No homeowner appreciates rodents running around their home, especially because they're a sneaky and clever pest. They have a tendency to ruin your home and invite their friends along, which no one is a fan of. However, many people may be unaware of their mouse or rat problem for a long time, which can lead to severe wire damage, sickness and a massive rodent infestation. Consider these tips to keep rodents out of your home for good.
You'd be surprised what a mouse or rodent can crawl through, Mother Earth News noted. Inspect your house each year, looking indoors and out, for any openings or holes. It doesn't take much room for them to wiggle through, and they'll be sure to find the hole. Seal up any hole that's larger than a one-fourth of an inch, which is basically the size of a pencil. Though these holes look too small for a rodent to squeeze through, they're very capable animals.
If you have pet food or bird seed outside or in your garage, bring it inside, Bobvila suggested. Otherwise, if you have animals that you feed outside, such as chickens, keep the food in a tight metal or plastic container that can't be penetrated by rodents' teeth. If you keep your garbage cans outside, make sure those have a heavy lid too. Open garbage can attract rodents, but it also can attract other pests such as raccoons and skunks.
Around your home you should aim to keep your storage areas organized. That means sheds, garages, basements and any other area that a rodent may seek refuge. If your storage space is cluttered, you're giving rodents a great place to hide. Try and keep these places organized and neat. If you have a lot of extra items, try to give some away or throw them out.
If you have an outdoor garden, you may be inviting rodents right up to your home. Though there's no way you can prevent rodents from accessing your plants, you can scare them off with a decoy. Try a holographic strip or a swinging decoy that moves and can appear to be a predator. It may not seem that intimidating to you, but the rodents are bound to notice it and leave your property.
If you choose to follow all these tips and still find rodents droppings around your home, don't be discouraged. Rodents are sneaky and may be able to get around your proofing tricks. Simply call a pest management company to handle the problem so you don't have to.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
