Take Steps To Keep Rodents From Making Your Home Their Home
Anyone can end up with rodents living in their home, regardless of where you live. Keeping these pests away from your home is an ongoing effort. Make it as unpleasant of a place as possible for rodents, and keep it that way. One of the first steps is to get rid of potential dwelling places. Remove any tall weeds or junk from around your home. Old boards and wood piles make good hiding places, and trash provides a reliable source of food.
Next, go through your home and eliminate their food sources. Keep trash tightly covered, and remove any leftover pet food from bowls before you go to bed for the night. In your pantry, keep any sources of food sealed away in something that the rat can't chew through. Boxed meals, bags of flour or sugar, and even bars of soap can be potential meals for rodents.
Cover up potential entry points to your home. Rodents can squeeze through any space that their heads can fit through. They can easily convert a dime-sized opening into an entry point, most of the time without even needing to widen the space. Search your home, including the roof and the gutter system, thoroughly for any of these areas and plug them up. Caulk is a good sealing measure, while wider spots can be covered with 1/4 inch screen or cemented shut.
By taking preventative measures, you may be able to keep rodents out of your home. If you suspect that you already have rodents, leave a few access points opened so that they can escape, rather than die in the walls. Rats are more intelligent than mice, and will be more difficult to catch. Your best bet? Call in the pest control experts.