How to Avoid Rodents on My Sunrise Property

How to Avoid Rodents on My Sunrise Property

Contamination, disease, and property destruction are all possible in your home if a rodent invades it! Rodents, including mice and rats, can be destructive creatures and once they’ve invaded your home, it can be difficult to remove them since they reproduce so quickly! One of the best ways to ensure these pests don’t enter your Florida home is taking the necessary precautions to avoid them in the first place. We break down the types of rodents to be cautious of and our best do-it-yourself rodent prevention tips to keep rodents out of your Sunrise home.

Types of Florida Rodents

  • House Mouse: Preferring dark, secluded areas in your home, these rodents are found in crawlspaces, basements, and attics. Mice adapt quickly to our human environments, seeking out food and water for survival. These rodents are also skilled climbers and can jump a foot high to reach isolated areas!
  • Roof Rats: With their padded feet, roof rats will climb into our homes at the highest points, including our attics, eaves, and roof lines. These rodents typically live in colonies and stick together once they’ve found a place to habitat.
  • Norway Rats: One of the largest rodent species, Norway rats are nocturnal and will seek food sources at night, especially in your trash can. Once they’ve infested a home, they are known to gnaw on furniture, walls, plastic, lead pipes, and even electrical wires.

Preventing Rodents in Sunrise

Rodents are attracted to food, water, and available shelter, so it’s crucial to eliminate these factors from your property to avoid a rat and mouse infestation. Check out our DIY rodent prevention tips for your Florida property:

  • Seal and repair windows and doors that are loose or have a broken seal.
  • Utilize screens on doors and windows, especially for those that tend to be open.
  • Inspect the exterior of your home for any cracks or gaps and seal them immediately.
  • Avoid leaving your pet food and water bowls outside overnight and store pet food in plastic containers with lids.
  • Repair any leaky pipes and eliminate excess moisture in your crawlspace; we recommend enclosing crawlspaces to moisture issues and help eliminate household pests.
  • Keep your yard well-maintained by mowing your grass, trimming back shrubbery, and removing debris on a regular basis.
  • If you store lumber on your yard, look to place it at least 20 feet from your home and elevated off the ground.
  • Have a regular cleaning schedule that includes vacuuming, mopping, and sweeping.

If you suspect you have a rodent infestation or are interested in getting ahead of preventing them, call your local pest control company. Professionals will provide you with a thorough inspection, identification of the rodent, possible entry points, and a rodent control and prevention plan.

Common DIY Ways to Prevent Rodents in South Florida

Common DIY Ways to Prevent Rodents in South Florida

Rodents, including rats, mice, and squirrels, look indoors for a place to nest and food. Once these wildlife creatures get inside your Florida home, they can wreak havoc, destroying insulation, chewing electrical wires, and contaminating food. Prevention is critical when it comes to protecting your home against rodents, especially as the weather cools down and they begin looking indoors for shelter. Check out our rodent prevention tips below.

Florida Rodent Prevention Tips

Start Rodent Prevention Outside

Rodent Prevention Outside
Your yard is the first defense against rodents, making it essential to place outdoor preventative measures to deter them away. Consider these DIY tips:

  • Remove potential nesting sites such as leaf piles and deep mulch
  • Fix gaps in trailer skirting and use flashing around the base of your home
  • Keep outdoor cooking areas and grills clean
  • Remove any old tires, vehicles, etc. From your property
  • Elevate woodpiles, hay, and garbage cans at least 1 foot off the ground
  • Keep your garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids
  • Seal holes or gaps outside of your home with steel wool or metal sheeting

Keep Tidy Indoors

Keep Tidy Indoors
Your home can provide the perfect place for rodents to inhabit, so removing those attractants from inside your home will help keep these creatures out. You can do this by:

  • Clean up leftover food crumbs and spills after each meal
  • Store food in plastic or metal containers that have tight-fitting lids
  • After cooking, wipe down your stovetop and countertops
  • Wash your dirty dishes and put them away after each meal
  • Keep your home decluttered by removing old newspapers or magazines and storing items in plastic containers instead of cardboard boxes
  • Regularly vacuum, sweep, and dust throughout your home
  • Remove excess water from inside by fixing any leaky pipes and keeping your attics and crawlspaces dry

Consider Professional Help

If you suspect rodents are inside your home, it’s important to reach out to your professional pest control company. These professionals will be able to inspect and identify the rodent that’s invaded your property. They will also be able to safely remove these creatures, identify areas of entry, and provide a rodent control and prevention plan for your home to avoid further infestations.

Why Are Rodents Invading My Punta Gorda Home?

Why Are Rodents Invading My Punta Gorda Home?

Punta Gorda Rodents

Rodents are a common pest Floridians will deal with. Rodents, like rats and mice, invade homes in search of water, shelter, and food to survive. Once rodents have infested your Punta Gorda home, it can be difficult to remove them as they will often reproduce quickly! It’s important for Punta Gorda homeowners to understand what attracts rodents to their homes and how to prevent them from infesting.

