Why It Is So Hard To Keep Rodents Out Of Your Greensboro, NC Home

Here's why.

1. Rodents Are Attracted To Holes, Gaps & Cracks

Have you ever seen a mouse or a rat running along a wall? This is because they are thigmotactic. They like to be touching solid objects. But they're not just drawn to having one side touching. They like to be squeezed into spaces where more than one side is against a hard surface. This is one of the reasons they get into homes. When they see a tight space, they explore it.

2. Rodents Squeeze Through Small Holes

Mice and rats have an interesting ability. They're able to shift their internal organs around. This allows them to get through holes that seem too small. A typical rat can fit through a hole the size of a quarter. A typical mouse can fit through a hole the size of a dime.

3. Rodents Chew Holes

If a hole is too small for a rodent to get through, it can make it larger. A determined mouse can chew right through a timber of wood. A determined rat can chew through brick mortar and concrete. Both of these animals can make short work of weatherstripping and door sweeps if they are motivated.

4. Rodents Are Drawn To Warmth

When mice and rats explore the outside of Raleigh homes on a cold night, they can sense the heat that leaks out doors, windows, and gaps around pipes. In late fall and through the winter, rodent invasions increase as temperatures make living outside less than ideal. This is particularly true of house mice.

5. Rodents Can Climb

There are many videos available on the internet that show mice and rats scaling walls. Some of them are amazing. If you haven't had the pleasure of watching one, we encourage it. You should know that these rodents don't just scurry along your foundation walls and hide in your landscaping. They can climb right up the side of your home if they find the right surface. They can also climb up a downspout on your gutter system and gain access to vulnerabilities on your roof. Roof rats are particularly good climbers and will often use tree branches to leap onto roofs.

6. Rodents Can Jump

Rats can jump as far as three feet straight up in the air. Mice can also jump quite high—for their small size. A mouse can make a vertical jump of up to 13 inches. This allows them to get into trash receptacles and other places you wouldn't expect. It also helps them conquer obstacles that should keep them from getting into your home.