The Trick To Getting Rodents Out Of Your Port St. Lucie Home

In our area, we have four types of rodents that commonly get into our homes. House mice, as their name might suggest, are the worst. They love living with us. If house mice find a way into your home, they're likely to explore every inch of your home and stay with you permanently. Roof rats, which are also referred to as house rats, are similar to mice. They can get into your home and stay. They also have a propensity for exploring every level. Norway rats, also called brown rats, are burrowing animals.

While they can get in and stay, most prefer to establish a burrow in your yard and go in and out of your home. It is also possible to find Norway rats in your attic spaces. That leads us to our last rodent pest: squirrels. If squirrels get into your attic, they're likely to stay in your attic. This makes them slightly less of a problem than house mice, roof rats, and Norway rats. Why do we tell you all this? Because the trick to getting rodents out of your Port St. Lucie home is directly connected to understanding these animals.

Commensal Animals

Mice and rats are often referred to as commensal, but this does not properly describe them. While they certainly do prefer to live in close association with humans in order to derive benefits, they do not live in our homes without harming us. That having been said, this idea of commensalism actually helps. Mice and rats derive benefits from you. If you remove those benefits, you could make those rodents go somewhere else. This is particularly true for mice.

A little mouse can't go much longer than 8 hours without food before it begins to question whether or not it has found the right place to live. Here are a few tips for removing the resources that make rodents want to live with you.

Food

Put pantry foods in sealed containers. This keeps the smell of food in and rodents out.
Store your potatoes in a sealed bin.
Clean and deep clean to remove morsels rodents feed on. Be sure to get under appliances and cabinets.
Keep your interior trash bin free of odors and remove your trash weekly.
Refrain from leaving pet food down overnight. Mice and rats are nocturnal animals.

Water

Fix plumbing leaks, such as dripping showerheads and faucets or weeping pipes and garbage disposals.
Refrain from taking showers or baths before bedtime, rodents can come out at night to drink the droplets of water before they evaporate.

Tight Spaces

Mice and rats love to squeeze into tight spaces. They are the opposite of claustrophobic. So, when they happen upon a gap or crack in your exterior, they're drawn to squeeze in. When you take the time to seal gaps and cracks, you don't just remove access points, you remove the attraction that may have caused a mouse or rat to get into your home.

If you already have mice and rats in your home, you may wonder how this can help you get rid of them. First, it helps to prevent mice and rats from getting back inside, once you've driven them out. Second, it stops mice and rats from getting in "as" you're trying to get them out. But it can also play a role in making your home less habitable. Both of these animals like to hide in gaps and tight spaces in your home. If you remove clutter in your home and reduce gaps and tight spaces in storage areas, it can have an impact on mice and rats.

High Places

Squirrels like to live in tree cavities high in the air. So you should not be surprised when you find them in your attic. It is likely that they found an entry point on your roof or in your roofline. It is also possible that they made one with their strong teeth. Seal these openings during the day when squirrels are out gathering food. Just be careful that there are no squirrel babies in your home.

When Targeted Control Products Are Needed

If you have several rodents in your home or high rodent pressures in your yard, it may be necessary to use traps to remove the rodents and reduce rodent activity around your home. It may also be necessary to apply metal flashing and other materials to your exterior to bolster vulnerable spots that rodents are using to get into your home. These targeted control methods are a lot of work and they require expertise you may not have.

The good news is that you don't have to have this expertise. The technicians here at Native Pest Control are highly-trained rodent trappers. We can arrest your rodent infestation and put in place products that can prevent future infestations. Schedule an inspection to get started with effective home pest control and commercial pest control solutions. We'll let you know what you're up against.