Rodents in the Home: What You Should Know

Rodents are a common problem in the average American home. In fact, they’re considered to be pests because of their ability to transmit diseases and damage property. There are many different types of rodents that live in or near our communities, but it’s the rats and mice which you’ll find living inside your home. Unlike other animals, these two species will take up residence inside structures if given the chance – and there’s not much you can do about it. That’s why it’s important that you learn how to get rid of them quickly so they don’t make themselves at home in your house!

If you think that you have rodents living in your home, then the sooner you figure out how to get rid of them, the better! Unfortunately, they make their presence known by damaging property or interacting with humans – and sometimes even both. For example, mice will run across tables at night so that they can reach crumbs on a plate. They’re also very good jumpers which is why some people find small piles of torn up paper near baseboards; it’s from them nesting there! Not only that, but mice also leave droppings behind which are perfect for tracking where they live around your house. Mice like to create nests tucked away in corners and they’ll move through walls too. Rats, on the other hand, are bigger creatures which means that they chew through walls and ceilings to create their homes. They’ll usually live close to food sources – like your kitchen!

Rodents are naturally shy, but they’ll move into your home if given the chance. If you have an infestation of rodents, you may notice that they: Live in holes or cracks around the outside of your house. Have made nests inside your walls, attic, crawl spaces and other areas which could be dangerous for your children or pets to get near them. Can contaminate food with their urine and feces (which can make you sick). Will leave odors on everything as a result of being in these buildings with them and Can chew through wires – causing fires.

To add insult to injury, some species can also bite you. This can lead to: A blood-borne infection, such as rabies (which may be fatal). Infections in the wound (because of bacteria on their teeth or claws). An allergic reaction to the bite.

What are Rodents?

Rodents are common in both indoor and outdoor environments. They can come into your home to search for food, water or shelter. Mice and rats carry pathogens that can contaminate food supplies and transmit infectious diseases to humans. They chew through walls, insulation and other building materials. They can also invade your attic or basement by chewing through parts of the roof or foundation.

Most rodents are nocturnal, which means they travel during night time hours. They may nest in woodpiles or debris piles. They will find places with little light and ventilation to live in safety. Rodents such as squirrels have adapted well to living alongside humans in urban areas.

Wherever there is food available outside, you will most likely find at least one type of rodent nearby. The types of pests you might encounter depend on where you live—but some animals are common across the country:

• • Mice – These small mammals prefer to take up residence in homes because the temperatures are usually warm and there is an abundance of food sources.
  • Moles – These mammals dig burrows to raise their young, but they also have the ability to tunnel under homes in order to set up camp inside walls.
  • Rats – Rats are very similar to mice except they are larger and more abundant in populated areas. They like to live anywhere that has opportunities for water and food sources—such as garbage cans, sewers or abandoned buildings.
  • Voles – These small mammals leave wheel-like trails on grass when traveling from one place to another. In the winter months you may notice depressions in your lawn where voles have been feeding on underground roots.

Are rats dangerous? Yes! Here are a few problems associated with having rats in your home:

• • Disease – Rats carry bacteria that can cause illness. Some of these illnesses include salmonella, leptospirosis and hantavirus infection.

If you live near farmlands or place trash out in the open with inadequate covering, it is only a matter of time before rodents will be attracted to it. Don’t forget that they like to chew on plastic bags containing food waste as well.

• Damage – They are notorious for chewing through wires and wood which poses a fire hazard if left unaddressed. Rats may also burrow into walls inside your home causing structural damage and insulation loss—which could lead to health problems such as allergies or respiratory illness due to mold growth in the humid environment.

In order to keep rodents from becoming a nuisance in and around your home, you must know what kind of animal got inside, where it is living, what food sources it has access to; if pets are present in the house, their health condition (just like any other animals), how big or small the problem is and many others things which are vital for taking actions toward ending the infestation.

