How To Keep Rodents Out During The Winter
When the temperature dips below freezing, rodents will search for the nearest warm location to set up shop for the next few months. Your home represents prime real estate for mice and rats that are looking for a new nesting place while they wait for the snow to melt. Thankfully, there are a couple of things that you can do to make your home less attractive to these disease bearing pests.
Seal Food
You should make sure that your garbage is properly sealed within home and kitchen, and stored in lockable containers in your garage as well. In addition, you need to make sure that you do not leave old food out overnight in the dining room or kitchen. A lot of people also forget to consider pet food, which is just as desirable to small hungry rodents. Make sure that your pets' food is properly sealed within an airtight container, and that you aren't leaving out dishes full of pet food for hours on end.
General Cleaning
The more cluttered and dirty the interior of your home is, the more likely rodents will be able to find a location that provides them with an ideal location for a nest. As the winter season approaches, it's a good idea to clean up all of the rooms of your home. Take care to remove organic substances, like newspapers and books, which are just lying around, as they can provide the perfect material for mice and rats to construct their nests with. A cleaner home will also make it easier for you to spot rodents that do make it into your home, which allows you to contact an exterminator sooner.
Household Repairs
In a similar vein to the above point, the approaching winter season is a great time to inspect your window screens, doors, and weatherstripping for signs of damage. If the screens of your windows are ripped, if there are gaps in your weatherstripping, or any other openings into your home present themselves, you should have the damaged sections replaced immediately. Even small entranceways that are elevated off of the ground can let mice and rats find a way into your house.
Landscaping
Finally, it's a good idea to trim away any branches or bushes that overhang your home's roof or come near the walls. These branches provide the perfect pathway for rodents to make it onto your roof, where they can climb into your chimney or attic through small gaps.
Visit a site, like http://www.albemarlepestsolutions.com, for more help.