What Attracts Rodents

  • Food: The most common reasons rodents will invade your property is if they find food. Both rats and mice will eat anything you leave laying around inside and outside of your home, including pet food.
  • Warmth: Rodents like a warm, comfortable place to inhabit, which is why they often look to our homes to find it. Common places these creatures will inhabit include attics, sheds, basements, and other structures that are dry and warm enough to make a nest.
  • Water: Like any pest, rodents need water to survive. Mice and rats are in constant search for water, which our homes have plenty of supply of. These rodents will take advantage of leaky pipes, bowls of water for our pets, leaking sprinklers, fountains, and birdbaths.

How to Prevent Rodents

Dealing with rodents in your home is less than ideal. Luckily, there are do-it-yourself preventative measures you can place throughout your home to keep these pests from invading. Consider the following rodent control tips:

  • Empty your garbage regularly, utilizing a tight lid or lock
  • Utilize screens on vents, chimneys, windows, and doors
  • Keep your home free of clutter from paper, fabric, and other materials used for nesting
  • Seal any entry points leading inside your home with metal mesh
  • Rinse food and drink containers before throwing them away
  • Avoid leaving pet food and water out overnight
  • After each meal, wipe down your countertops and clean up any spills or crumbs
  • Repair any leaky pipes found in your home
  • Keep firewood elevated and stored at least 20 feet away from your home.

In summary, what attracts rodents to your Punta Gorda home is food, water, and shelter. If you suspect a rodent infestation, contact your local pest control company for help. These professionals will thoroughly inspect your home and safely remove any rodents that are found on your property.

Request a Free Punta Gorda Pest Inspection

Preventing Common Rodents in South Florida

Preventing Common Rodents in South Florida

Common to the Florida area, rodents can cause significant damage to our homes by chewing on wires, destroying insulation, and contaminating our living areas. There are several types of rodents in Florida that homeowners should be aware of to properly prevent them from invading. Check out our list of common rodents and how to prevent them from invading your home.

Types of Rodents in Florida:

  1. Norway Rats: Norway rats have brown fur and can grow up to 10 inches long! They typically live in burrows and will enter homes through gaps in the foundation or holes in walls.
  2. Roof Rats: Roof rats are smaller than Norway rats and can be typically found in the upper parts of buildings, such as attics, roofs, and trees. You can tell them apart from other rats as they have longer tails and are gray or black.
  3. House Mice: House mice are small and can fit through very small openings. You’ll typically find these mice in kitchens and they are often identified by their droppings, which are small and black.
  4. Squirrels: Cute but not so cuddly, squirrels are known to invade our yards and attics! Once inside, these wildlife creatures can cause significant damage to homes by chewing on wires and insulation.

Preventing Rodents from Invading Homes:

  • Seal Entry Points: Check for any gaps or holes in your home’s foundation, walls, and roof, and seal them to prevent rodents from entering.
  • Keep Your Home Clean: Keep your home clean and free of food debris. This will make it less attractive to rodents. After each meal, make sure to wipe up any leftover crumbs or spills as soon as possible.
  • Store Food Properly: Look to store your food in sealed containers with a tight lid. This will make it more difficult for rodents to access.
  • Trim Trees and Shrubs: Trim any trees or shrubs that are close to your home and roofline, as they can provide a pathway for rodents to enter.
  • Reduce Moisture: Check for sources of moisture throughout your home, as rodents are attracted to water. Consider utilizing a dehumidifier in your basement and enclosing your crawlspace.

If you suspect that any of these common rodents have invaded your home, it’s best to reach out to your local pest control company for help. These expert professionals will be able to remove, exclude, and prevent them in the future!

Why Am I Seeing Rodents in Spring?

Why Am I Seeing Rodents in Spring?

Rodents such as mice, rats, and squirrels are overwintering pests, taking refuge inside your home during the colder months of the year. When spring arrives, these pests are already hiding in your attic, basement, crawlspace, garage, and even inside your walls. As the weather warms, they emerge for two reasons: searching for food and breeding season.

Rodents are dangerous to have inside your house for many reasons including:

  • Chewing through wiring, drywall, and insulation
  • Increasing your exposure to fleas, ticks, lice, mites, and more
  • Contaminating your home with their urine and feces
  • Spreading diseases like hantavirus, plague, and tularemia

Keeping rodents out of your home during any season of the year starts with prevention. Implement some of these rodent control tips this spring:

  • Inspect doors and windows for loose or broken seals and repair or replace them immediately.
  • Use screens on doors and windows, especially ones that are opened frequently.
  • Seal any exterior cracks or gaps.
  • Use mesh screens on chimneys, downspouts, and vents.
  • Seal food in canisters with lids.
  • Use trashcans with lids.
  • Keep your yard mowed and shrubbery trimmed.
  • Get rid of any yard debris.
  • Keep firewood away from your house.
  • Vacuum everywhere, especially where crumbs might be present.

If you have a problem with rodents or any other household pests, contact your local pest control company for a thorough evaluation.

 

You May Also Be Interested In:

The Differences Between Bumblebees and Honeybees

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Common Rats and Mice You Might See this Spring

A Step-by-Step Guide to Spring Lawn Care

Protecting Your Pets from Fleas and Ticks

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