Learn What to Do if Your Home has a Mouse or Rat Infestation
Coming across any sort of pest or Nuisance Wildlife in your home can be an unwelcome surprise, from rats, mice, spiders — even stink bugs want to make your home’s attic their new dwelling.
Failing to follow these preventative steps can encourage Rodents to find their way into the attic and/or basement which will lead to property damage that can be quite costly to repair.
Mice and rats, for example, are small in stature but these rodents can cause substantial problems if they move into your home.
Whether your house is newly built or simply just new-to-you, follow these tips to pest-proof your attic:
- Eliminate the pest problem
- Clean up the affected (and unaffected) areas
- Protect your home from future issues by eliminated entry points
- Reinforce that protection with Cat-Guard
DIY Methods for Keeping Rodents Out
The first part of keeping rodents away from the basement or attic is simple, but it’s a step many homeowners often forget — a thorough cleaning.
Eliminate any trash or clutter. Mice, rats, and other nuisance Wildlife will hide and nest in anything they can find, including trash and debris.
Disinfect the entire space with bleach or other household cleaners if possible, especially if droppings or urine stains were found.
While cleaning and disinfecting, place remaining items that need to be stored in sealable containers without points of entry the rodent could use.
Ideally, you would then store these bins on a shelf or storage unit, as opposed to the floor.
By cleaning up your attic and basement, you are creating a better sightline into what needs to be fixed or sealed in order to prevent a rodent infestation.
Homeowners should also keep bushes and tree limbs trimmed back from the house as these can act as a way for rodents to climb and access the higher points of the structure.
Firewood and lawn debris should also be kept away from the house as these can attract nuisance wildlife and act as shelter until they find a point of entry to the structure.
Ensure trash cans are tightly sealed. It also helps if the cans are stored in a shed or garage so that they don’t act as a signal to rodents that your home is a source of food and shelter.
Eliminate Entry Points for Rodents & Nuisance Wildlife
To keep pests and rodents out, it’s important to eliminate entry points to the attic or basement.
Entry points like holes, cracks, and crevices that are 5mm or larger should be sealed immediately. A rat only needs a hole or crack that is approximately half an inch in size in order to get inside!
Did You Know?
Mice only need 6mm (that's less than one quarter of an inch) to squeeze inside.
Rats only need 12mm (less than half of an inch) to get inside.
As an extra measure, replace loose mortar and weather stripping around the basement foundation. This extra step helps to ensure mice and rats can’t find a weak spot in the foundation to use as a way in and out of your home.
Signs of Mice & Rat Infestations
Whether the rodent has built a nest in the attic, basement, or garage there are a few signs to keep in mind while checking your home.
Droppings are typically an obvious sign, but there are other sings that might be less obvious, especially if you don’t know what to look for.
- Nests made of shredded paper or fibrous materials in secluded areas
- Items with chew marks, typically plastics and cardboard
- Burrows, or tunnels, in insulation
- Rub marks on walls and corners from grease and dirt on their bodies
- Scratching sounds in walls, crawl spaces, and attics
- Urine-stained areas
- Smells caused by urine, droppings, or dead mouse
Cat-Guard Exclusion System
In the likely event that DIY home seal-up preventative measures are unsuccessful, Catseye Pest Control can help remedy the situation.
The best way to keep unwanted nuisance wildlife out of your home, garage, or other structure is with Cat-Guard, our permanent wildlife exclusion system.
Our solution is natural, chemical-free, long-term, and comprised of three components — Upper Cat-Guard, Lower Cat-Guard, and Trench-Guard.
Upper Cat-Guard protects homes and structures from the first-floor windows to the peak of the building against bats, birds, squirrels and other rodents.
Lower Cat-Guard acts as the first line of defense for the first floor of the home or building against critters like mice, rats, and chipmunks.
Trench-Guard protects homes and other low-clearance areas from animals that tend to burrow under low-clearance areas, like groundhogs and skunks.
The Catseye Mission aims to protect your family and your investment from pests and nuisance wildlife through award-winning customer service.
If you have a problem keeping rodents out of your home, or if you’re interested in our home and wildlife exclusion services, contact our wildlife and pest professionals today.
