There are few things as annoying and troubling as having rodents running around inside your home. These furry pests are fully capable of surviving outdoors but regularly decide that our places of living are better suited for their needs. This is a problem. If you have recently noticed signs of a rodent infestation inside your Las Vegas home or have been struggling against these pests for a while, let us help you today. Here are some things you should know about rodents, including how they get inside, some ways to keep them out, and what strategies work best to get them out.
The Reasons You Don’t Want Rodents Indoors
There are more than a few reasons why you don’t want rodents living inside your home. The first is that these pests spread diseases. They do this with their fecal droppings and urine which can contain organisms that cause sicknesses like salmonellosis and hantavirus. Rodents also spread diseases by carrying parasites like fleas and ticks into living areas. These smaller, blood-feeding bugs hop off rodents and find their way to people and pets.
Another way rodents cause trouble inside homes is by chewing on things. All rodents need to gnaw on items to keep their teeth at a reasonable length. Sometimes they nibble on things like furniture legs for fun. Other times they use their teeth to gnaw holes through walls or (worse) to sever wires inside walls to make traveling through wall voids easier. Another way rodents damage property is by tearing up insulation, fabrics, and paper to build their nests. All of this behavior becomes worse as infestations grow inside homes.
How Rodents Find Their Way Into Homes
There are two main ways rodents get into homes. The first is by crawling through preexisting gaps, cracks, and openings. The second is by making or enlarging entry points in the exterior of buildings. What you should be looking out for around your home is any opening that is wider than a dime that leads all the way into your home, or objects that are easily ripped, chewed on, or broken to allow these furry pests a way to get indoors.
What To Do To Stop Rodents Before They Get inside
In order to prevent rodents from getting into your home, you need to address entry points and reduce attractants. Here are some of the best ways to do these two things.
- Locate holes, gaps, and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation and around window/door frames. Use a caulking gun and some steel wool to fill in these potential entry points.
- Address damage to window/door screens and door sweeps.
- Install metal screens over out spouts for gutters and ventilation shafts leading out of your home.
- Trim back vegetation like branches and bushes to create a five-foot perimeter around your home’s exterior.
- Clean your living area regularly, picking up food messes and drink spills as they occur.
- Invest in sealable containers and store leftovers, pet food, and pantry items inside them.
When To Involve The Professionals About Your Rodent Problems
There are only two ways to handle a rodent infestation. The first is to get the proper training in how to handle these pests using traps, baits, and other pest control products. The other way is to hire a pest control expert who is already licensed and handles pests like rodents on a daily basis. To make sure your home is well taken care of, trust the friendly technicians at Anderson Pest Control.
Contact our team today to learn more about our comprehensive rodent control methods and schedule your Las Vegas home for a thorough inspection. We can help!