Comprehensive Rodent Control: Tips & Strategies for a Pest-Free Home

As the weather cools down, you may notice an uptick in rodent activity. This is because these little critters are seeking food and shelter before winter comes. Unfortunately, some of them may decide your home is a great winter retreat. Even during the warmer months, rodents often find their way into North Carolina homes. So, regardless of the time of year, it’s important to know these rodent control tips and strategies for homeowners.

How to Prevent Rodents

The best rodent control treatment is prevention. It’s easier to keep rodents out than it is to invest in mice or rat removal. Plus, by preventing rodents, you can entirely avoid the health issues a rodent infestation can cause.

There are several methods and types of rodent prevention:

• Seal Food: One of the main reasons rodents will end up in your home is they’ve found food. Like any other pest, finding food and shelter is a top priority for survival, so they won’t take up residence in a house if they can’t find food. This is why sealing your food in airtight containers is a vital step in rodent prevention. You may also want to double-check your refrigerator or freezer’s seal to ensure there are no cracks allowing rodents in.
• Remove Trash: Rodents are scavengers, so they will feed on about anything they can find. Double bagging your trash and even using bungee cords to seal the lid of your outdoor trashcan can help prevent rodents from digging through your trash for their next meal.
• Clean Regularly: While having a rodent infestation doesn’t necessarily mean you have a dirty home, cleaning regularly can help prevent one. Rodents want a consistently safe shelter and need nesting materials. Cleaning not only disturbs their hiding spots, but it removes any potential nesting materials, such as clothes or boxes.
• Crawlspace Maintenance: If you have a crawlspace, you may be surprised to know that your crawlspace could be a rodent’s dream. With shelter, moisture, and potential food sources, rodents may take up residence in your crawlspace without your knowledge. However, crawlspace maintenance, such as dehumidification and sealing services, can help keep these rodents out of your crawlspace and away from your home.
• Fix Holes and Cracks: Rodents can’t get into your home without an entrance. Commonly, rodents sneak in through tiny cracks or holes in your walls, door seals, or window screens. By ensuring these cracks or holes are repaired and sealed, you can keep the door closed on rodents and other tiny pests.

DIY Rodent Control Tips

While DIY rodent control isn’t the most effective option, it may be a good way to treat small issues. For example, if you’re only seeing a rodent or two, you may be able to treat it yourself with some simple tips and strategies—on the other hand, a full rodent infestation should be left to the professionals.

Some strategies to try include:

1. Find traps or baits and place them in dark, quiet areas of your home.
2. Use essential oils that rodents don’t like, such as peppermint oil or lemon oil.
3. Set a regular routine of doing the rodent prevention methods we mentioned earlier.
4. If you’re on a farm or barn, you want to invest in cats or other natural predators of rodents to help control their population around your land.

Does Ultrasonic Rodent Control Work?

One common tool you’ll see appear for DIY rodent control solutions is an ultrasonic repeller. This device supposedly releases a high-frequency sound that can only be heard by rodents and causes them to run away from the noise. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that these devices work to repel rodents from your home. In fact, the FTC warned homeowners against these devices, stating that they are not proven to be effective and may simply be a waste of money.

Types of Professional Rodent Control Services

There are typically three types of rodent control services pest companies will offer to their clients depending on the situation. They may even do a combination of the three to ensure the best results.

The first type is rodent removal. This involves humanely trapping and relocating the rodents to a more natural habitat. Not only is this an eco-friendly solution, but it also reduces the use of chemicals and baits so your family is not exposed to them.

The second type is rodent control. This may involve baits and traps. Rodent control is used when the population is too large to relocate entirely, and some reduction is necessary to make the home rodent-free. At Clint Miller, we aim to have our treatments be both humane and safe for everyone in your family.

The last type is rodent prevention. Usually, this involves a regular pest prevention plan that treats your home for rodents and other pests in the area. Recurring rodent control will be recommended to you after the initial problem is addressed and helps keep the rodents out for good.

Enjoy a Rodent-Free Home with Clint Miller Exterminating

You deserve to enjoy your home without pests or rodents causing you stress. At Clint Miller Exterminating, we give you back your peace of mind with our comprehensive pest control services. Whether you need rodent treatment fast or are looking for a rodent prevention plan, our team has you covered!