Rodents do not need much to move in — a small gap, easy food, standing water, or overgrown landscaping can make your home more inviting to rats and mice. Use these five rodent prevention steps to help seal your home, reduce attractants, and know when it is time to call a professional.
Table of Contents
Where to start:
1. Seal rodent entry points
Rodents can enter through small gaps around doors, vents, chimneys, pipes, utility lines, rooflines, and foundation cracks. Inspect these areas seasonally and seal gaps with durable materials such as steel wool, caulk, metal flashing, cement, or hardware cloth. The CDC recommends sealing gaps and removing food and nesting sources as part of rodent prevention.
2. Store food and trash securely
Keep pantry food, pet food, grains, and animal feed in thick plastic, metal, or glass containers with tight lids. Clean up spills quickly, wash dishes after use, and keep garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids.
3. Remove water sources
Leaky pipes, clogged drains, pet bowls, and standing water can help rodents survive indoors. Fix moisture issues quickly and avoid leaving food or water bowls out overnight.
4. Clean up landscaping and hiding places
Trim grass, weeds, shrubs, vines, and tree branches near the home. Move woodpiles away from the house and raise stored wood off the ground. Move woodpiles 100 feet or more from the home when possible and raise them at least one foot off the ground.
5. Call a professional if you see signs of activity
Droppings, gnaw marks, scratching sounds, nests, grease marks, and recurring activity can point to an active rodent problem. The CDC lists droppings, gnaw marks, and other evidence as signs of rodent presence. If you see any of these signs, call a professional to help remove them as soon as possible to avoid any health risks associated with rodent infestations.
FAQ
Seal gaps around doors, vents, pipes, rooflines, and foundations. Then remove easy food, water, clutter, and outdoor hiding places that attract rats and mice.
Rodents are often attracted by accessible food, pet food, garbage, standing water, overgrown landscaping, woodpiles, and small openings that provide shelter.
Call a professional if you see droppings, hear scratching, find gnaw marks, notice nesting material, or keep seeing signs after sealing and cleaning. Bulwark offers a wide range of options for dealing with rodents that want to get in your home. Call to today for a free, same-day quote and next day service.
