Rats and mice are no small problem when they get into places they shouldn't. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent them from causing trouble. Join us for today's rodent rundown. We'll look at common rodents in our Concord service area, what sort of things they do when they get into homes, and effective prevention tips to proactively deal with rodent problems. If you've been wondering how to keep rodents away from your Concord property or how to keep them from getting into your home, you'll find what you need here. If you already have a rodent issue and need rodent control in Concord, you can get help by reaching out to us. Peeler Environmental is your source for pest control information and services. Find our Contact Us page in our menu and connect with us today.
Common Rodent Species: Identify Rats, Mice, And Other Intruders
There are only three rodent pests that commonly enter Concord homes. It is likely you know them. They are rats, mice, and squirrels. But not all of these animals are considered house rodents. Squirrels rarely get inside; when they do, it is even rarer for them to get into pantries and kitchens. They would much rather live outdoors. But, when temperatures drop before winter, or they see openings in homes that they can exploit, they sometimes get into attics. Rats and mice are greater troublemakers. Let's look at our area's three most common rat and mouse species.
House Mice: These are the most common of all house rodents. If house mice find their way into your home, they're likely to stay permanently. You can identify house mice by their color. They are light to dark brown. If you see a house mouse inside, you should know there are likely many more. They live in groups and mate startlingly fast. If you see droppings, keep in mind that mice typically forage for food within about 30 feet of their nest. That means you may find nests in areas where you're finding the fecal matter.
Deer Mice: These mice prefer to live outdoors. When they get into structures, they typically choose undisturbed, dusty, and dirty environments, such as those found in a shed, barn, or storage locker. You can identify deer mice by their deer coloration. They are tawny on the top and white on the belly. While deer mice are less likely to infest your home, it is possible to have an infestation of deer mice. What's worse, they are known to spread Hantavirus, which can lead to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.
Roof Rats: Some of the worst home invaders. Roof rats act like house mice, only they're much larger, and they prefer to create their nests in high locations, such as rafters in an attic space. Roof rats are entirely black, making them hard to see in the dark.
Norway Rats: These are opportunistic rats that don't mind being outdoors or indoors. They do well no matter where they are because they are robust, clever, and resourceful. In your yard, you can expect them to get into ground holes that already exist. Inside, they'll make those holes larger and establish a burrow to live in. They do the same with holes in your exterior. They'll get into your walls and create a nest as though it were under the ground. You're most likely to find these rats on the first floor of your home or lower.
These are the rodents you're looking to manage. Each is unique in its own way, and it is essential to keep these unique traits in mind. Now, let's turn our attention to what rodents do on the interior of your home. We'll explore the risks and look at important facts to help you with rodent prevention.
The Rodent Menace: Understanding The Threat Of Uninvited Guests
All of the rodents listed above can invade your attic or get into your walls. In these places, they leave their waste material, which can present a health concern. But, when rats and mice get into your home, you won't just have rodents in walls and attic spaces; these pests can explore your entire home. As they do, they'll leave their waste close to where you eat or sleep, which can lead to illness.
Here are a few more ways they can impact your health:
- Rodents climb around in dirty places and pick up germs. They can spread these to your counters, dishes, and more.
- Rodents chew holes in food packaging and can contaminate the contents.
- Rodents rip up furniture, insulation, clothing, and other items to collect materials for their nests.
- Rodents soak insulation with urine and cover it with droppings.
- Rodents gnaw holes in building materials to gain access to foraging areas, like your kitchen.
- Rodents are known to gnaw on wires and gas lines, and a fire could result from this kind of damage.
- Rodents carry lots of ticks. A single mouse can have more than eighty seed ticks on its body.
- Rodents reproduce quickly, and a single couple can give rise to more than a thousand rodents in your home within one year.
- Rodents are challenging to control.
The best solution is to not have rodents in your home in the first place. Let's take what we've discussed and apply it to rodent prevention.
Rodent Prevention Tips: How To Keep Your Property Rodent-Free
It takes vigilance to keep rodents out of your home. We're not going to kid you. But, hopefully, after seeing how rats, mice, and squirrels can impact your life, you're ready to do something about them. Here are the most effective ways to naturally manage rodents.
1. Routine Inspections
Take a walk around your home. Look behind your landscaping and in your crawl space if you have one. Check hidden places in your home, such as behind the cleaning products in the cabinet under your sink, nooks and crannies in your pantry, and unfinished attic spaces. Look for moist, black droppings. Also, check for holes, gnaw marks, grease marks, and nests. It is best to catch these warning signs outdoors so you can take any steps needed to bolster your defenses.
2. Block Access
Rodents scale your exterior, run across wires, and jump from tree branches to get onto your roof. You can stop them from doing these things. Apply guards on wires or pipes that run up the side of your home. Cut tree branches near your home. Put wire mesh inside the downspouts. All of these tiny changes will help prevent a rodent infestation.
3. Rodent-Proof
Inspect your exterior and find every tiny gap and hole. Use expanding foam or some other products to seal these potential openings. If you find a gap in weatherstripping, replace it. If you find a gap in a door sweep, replace that as well. Leave no hole, no matter how small.
4. Declutter
Rats and mice use objects in your yard to navigate. You can significantly deter them just by picking up objects from the ground. Doing so will also prevent Norway rats from creating a burrow in the ground underneath. As you work to declutter, make sure to trim landscape vegetation, remove leaves, and perform other yard work to remove potential hiding places.
5. Control Food Sources
Rodents eat nuts, seeds, fruits, and meats. There are a few key ways to prevent them from finding these preferred food sources. Keep your trash covered. Remove bird feeders. Refrain from feeding squirrels. Pick nuts up from underneath any trees that drop them. Do the same with fruit. If you have fruit trees, make sure no fruit sits on the ground for too long. You can further protect fruit trees by applying a rodent guard to the trunk or make one out of an upside-down tin bowl and some duct tape.
These methods work together to resist rodent activity and prevent unwanted entry. If more control is needed, contact Peeler Environmental for rodent management around the exterior of your home. We use tamper-resistant bait stations and other proven methods to reduce and control rodents.
Professional Rodent Control Services: Experience You Can Count On
When you want to control rodents in Concord, whether that is to remove them from your home or keep them out in the first place, it pays to get professional help. A professional uses a multi-pronged pest management strategy to identify rodents, seal entry points, trap and remove them, reduce populations, and monitor the success of the treatment plan.
Would you like to learn more about professional rodent control services in Concord? We'd love to hear from you. Contact Peeler Environmental today to learn about rodent control service options in Concord, pricing, and treatment details. We can tell you quite a bit about your home and property right over the phone or through our contact page. Connect with us today to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Concord. We're here to help you find solutions to all of your pest concerns.
Customer Reviews
We have used Peeler environmental for pest control for over a year and are always pleased with the professional attitude and service we get from them. Our pest service was performed last time by Bradley McPherson, and he could not have been more thorough or nice.
Darlene F
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