River Oaks Residents' Most Common Complaints About Rodents
People often ask us if they should be concerned about rodents in their homes. We always give them the same answer. Yes. As common home-invading pests go, rodents are amongst the worst there are. Most pests are either destructive, dangerous or just a nuisance, rodents, on the other hand, are all of the above. Naturally, this leads to a myriad of complaints and questions about rodents that have gotten into homes, some of which we are going to answer for you right now.
“Are rodents dangerous?”
Rodents live a filthy lifestyle inside and outside of your home. If there is a garbage pile, sewer, or dead animal, you can be sure that is their desired destination. Then when they are not in that filth, they spend their time wandering around inside your home looking for food and shelter. This drives them to cupboards, drawers, and across kitchen and dining room surfaces. Naturally, this spread can bacteria hidden on their bodies across these areas you regularly come in contact with. If that isn’t enough, when nature calls, rodents leave an even worse surprise in the form of their droppings and urine. Because of their diet, a rodent’s excrement can be filled with dangerous pathogens and diseases, all of which can be hazardous to your health.
“How many rodents, are too many?”
Even a single rodent can cause problems inside your River Oak home, but it is true that more rodents can cause more problems. What often happens is a few rodents of the same species or a pregnant female will find its way into your home. As more and more new rodents are born, populations will grow until available food, water, and shelter sources are too low to support the growing community. To put this into perspective a single female house mouse can have up to 10 litters a year with 3-14 young in each litter, and the average mouse reaches maturity in 4-6 weeks. You can do the math, we promise you are not going to like how it all adds up.
“How did rodents get into my house in the first place?”
Before rodents get into homes, they are first drawn onto properties. This happens when clutter, burros, and foliage provides them ample shelter opportunities, and unsealed trash bins and food scraps are left out in your yard and driveway for them to fill their bellies. The closer they get to your home, the more likely they are to find a crack, gap, or opening big enough to squeeze inside. This is where the real problems start. To prevent this from happening, consider these following tips.
Clean your yard of clutter and make sure foliage and grass are trimmed regularly.
Make sure all exterior trash bins have tight-fitting lids.
Pick up pet food and water bowls after they are done with them.
Examine your home’s exterior for openings rodents could use to get inside. For smaller holes use a caulking gun and wire mesh to fill them in. For larger damages, more extensive repair work may need to be done. (Don’t forget to check your roofline as many rodents can climb.)
Store leftovers inside of plastic containers.
Clean regularly.
“How do I get rodents out of my home?”
When rodents get inside they can be difficult to remove. Although store-bought traps can be used to lower populations, they are rarely a successful fix for the problem as a whole. Your best option to deal with rodents is to give us a call here at Modern Pest Control. Our technicians have the tools and experience needed to remove rodents from your walls, and out of your home for good.
How To Keep Rodents Away From Your Home In River Oaks
Rodents are small pests that have the ability to cause big problems when they come indoors. We are in the business of helping homeowners avoid these big problems. If you are not currently dealing with a rodent infestation, take some time today to implement some practical prevention tips to keep these pests away. Here are a few to start with:
- Seal gaps, holes, and other openings in your home's exterior.
- Make sure your windows and doors are sealed and in good condition.
- Remove opportunities for food inside your home.
- Address moisture problems in and around your home.
- Reduce clutter whenever possible and keep your living areas clean.
For more help with rodent prevention or to have an active infestation removed from your property, call our team at Modern Pest Control. We offer comprehensive rodent control services and are standing by to lend you a helping hand.
If you have any questions about rodent control, or you would like to schedule an appointment for your home, give us a call today. Go here for more info on Texas rats.