Getting rid of rodents

There are a number of ways you can try to keep rodents away from your house: Keep your trash in metal cans which have lids. Eliminate access points into the wall by repairing any cracks or holes larger than ¼ inch wide. Trim back trees and vegetation around the building’s exterior (rodents need shelter – making it harder for them find cover). Store firewood at least 15 feet away from your home. Fix window screens which may be damaged or torn. One problem homeowners face when trying to get rid of rodents is that they unknowingly made the problem worse. “Rodents are attracted to two things,” says Koehler, “food and shelter.” She adds: No matter where you live – whether it’s an urban area or a rural property – there will always be food which can attract rodents. They need it in order to survive!

That’s why it’s so important for you to eliminate any sources of food which could be enticing them into your home. This includes trash, birdseed, pet food left out overnight or uneaten scraps on plates from yesterday’s dinner (which could attract rats). While this may seem like common sense, some people even try to lure mice away by putting out traps baited with peanut butter or jelly!

Oh, and you’ll need to be wary of what’s inside your home as well. Rodents will try to chew through items like plastic, cardboard and even paper in order to get at the food inside. This is why it’s important that you don’t store these materials where they can easily access them (like in a pantry or basement). If you notice any rodents inside your home – then there are some things which you should know about how to get rid of them! First things first: Don’t touch them if you can avoid it (rodents have very dirty paws). Call an exterminator instead so that they can safely remove the nest after they’ve trapped the creatures. Oh, and do NOT try to poison them! Remember that rodents will seek out what they can eat in order to survive. Poisons like that are toxic and killing them with “humane” traps usually means it’s a slow and agonizing death for the animal.

One thing you may want to do is set some traps in areas where you might see signs of their presence (such as near the attic or kitchen). When you’re setting these, just remember: Rodents aren’t aggressive creatures – so use traps which will kill them quickly. If you don’t then they’ll be stuck in place until they eventually die on their own. That could take days… even weeks depending on where it is they’re trapped!

There are many different kinds of bait stations which work for rodents. Some examples of these include peanut butter, birdseed, nuts and bacon grease – just to name a few. Just make sure you choose something which the mice will enjoy while it’s still fresh and easy to consume (otherwise they may not take it).

Remember: Rodents can be hard to get rid of. It could sometimes take a lot more than one method in order for your problem to go away completely! Don’t give up on them right away if you’re trying some home remedies or traps. Remember that patience is the key when getting rid of any animal!

When to call for help

The best way to get rid of pests is to hire a professional pest control company. The pest control professionals will be able to identify and eliminate the pests that are living in your property, and work with you to find solutions for any future infestations.

Rats and mice can be a real problem for homeowners, but you do not have to suffer their presence in your home any longer. The first thing you need to do is contact a pest control company that is capable of getting rid of rodents . A lot of people think they can just trap the pests themselves, but this is not always an effective or safe way to remove the pests from your property. Contact a professional instead!

Not only are professionals trained on how to get rid of rats and mice in homes, they will also take care of the cleanup so that there won’t be anything left behind. They’ll even fix anything that has been damaged by the pests, so you don’t have to worry about replacing insulation or other materials.

There are many different ways that a pest control company will use to remove pests like rats and mice from your home . They may inject chemicals into the walls of your home, set traps, or spray rat poison. The type of treatment used depends on the infestation level in your property, so it is important you call someone who will be able to find out what’s going on and get rid of the pests as soon as possible.

Rodents can be a real problem for homeowners, but you don’t have to suffer their presence in your home any longer. The first thing you need to do is contact a pest control company that’s capable of getting rid of rodents. A lot of people think they can just trap the pests themselves, but this isn’t always an effective or safe way to remove them from your property. Contacting professionals instead will take care of everything and make sure there won’t be anything left behind! There are many different ways that these professional companies use to get rid of rats and mice – so it’s important not to give up too soon if one method doesn’t work right away (patience!). When all else fails – call someone who knows how to identify what’s going on and how to get rid of the pests safely.

You should also call when you’re not sure what caused a problem. If you are scratching your head, wondering why there is a rodent infestation in the first place – then it is time to call for help! You need to have an expert work with you who will be able to determine if it is safe for you enter the property and remove the rodents yourself or if it needs professional services right away. The sooner they can come out, identify what caused this issue, and take care of everything – the better off you’ll be. Call Majestic today for a free estimate!