What Is The Easiest Way To Get Rid Of Rodents In My Cypress, TX Home?
It is a sad truth that pest infestations in the Cypress area are both frequent and severe. Some creatures use their natural abilities to sneak into homes undetected, while others prefer to make their presence known with itchy bites or welts on the skin. The most concerning pest issue of all, however, includes the notorious household rodent.
Rodents are furry mammals that are considered the most common type of household pest in North America. These creatures are members of the order Rodentia, housing some of the most common species seen around Cypress homes and backyards. Common rodents in our area may include rats, mice, gophers, squirrels, and voles. Although each species listed has a different set of characteristics, they do share some similar bits of physiology:
All rodents have a large pair of front incisors that grow continuously. These teeth sometimes grow outside of their mouths, giving them a buck-toothed expression.
Rodents are usually covered in a layer of thick fur. Most appear in grey, brown, and tan color patterns, although some have more diverse patterns such as black and white.
All rodents have some type of tail. A rat's tail is pink, scaly, and hairless, while a squirrel's tail is large and fluffy. Tail characteristics change according to the species in question.
Rodent species range wildly in terms of size. Adult rats can be over a foot long and weigh several pounds on average. In contrast, most mouse species are four inches or less and only weigh a few ounces in adulthood. You will likely never see a rodent larger than two feet long (accounting for lawn gophers).
The most common rodents in Cypress backyards include rats, mice, and squirrels. Each of these three rodents should be prevented from overtaking your home at all costs.
What Do The Rodents In Cypress Look Like?
Rats, mice, and squirrels in Cypress are extremely simple to identify. Although they may become more active during the evening or late night hours, it is not impossible to catch sight of them during the day.
Here are a few easy ways to check your home for signs of rat activity:
Rats are 12 inches long at maturity and are covered in hair (minus their tails).
Rats have large bodies, blunt snouts, and small ears.
Rat droppings are large and blunt-tipped.
Below are a couple of methods for identifying mice in the home:
House mice are four to five inches long at most.
Mice have small central bodies, pointed snouts, and large ears.
Mouse droppings are thin with pointed tips.
Finally, check out these helpful squirrel identification tips:
Squirrels are roughly 15 to 20 inches long at maturity.
The most identifiable part of the squirrel is their long, bushy tail
Squirrel droppings look similar to jellybeans or raisins and are rounded at both ends.
In the end, the best and most efficient method of rodent identification can be completed by a professional pest management agency such as Modern Pest Control. If you are unable to determine the type of rodent species near your Cypress home, feel free to reach out for a professional consultation.
How Dangerous Are Cypress Rodents?
Rodents like rats, mice, and squirrels are far more than just a minor inconvenience. In fact, these pests are considered to be some of the most dangerous animals on Earth.
Although they may seem harmless at first glance, rats, mice, and squirrels can attack people when threatened. Rodents do prefer to run at first and would rather escape before jumping into battle. But if they begin to feel as though their life is in danger, they will lash out. Bites and scratches from rodents can become infected easily and may transmit severe illnesses.
The diseases carried by the average rodent are extremely dangerous. Rats, mice, and squirrels are all known to carry significant numbers of pathogens. Rats and mice, in particular, are the worst of the bunch. These pests are primarily known for spreading:
Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM)
Hantavirus
Rat-bite fever
Tularemia
Salmonellosis
Leptospirosis
Rodents do not need to be nearby to spread illness. Rats and mice have been able to spread the hantavirus from carrion or water sources. Even foods that these pests have briefly nibbled on could be a super spreader hotspot for your family.
Rats, mice, and sometimes squirrels have all been associated with the black plague. Sometimes referred to as the bubonic plague, this intense illness spread wildly throughout Europe during the 13th century. More than a third of the Earth's population was decimated by this illness, carried by rodents and fleas that mingled with humans. Although the risk for a rodent-based epidemic is particularly low, it has undoubtedly happened in the past.
Rodents can create copious amounts of property damage in their quest for warmth and food. Their long and powerful teeth can chew through some of the hardest substances in your building, including drywall, plastics, wood, and occasionally concrete. All this chewing may lead to structural damage and weakening, as well as electrical fires or machinery breakdowns.
It is much too dangerous to allow rodent species to hang around Cypress homes and businesses. For this reason, it is crucial to understand how and why these pests choose to infiltrate certain buildings.
How Cypress Rodents Infest Homes And Buildings
Rodents as a species have a long history of human dependency. For thousands of years, rodents have been using humans as a convenient source of food, a potential source of water, and a source of shelter during the harshest winter months.
