Rodent control is particularly essential in the coldest months of the year. As the temperature drops, rodents search for warm places where they can stay and wait out the winter. If your house is giving these pests this opportunity, they will grab it. However, rodents can cause serious property damage and spread diseases. That is why you must take steps to ensure they don’t get inside your house. But if they do, you should choose a quality and professional exterminator in Denver as soon as possible as rodents tend to reproduce quickly.
Importance of Rodent Control in Winter
A rodent infestation may not lead to immediate effects; however, it can become serious when ignored. Rodents can do damage to your belongings and house by chewing through insulation, walls, fabrics, and wires.
Plus, rodent droppings can be quite hazardous to your health. They can spread bacteria and viruses, contaminate food and surfaces, as well as trigger allergic reactions. Also, feces can spread various diseases such as rat bite fever, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, and hantavirus.
In addition, rodents can chew on anything including electrical wires. This can cause sparks and possibly start a fire. That is why you should rodent-proof your house.
Winter Rodent Control
To keep your loved ones and home safe against the destruction and diseases that rodents can bring, here are steps you can take:
- Seal entry points. Rodents have flexible bodies that can easily squeeze through small cracks and crevices. To prevent entry, examine your home for such openings and seal them up. check for gaps around the doors, windows, foundation, and air vents since rodents may gain entry into your home through them.
- Store food properly. Rodents are constantly looking for sources of food. To ensure they don’t come into contact with your food, store food items in sturdy, airtight containers. Do the same with pet food. Also, monitor for food crumbs under the counters, oven, and fridge and get rid of them right away.
- Maintain the landscaping. Rats and mice can hide in overgrown shrubs and grass. To make your yard less attractive to them, maintain the landscaping. Get rid of debris or leave piles and trim the grass regularly.
- Keep firewood off the ground. If you burn wood to maintain the warmth in your living space, you may have a stockpile of wood ready. However, rodents can hide in firewood piles, so ensure you store them off the ground. If possible, store firewood on a raised platform and away from your home.
- Declutter. Rats and mice thrive in areas that have clutter as it offers them the best hiding spots. To prevent this from happening, eliminate clutter in your house. Pay attention to places such as the attic, basement, and garage. Clear out old newspaper stacks and other junk. Also, pick up laundry piles on the floor and store your things in plastic bins, rather than cardboard boxes.
- Call a team of pest control experts. If you are dealing with a huge rodent infestation, it is best to have a team of experts handle it for you. They know what elimination method to employ and how you can prevent future infestations from happening.