Rodents may be small, but they can cause big problems if and when they invade your property. Rats, mice and squirrels can contaminate food, damage insulation, chew through wiring and create unsanitary conditions around your home. Fortunately, a proactive approach to rodent proofing both inside and around your home can help reduce the risk of a rodent infestation before it starts.
10 Rodent Proofing Tips for Your Property
Use these 10 effective strategies to protect your home and yard from rodent infestations.
- Seal Openings and Gaps: Inspect your home for cracks, holes and gaps around foundations, vents and siding. Even tiny openings can provide access for agile rodents. Seal entry points with durable materials such as steel wool and caulk.
- Install or Repair Door Sweeps: Damaged or missing door sweeps can create easy access points for rodents searching for food and shelter.
- Store Food Properly: Keep pantry items in sturdy glass or metal containers with tight-fitting lids. Pet food, and birdseed should also be stored securely to avoid attracting rodents.
- Clean Up Food and Water Sources: Wipe up spills promptly, avoid leaving dirty dishes overnight and repair leaking faucets or pipes.
- Protect Vulnerable Exterior Areas: Add metal flashing around pipes, vents and other openings to strengthen your home’s defenses. Rodents can chew through many materials, but metal barriers provide added protection.
- Declutter Storage Areas: Basements, attics, garages and crawlspaces are often ideal nesting locations. Keep these areas organized, and reduce clutter to limit potential rodent hiding places.
- Maintain Your Yard: Trim shrubs and vegetation away from your home, remove brush piles and keep grass cut short.
- Move Firewood and Debris: Wood piles and yard debris can become nesting sites. Store these items away from your home, and elevate firewood whenever possible.
- Use Natural Deterrents: Some homeowners use strong scents such as peppermint, garlic, vinegar, or pepper around their exterior. These odors may help discourage rodents from lingering around your property.
- Use Humane Traps: When signs of rodents first appear, humane traps may help address small issues before they become a larger rodent infestation. However, promptly contacting licensed and trained local rodent removal experts can prevent infestations from growing out of control.
Professional Rodent Removal and Prevention with Critter Control® of Pittsburgh
At Critter Control® of Pittsburgh, we use safe and effective rodent removal methods to address current infestations while helping prevent future problems from developing. Our proven process includes:
- Inspection: We’ll conduct a thorough inspection of your property to determine the size and extent of the problem.
- Removal: We use eco-friendly and humane techniques to remove rodents from your property.
- Prevention: We’ll install exclusionary techniques in vulnerable areas to prevent rodents from returning.
- Restoration: Any areas damaged or contaminated by the rodents during their stay are cleaned, sanitized and restored to pre-infestation conditions.
The experienced rodent control technicians at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh will quickly and safely remove nuisance rodents and other invasive wildlife from your property and keep them from returning. To schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate, call us at 412-767-4067.