Nobody likes an uninvited guest. They’re entitled, they leave a mess everywhere they go, and they’re nearly impossible to get to leave! One of the most common offenders you might find trying to move into your attic is rodents.
While you don’t want them in your home, that doesn’t necessarily mean you want your rodent proofing to be dangerous or harmful to anything else living in your home. Here is everything you need to know about evicting your bothersome tenants in the most effective way possible.
Why Rodents Make Bad House Guests
While squirrels, mice, rats, and other furry invaders may be cute, that doesn’t mean you should let them make themselves at home! Rodents can cause a lot of damage in and around your home, destroying all manner of equipment and possessions, such as:
- Insulation
- Air ducts
- Electrical lines
- Furniture
- Boxes or other items stored in your attic
- Car insulation or wiring
Rodents can also spread diseases and create unhealthy air in your home that can be unsafe for pets and humans to breathe. Rodents spread over a dozen diseases directly (and many others indirectly), making them unpleasant house guests in more ways than one!
How to Identify Rodent Presence in Your Attic
Since you likely don’t spend much time in your attic, you may not notice rodent activity immediately. You should inspect your attic regularly for the following warning signs of pests in your attic:
- Shredded, damaged insulation
- Scratching or skittering noises in your walls and ceiling
- Animal droppings
- Unpleasant odors from feces, urine, or decay
- Rodent nests or nesting materials (twigs, leaves, other debris)
If you discover any of these signs in or near your attic, don’t wait to get professional help removing wildlife from your space! Even just one of these signs can indicate an active infestation in your home. Keep in mind, even damage from rodents that have since moved on needs to be inspected and repaired to prevent future invasions.
Rodent Proofing Solutions
Maintaining a home that is free and clear of rodents is relatively simple if you follow three simple practices: Seal up, clean up, and check up.
1. Seal Up: Check for Entry Points
Rodents can’t get into your attic if they don’t have a way in! By checking your home for these possible entry points and sealing them up, you’ll prevent rodents from ever making it into your attic and save the trouble of a messy infestation down the line.
Here are some common entry points rodents can squeeze their way through:
- Missing roof shingles
- Damaged or missing screens
- Gaps around utility entry points
- Cracks or holes in siding
- Gapping between roofline and fascia board
- Soft spots in the roof that rodents can chew through
If any of these entry points are near electrical wiring, it’s even more important to seal them up so you don’t have a dangerous fire hazard on your hands! Rodents are also known to dig through the soil beneath your home, finding their way into the basement and through water pipes up to the attic. If you’re unsure where your rodent visitors got in, a professional pest control company should be able to help you locate and seal those hidden spaces!
2. Clean Up: Disinfect Everywhere!
Maintaining a clean and well-disinfected living space will naturally deter rodents from settling in your attic, as they prefer places with easy access to both food and nesting materials. Keep food in your refrigerator or air-tight containers, wipe down surfaces regularly with disinfectant, and leave behind no crumbs for mice to nibble on. And don’t forget about the hidden, darker spots in your home, like garages and basements!
3. Check Up: Invest in Long-term Prevention
Even the most thoroughly sealed and tidied homes may have an unexpected rodent infestation, which is why preventative pest control is vital! As rodents seek warmer temperatures and shelter from chilly weather, homeowners should seek winter pest control services to ensure their home doesn’t become a breeding ground for little mouselings. By investing in regular pest control and infestation inspections, you can rest easy knowing your home will remain pest-free all year round.
Call Us At First Sight – We Do It Right!
The moment you discover signs of rodents in your attic, don’t hesitate to call your friends at Advantage Termite and Pest Control! We use the most humane and eco-friendly pest removal methods to protect your home and family without toxic chemicals or harmful practices. We will do it right the first time so you can say goodbye to your temporary tenants and hello to a nice, quiet house once more!
Contact us today to request an appointment or learn more about our preventative pest control program.
