Mice may seem cute, but they can become a serious pain in large numbers. Senior communities are supposed to be places of tranquility, not where you're scared by a mouse. Mice can bring in harmful bacteria, endangering older adults with weakened immune systems as they infect clean facilities. Consider these tips to keep mice out of senior communities.
Mice may initially come creeping into a retirement community because they're attracted to the scent of trash, Washington D.C.'s Department of Health stated. If your garbage isn't sealed properly, mice can have a feeding frenzy on leftover scraps. Once they've gotten comfortable with your leftovers, they may try to wriggle into the home, which often isn't a far trip. Always keep the garbage in containers that have heavy lids that can't be opened by mice or other animals.
The facility owner should make sure that the outdoor part of the property is well landscaped. Don't let weeds and grass become overgrown, which give rodents places to hide. An unkempt yard can also welcome other types of pests, such as ants, centipedes and more. Also, don't leave cardboard boxes, lumber and other storage units outside, which are also great nesting grounds for pests.
Survey the perimeter of the community to make sure that each building doesn't have any small holes or openings that a mouse could wiggle through, the University of California Davis noted. If you do find holes, caulk them up with brick and mortar or steel wool. Ensure that all windows are fully sealed and don't contain any rips or tears. Add a metal trim to all doors to prevent them from rotting and allowing mice to gnaw on them.
Always keep all food in tightly packed storage units that can't be gnawed open. The best types of containers are glass, metal or plastic. Cardboard and paper are too weak and welcome pests. After cooking, sweep up all crumbs and debris off the floor to prevent hungry noses from tracking it down. Tie up trash tightly and only bring it outside right before the pickup time. If the facility has any pets, their food should also be stored properly.
These are just a few tips to follow to keep seniors safe and away from the dangers that involve mice. If you do have a mice infestation, immediately call a pest control company to professionally handle the problem. Trying to deal with it on your own could put you and the residents in harm's way.
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.