You may notice an uptick in rodent activity during the fall and winter seasons, as freezing temperatures drive the rodents indoors. It is important to note that rodents are actively around, and they choose to infest whenever they see fit. However, the months between October and March are some of their most active infestation seasons.
You may not realize it, but you could be accidentally attracting Cypress rodents to your home or business. The following is a list of essential factors required by rodents to survive:
Easy access to food sources, including ingredients on counters, crumbs, and trash piles.
Water sources such as leaky pipes, clogged drains, or intense household humidity levels.
Plenty of clutter or small spaces to crawl into, preferably near a heater or source of warmth.
Nesting materials available around the house, from insulation to cardboard to shredded paper.
It doesn't take much for a rodent to infest homes or businesses in Cypress. Scientists have discovered that rats can fit through holes the size of an American quarter and squirm their way through entry points virtually undetected. Mice can squeeze through holes the size of a dime, while squirrels can drop through chimneys and roof vents. If you want to keep rodents far away from your home this year, you may need to get creative with your prevention steps.
Methods Of Rodent Prevention In Cypress
Like many other types of pests in Cypress, the best way to keep rodents away from your property is through solid prevention steps. Although it primarily starts with eliminating initial attractant factors, rodent prevention can be highly detailed and time-consuming. For this reason, it's a good idea to start with the basics:
Start by getting rid of easily accessible food sources. This includes food left on the counters, crumbs around floors or tables, or raw ingredients left in unsealed containers. Perform a deep cleaning of the home at least once per month to eliminate crumbs. Next, store raw food items in glass or plastic containers. Finally, keep as much food as you can inside the pantry, refrigerator, or tall cabinets.
Eliminate all access to food waste or garbage piles around the house. Store trash inside plastic bags wrapped in airtight cans. Go the extra mile by removing trash from the home at least once per week. If you tend to recycle some food waste, such as using a composter, be sure to aerate the pile frequently to encourage proper breakdown.
Eliminate excess moisture in or around the home. Start by running a dehumidifier around problem spaces of the house. Next, work on establishing a failsafe against standing water puddles, including getting the opinion of a local contractor. Finally, maintain the lawn and its water sources by filling ditches, trimming the grass, and pruning back overgrown vegetation.
Consider investing in professional rodent control guidance with residential or commercial pest management you can trust. While you may not need year-round services for your Cypress home, getting the opinion and protection of an expert team could save you many headaches down the road.
Year-round rodent prevention requires comprehensive prevention, hours of work, and hundreds if not thousands of dollars. For a fast, convenient, and cost-effective pest management method, look no further than the world-class control team behind Modern Pest Control. Call now to schedule your first ever rodent inspection or book a treatment time using the online contact form.
Modern Pest Control Is Your Rodent Control Expert
You simply can't afford to manage rodents on your own. Between disease and pathogen spread, property damage, and physical attack, these pests are much too dangerous to be left to their own devices. Prevention steps can help to eliminate any scouting rodents and reduce your risks for infestation. It is through the work of a dedicated rodent professional that actual infestations can be adequately managed.
At Modern Pest Control, we understand that your family's needs should always come first. That's why we have been dedicated to delivering outstanding rodent control services since our very beginning.
With over 30 years of industry experience, the professionals behind modern pest control are fully equipped to handle rodent infestations of any size. From mice and rats to outdoor squirrels, we have experience dealing with and managing rodents at any stage of their lifecycle.
Each of our effective rodent control programs follows these three steps:
Every home treatment will receive a complimentary, in-depth inspection service. Our operatives are trained to identify infestations at any growth stage and will report their findings to you with categorical evidence. Our professionals will work quickly to ensure that rodents are correctly identified for the treatment process.
Rodent treatments are always customized to meet your needs, from traditional products to alternative or eco-friendly measures. We will work with you one-on-one to choose a method that works with your lifestyle and implement proper rollout throughout the application process.
We want to ensure that our services offer everything you need to be successful against rodent infestations, including follow-up visits! We will return to your home or business to check for any sign of re-encroaching pests. Otherwise, the re-treatment is on us!
Best of all, Modern Pest Control provides household inspection services that are 100% free – for every client! From commercial businesses to residential homes, gain access to actionable consultations from trained local professionals.
Getting rid of an entire rodent infestation on your own can be extremely difficult. Instead, look to hire contracted professionals at Modern Pest Control. We make it easy, simple, and safe to eliminate rodent vectors and their diseases and complete a full cleanup of the home without compromising on quality.
Enjoy safe, efficient, and cost-effective rodent control programs when you call Modern Pest Control at your earliest convenience. To learn more about our rodent control programs and the unique solutions we provide, submit an online contact form to connect with a representative in your area. We are looking forward to working with you and your family!