Nobody likes the idea of rodents creeping inside their homes. If you have mice or rats wandering around the house, your health is in danger. They can damage your property by chewing on wires and by gnawing on furniture. Aside from this, they can spoil your food storage and can spread diseases both directly and indirectly. So, it is wise to keep your home safe from these harmful rodents.
You must keep an eye on whether there are rats or mice running around your home. As soon as you witness signs of their presence, try to banish them. However, getting rid of rodents requires serious efforts and little knowledge.
It is important to know how to spot rodents before you get a rat or mice infestation. This will help you take precautionary measures prior to any possible property loss.
How to Tell if Your Home Has Rodent Infestation
Normally, home owners have reasons to be suspicions when there are unwanted guests in their homes. There are some clear signs that can give you an idea, and the infestation can easily be confirmed by looking for these signs:
- Chewed-up food packaging
- Rodent droppings
- Chewed holes through walls, debris or insulation on the floor
- Weird stale odour
- Scratching noise at night
How Do Rodents Enter Houses?
Garages and roofs are the most common entry points for mice or rats. They either enter through attic vents or garage doors, then move to other rooms. Garage doors often do not fit well, and mice use the gap between the floor and the door.
Other common mice entry points:
- Crawl space vents and poor sealing
- Entry points near water, gas, and other utility lines
- Openings between the fascia and gutters
- Attic and gable vents
- Drain pipes
- Weeping holes in bricked walls
How Mice Spread Diseases in Your Home?
Mice, like other household pests, are a serious threat to your health. They can spread diseases directly and indirectly which makes them more dangerous. These rodents can harm your health in three different ways.
- Through Droppings and Urine
Mice droppings are a clear indication of rodent infestation which can make you sick. Droppings and urine are their way to mark territory, but this faecal matter spread diseases. They can spread lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), salmonella, and hanta virus through their waste.
- Through bites or Touching
Rodents often do not bite humans, but they can make you sick if one does. You can catch rat-bite fever through touching or a direct bite. The same goes for contaminated food that is contaminated by mice/rats.
- Through Parasites
Rodents are easy rides for other pests to your home. For example, mice often carry ticks on their furry backs which can cause lyme disease. Also, if your house has a lawn, these rodents can move around ticks from there to inside of your home.
How to get rid of mice in your house?
If your house has a mice infestation, you can follow two approaches. You can use pesticides or get rid of mice naturally by following the below methods:
- Seal Possible Entries
It is easy to stop rodents from entering into your house than getting rid of them. You can prevent their entry by sealing all possible entry points. Mice and rats can enter using gaps and very tiny holes. So, it is wise to conduct an inspection of your home.
Find out if the air is coming through any crack or hole in your walls. If there is one, seal the openings so that a mouse cannot pass through it.
- Curb Their Appetites
Rodents are attracted to food and favorable conditions, but they only need little food to survive. You must remove extra food, leftovers, dry goods, and pet food. Keep the food in metal containers or within drawers where mice cannot sniff. This way you can restrict their food supply.
- Limit Their Nesting Points
Rodents usually chew up materials to make their nests, but they like soft, fuzzy material. They can gnaw on lightweight plastic, paper, and cardboard to make their way. So, make sure there is no such thing in your house where mice can nest. The best you can do is check such materials regularly and store fluffy material in secure boxes.
- Try Traps or Peppermint Oil
Mice cannot stand the smell of cloves, pepper, and peppermint oil. You can use one or more of these to get rid of mice naturally. Use cotton balls and soak them in oils and place them near possible entry points or mice nests. You can also use ammonia but make sure pets and children do not get in touch with it. Setting up mice or rat traps is another great way.
- Hire a Pest Control Service
In case you do not have the time or patience to get rid of mice or rats by yourself, hire a pest control service. This will save you time and you can quickly make your home rodent-free. Professional service providers can help you with such infestations. They know where mice/rats might hide and how to lure them out of their nests.
If you are a resident of Southern Ontario, Vanquish Pest Control can help you get rid of mice infestation. You can get a free consultation and hire professional pest control service providers with a six-month guarantee.
