As a homeowner, you would never wish to see a rat or mouse in your house. But if you do, this means you might have a more serious rodent issue. This is particularly the case if you spot a rat or mouse during the day. Rodents are active at night as they want to avoid humans, so seeing a few of them during the daytime means the rodent issue has become a serious one. When this happens, you need a pest control expert from Saela Pest Control to assess your rodent situation and treat it effectively.
Why You Should Be Worried About Rodents
Rodents are a serious issue because they carry dangerous diseases that they can transmit to people through their bites, feces, urine, and scratches. Diseases like hantavirus, salmonella, Leptospirosis, and rat-bite fever are examples of diseases rats and mice can transmit. Also, rodents can attract other pests such as ticks and fleas that can cause health issues for people.
Additionally, Denver offers a perfect habitat for rodents to thrive. With the warm climate and the presence of wooded areas and parks, these pests have many sources of food and shelter to tap into. Plus, food sources are abundant in urban areas.
Mice and rats can compromise your home’s structures. They have strong teeth they chew constantly through wood and electrical wires, causing expensive repairs and possible fire hazards. Furthermore, rodent droppings and urine can carry an unpleasant odor that can impact your home’s air quality.
Preventing a Rodent Infestation
There are things you can do to prevent rats and mice from setting up camp in your house. These include the following:
- Seal up entry points. To ensure rats and mice cannot get into your home, seal up any openings they can use. Check the vents and pipes and use expanding foam or caulk to close these openings. Ensure the windows and doors have tight seals. You can prevent taps by adding weather stripping. Do not forget to check the basement and attic for openings that could allow rodents to sneak in.
- Clean up the yard. Mice and rats hide in cluttered places, so keeping the yard tidy will minimize the risk of a rodent infestation. Eliminate piles of debris or leaves and trim the lawn regularly. Ensure there is no standing water available in the yard because it can draw rodents and other pests. To prevent rats and mice from getting into your compost pile, contain it properly.
- Get rid of possible food sources. Rats and mice are drawn to food sources such as your food and trash. To prevent them from trying to gain entry into your home, eliminate these food sources. You can do this by storing food in airtight containers and cleaning the counters and floors regularly.
- Inspect your home for rodents regularly. To prevent a serious rodent infestation from developing, you must catch the problem early. Pay attention to signs of rodents like droppings, the presence of nest materials, and chewed-up wires. If you think rodents have taken up residence in your house, set up traps or contact a pest control service. Rodent inspection is best done by experts as they know where exactly rodents hide and enter your house.
