When rats and mice come into the home, they can
cause some serious problems. They can get into your food, damage your property,
and subject you to different diseases. Not exactly a welcomed house guest!
You may think
you keep your home clean, so you will never get infested, but it doesn’t matter
how clean you are, rodents will come into any home they can get access to. The
bad news is once they are in, they begin to multiply rapidly. In order to
prevent your home from being infested, here are signs to look out for, causes of
infestations, and how you can prevent them.
Signs of Rats and
Mice
•
Droppings
•
Gnaw marks on wood
•
Chewed food packaging
•
Rustling noises in the walls
Of course,
there is the possibility that you may actually see one of the rodents in the
house, but they tend to work at night. They could be there for a while before
you ever see them.
Causes of
Infestation
When the
weather gets colder, rodents look for a place they can nestle in, stay warm,
and grow their family. Even better if that place has a source of food!
Unfortunately, human homes offer both of those things. The main factor that
allows for an infestation is open access.
Rats and mice
can come into your house through small cracks and gaps in the exterior of the
home, drainpipes, and windows and doors. They are quite clever and can squeeze
through spaces that appear to be much smaller than their body size.
Prevention
While rats and
mice can be good at finding their way into the home, there are steps that can
be taken to prevent an infestation or to eliminate one once they have arrived.
Close Up Any
Openings
Inspect around
your house for any cracks or openings and seal them all up, even if they are
small. Be mindful of leaving doors or windows open. Ensure all of your screens
are in good condition without rips or tears.
Snap Traps
These are the
conventional spring traps that every person associates with the word
“mousetrap.” You bait the trap with some food, and it uses a steel bar that
comes down to kill the rat or mouse when they trigger the spring.
Glue Traps
With these
traps, you basically have a piece of board or a tray that has an adhesive
substance on it. When the rodent walks on the board, it gets stuck and
eventually dies from hunger or thirst. These traps can be effective, but many
people do not use them because they are inhumane.
Live Traps
The live traps
catch the rodent in a cage, and you can release it later. It is a good option
because it does not harm the animal. You just need to make sure to release it
far enough from the home so that it does not return.
Poison
You also have
the option to use rodent poison. If the mouse or rat eats enough, it will spend
the next few days dying from internal bleeding. Along with being inhumane,
another potential downside is that one of the rodents may go into the wall
before they die, and the smell of a dead rat in your wall is sure to be
unpleasant.
Electronic
An electronic
mousetrap works by delivering a shock to the rodent that stops its heart. They
are effective and easy to use, but they can be expensive.
Sonic
These are
devices that emit a high-frequency sound that will irritate rats and mice. The
sound has no effect on humans and it is also safe for animals like cats and
dogs. While they can work to provide a less inviting atmosphere, studies have
found that these devices are not as effective as the manufacturers claim.
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