Animals are not always defined by what they are. For instance, a rodent is not always a pest. Sometimes it is a pet that provides entertainment and friendship. The question is, what sets pet rodents apart from wild rodents? We are here to talk about this today and provide you with some control tips to keep invasive mice, rats, and squirrels off your Estero property.
What Makes Rodents Pests?
There is one huge difference between pet mice and wild rodents — captivity. Unlike dogs and cats that are allowed to roam freely around homes, rodents like mice and rats are kept inside cages. If these furry little house pets were not in cages, they would not stick around for long. If you have ever had a pet rodent escape its cage, you know how fast these creatures disappear inside living areas. Sometimes, they will even go wild and turn to some unhealthy behaviors like chewing on furniture, using the restroom in places they shouldn't, and picking up and spreading harmful bacteria. If a rodent starts out wild, it will naturally do all of these harmful things around your property.
First Control Tip: Keep Things Clean
If you don't want small rodents or big rodents crawling around inside your living areas, the first thing you should do is a thorough deep cleaning. Cleaning should involve picking up trash, vacuuming, mopping, sweeping floors, wiping down countertops, doing the dishes, washing under appliances and furniture, and addressing cluttered areas. After you finish, do your best to keep things clean.
Second Control Tip: Seal Off Entry Points
Many types of rodents invade homes here in Estero. One thing they all have in common is how they get indoors. These pests will often squeeze through gaps, cracks, or openings or walk right in through an open or unprotected door or window. They might also climb onto your home to look for entry points in your chimney, roofline, or windows higher up. If an entry point is too small to squeeze through, rodents may chew on it until it is. Keeping all of this in mind, here are some ways to seal your home's exterior:
- Use caulk and some steel wool to fill in holes, gaps, and cracks in your exterior foundation.
- Make sure all of your door and window screens are tear-free.
- Install door sweeps under all of your exterior doors.
- Keep unscreened windows and doors closed when they are not in use.
- Install a cap on your chimney.
Third Control Tip: Address Food And Moisture Sources
In order to limit not-so-cute rodents from finding food and water around your home, you have to store leftovers inside of airtight containers, address leaks around your living areas, and make sure things like trash cans have tight-fitting lids. We also recommend eliminating sources of water buildup around your property and making sure your gutters are in good working order.
Final Control Tip: Hire The Professionals
If there is one thing that is true regarding different kinds of rodents, it's that they reproduce quickly. If you only have a few of these pests crawling around on your property, it won't take long for them to make dozens of tiny rodents. If you want to make sure these furry pests are not reproducing near or inside your Estero home, you need professional help. At Quest Termite & Pest Services, we get our training and certification from Dr. Bobby Corrigan, an expert in this field. You do not just need rodent control for your Estero property; you need our team of caring and hardworking pest technicians.
Call today to learn more about our comprehensive rodent control solutions and schedule your Estero home for a visit.
Customer Reviews
Our rep at Quest is the VERY BEST!!! He is always soooo polite, informative and helpful. Wouldn't go with any other company largely because of him!!!
