Rodent prevention
There are 22 kinds of rodents in Mississippi including mice, rats, voles, and squirrels, that’s a lot of rodent prevention! They are the largest group of mammals in the world? Other than that “claim to fame” rodents don’t have many positive attributes.
If forced to come up with a couple of positives, we can give them: being a food source to other animals and the aeration they provide your lawn while burrowing underground. For most folks, this isn’t enough. Preventing rodents from coming into your home or lawn is a major priority.
Rodent facts:
They gnaw on electrical wires inside and outside of your home.
They chew on the wood and insulation in your walls and attics.
They can carry diseases and parasites that are harmful to humans and pets.
They VERY actively reproduce, with several litters a year!
The reproductive lives of rodents (trigger warning)
Mice are especially “active” and can start having babies at just a few months old. In their short lifespan of only 8 months to a year, one female can have 8 litters, or 50-60 baby mice. Momma mice are just looking for food and a warm place to sleep, then they can set up house!
Keep mice and rodents out of your house!
Most pests are not a problem until they become an infestation. Infestations of any pest can usually be prevented by keeping the pests out in the first place.
How to keep rodents out of your home:
Caulk gaps around doors and windows of your home
Remove branches, limbs or vines that are leaning on your home
Close gaps around pipes, vents and cables (a mouse can squeeze through a dime sized opening)
Move outside garbage cans further away from your house
Remove sticks, leaves, debris from lawn
Don’t allow grass to grow too high (high grass and debris create hiding places for rodents)
Move piles of firewood at least one foot off the ground and away from the exterior of your home.
Check vents, window/door screens and weather stripping around all openings.
If you have a fireplace, install a chimney cap to keep rodents from climbing in.
What makes your home so enticing to rodents?
Rodents are especially attracted to the smell of food. You can help deter rodents and mice from moving in by doing the following:
Don’t leave pet food sitting out at night (roaches also love pet food)
Keep pet food in an air tight container when stored
Store leftover food immediately
Clear dirty dishes from the sink before you go to bed
Remove garbage from inside your home BEFORE it gets full or worse, overflowing
Declutter storage areas and place storage bins off of the floor
If you are providing access to the inside of your home AND leaving food out for pests, how can you blame rodents for infesting? Our licensed pest technicians know exactly what to do when dealing with mice and rodents. Our Pest360 Program can help you before an infestation.
Once mice and rodents are in, the infestation can get messy. Stop the problem before it happens. Contact us and we will be in touch with you ASAP. Let us help you with rodent prevention. We serve the Memphis, Tennessee and North Mississippi areas.
