Effective Rodent Control Solutions For Greensboro Homes: Tips And Techniques

Common Rodent Species: Identify Rats, Mice, And Other Intruders

When rodents and other pests explore your exterior, they find their way inside through entry points in your walls, foundation, or roof. Knowing that you have rats or mice checking out your home is important because these pests are uniquely equipped to make small holes large enough to fit through. Rodents have strong incisors that can chew through wood and scrape concrete. It is also important to keep in mind that mice are tiny rodents that can squeeze through a gap the width of a dime. They don't have to work hard to make a hole large enough to get through.

How can you tell that rats or mice are the pests checking out the exterior of your house? Here are the best ways to check, going from best to worst:

• Rodent Sightings: If you go outdoors at night with a flashlight and see a rodent, that is the best way to catch a problem. There are four rodent species you may find in our area. Roof rats are black, and you'll find them in trees. Norway rats are brown, and you will find them in voids under structures or in your landscaping. House mice are gray, and you may catch them in places where Norway rats hide. Deer mice have the coloration of a deer, and you'll find them near woodpiles, organic debris, or sheds.
• Rodents Droppings: If rodents explore your property, you may find their droppings. Rats and mice have black droppings about the same size as grains of rice. Rat droppings are slightly larger, and mouse droppings are somewhat smaller. They will leave their waste along the walls of your foundation.
• Grease Marks: As rodents run along your foundation or the pipes in the crawl space under your home, they'll leave smudges. Rats do this more than mice. They'll also cause oily streaks on baseboards inside your home. We hope you catch signs outdoors before they have the chance to get in.
• Damage: Rats and mice gnaw on building materials. You may see a hole with black streaks or material lying on the ground in front of it. Norway rats make holes in the ground; you can look for those in your yard.
• Nests: Check inside gaps and concealed locations for very soft material. If they find favorable conditions, rats or mice may make their soft nests outside.

If you discover signs of rodent activity, there are a few things you should know. Rats and mice in Greensboro are not harmless animals. They present a serious risk to your property and health. Let's quickly look at why this is.

The Rodent Menace: Understanding The Threat Of Uninvited Guests

While we won't spend much time on this subject today because this article is about tips and tricks for rodent control, you should know why it is essential to deal with rodents. Why? Because rodent control isn't easy work. Here are a few facts that may inspire you to do that hard work:

• One tiny mouse can have a hundred seed ticks climbing on its body. When those ticks grow, they'll drop off. If they do this in your house, you can get tick bites. Ticks are associated with a long list of diseases, including the infamous Lyme disease. 
• One tiny mouse can start a fire in your walls. Rodents chew on wires. If they cut a live wire, it can spark and ignite dry, flammable materials.
• One tiny mouse doesn't remain one mouse. Both mice and rats reproduce quickly and create large populations.
• Rats and mice damage structural materials, stored belongings, and insulation. They also cause contamination with their fecal matter and urine.
• Rats and mice can explore your entire house, including your kitchen and pantry.

It is best to keep rodents out, period. You can do this by learning how to keep rodents away from your exterior and block their ability to enter your home. We call this rodent-proofing. Let's take a look at how it works.

Rodent-Proof Your Home: Essential Steps To Keep Unwanted Guests Away

If you don't want backyard rodents to become house guests, you'll need to understand how rats and mice behave. Their behavior patterns are what bring them into your home. Here are some helpful tips and techniques to reduce rodent activity and stop rodents from getting inside, along with their associated behavior pattern:

• Remove Clutter: Rats and mice navigate using their whiskers and body hair. When they come into an open space, what do they do? They move to a wall and run along it. They use the same behavior pattern in your yard. They'll find an object on the ground and run along or around it. Get rid of the ground clutter and make your yard less navigable.
• Reduce Smells: Rats and mice have a powerful sense of smell. They can smell food from a distance. If they smell your trash receptacle, they may think a meal is available. Wash your containers to remove this attractant.
• Reduce Food: When rats and mice find a food source, they may attempt to live close to it. There are a few common foods that bring these animals into Greensboro yards. If you have bird feeders, the seeds scattered on the ground are an ideal food option. If you have trees that produce nuts or fruits, they can feed the rats and mice. Consider removing bird feeders or placing them on metal poles that rodents aren't able to scale. If you have nut and fruit trees, keep the nuts and fruits off the ground and consider installing guards on the trunks. 
• Remove Entry Points: Rats and mice are attracted to tight spaces. They like to squeeze into holes and gaps. If no hole or gap exists, rodents may not even try to get inside. But they'll make small openings larger because it is their nature. Use caulking or a can of expanding foam to patch holes. You'll also need to replace worn-out seals on exterior doors and damaged screens on doors and windows.
• Sanitation: Rats and mice are looking for morsels of food and things that smell like food. Clean food debris off floors, clean up juice spills, protect food in sealed containers, and manage trash to drive rodents out of your home and prevent them from taking root. Also, clean up cardboard boxes, particularly pizza boxes, as they can smell like food if you place the pizza on them before or after you cook it.

These methods will make it harder for rats and mice to hang out near your home or decide to look for a way indoors. In most cases, you won't need to do more than is outlined above. If rodents do end up in your yard and you have higher-than-normal activity, you may need more. Consult a home pest control professional.