Your Foundation
This one is quite obvious since we now know the tiny spaces rodents can fit through but usually, we don’t notice the holes our foundation has. Take a walk around the inside of your home and look for ways pests can get in. Look around windows and doors, near floor vents, inside, under, and behind all kitchen appliances. Check pipes under the sink, around your water heater, and inside both the basement and attic. Then take a walk around the outside of your house. Pay attention to those areas around your doors, windows, foundation, utility holes, and on your roof.
Keep Garbage Cans Secure and Away from Your Pensacola Home Or Business
Garbage cans can be a buffet for rodents. If you store your trash can inside your garage or just outside of your house, the smell will find its way to not just hungry rats and mice but raccoons and wild dogs as well. Store your trash cans away from your home and be sure they have secure lids. Add a bungee cord for extra security.
Keep Trees and Shrubs Pruned and Trimmed
Dense shrubbery or leaves that butt up against your home could be ideal hiding spots for pests looking for a way in. Keep any branches and twigs trimmed close to your property and prune any leaves that touch your house.
Keep an Eye On Your Birdfeeders
Rodents such as rats and mice are attracted to seeds that have fallen on the ground. If you have bird feeders on your porch, remove them. The last thing you want is for a hungry mouse to come close enough to your home to smell the delicious food you have inside. Do you store your birdseed in the garage? Keep it in a tight metal container with a lid.
Keep Food Properly Sealed and Contained
If rats and mice enter your Pensacola home or business, it’s typically because they are in search of food. The harder it is to find, the more likely they will move on to the next residence. We all know what it’s like having kids or pets, and it can be difficult to keep kitchen areas clean, but the faster you clean up any messes or spills, the less chance the smell will attract rodents. Don’t leave dishes to sit out overnight, and try to keep crumbs that spill behind and under appliances cleaned up as much as possible.
When it comes to storing food, never store rice, cereal, or pet food on the ground and keep food in sealed containers. Common snacks that mice and rats enjoy include:
- Grains, seeds, and nuts
- Bread and crackers
- Cheese
- Peanut butter
- Fruit and vegetables
- Pet food
Adopt a Pet
It may sound silly but keeping a cat or dog in the house is a great way to prevent mice and rats from entering your home. Even if they cannot catch it, they can alert you to the presence of rodents, allowing you to take care of the problem before it gets much worse.
Set Out Traps
Set up traps around the more vulnerable areas of your home, such as along walls and behind trash cans. There are a variety of traps to choose from. If you’re looking to eliminate rats or mice, there are snap and electric traps. There are the sticky and live catch traps for the more humane option, both of which allow you to set the rodents free. With the exception of the sticky trap, which uses adhesive glue, all use some kind of bait such as peanut butter or chocolate.
Stop Rats and Mice From Getting In With Effective Rodent Control. Contact the Professionals at Flowers Turf and Pest Management Today
Sometimes no matter what you do, mice and rats get in. These sneaky creatures are out for food and will stop at nothing to obtain it. Flowers Turf and Pest Management is your go-to lawn care and pest control company for and surrounding Pensacola, Florida. We know how to keep pests out of your home. Our highly effective rodent control program can help eliminate and prevent rats and mice from invading your home or business. All of our pest control technicians are highly knowledgeable, trained, and certified in pest management. You can count on us to ensure your area is kept rodent-free and safe.
Contact us to find out more now. You can reach out to us online or give us a call at 321-254-1929. We’ll be waiting to assist you.
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