If you want to get into someone's house, what do you do? Well, if you are like most people, you simply go to the front door and knock, or perhaps you give them a call first. Then, someone comes to the door, opens it, and lets you come inside. But what if you were a rodent? Have you ever opened your front door to find a rat or mouse sitting on your doorstep asking to come in? No. That would be ridiculous. So, how do rodents get into homes? The answer to that question is, 'They break in....uninvited.'
What Kind Of Problems Do Rodents Cause When They Break In?
- Rodents need to chew: All rodents come with a set of incisors that never stop growing. So they need to wear those teeth down by chewing. If rodents get into your home, they will chew on everything from wood to insulation, and from items you have stored in your attic to electrical wiring in your wall voids. In other words, rodents damage things with their chewing. And if they chew on just the right wire, it could cause a house fire, and then, those rodents will be the least of your problems.
- Rodents carry harmful bacteria: Mice and rats are known to forage in filthy places, such as dumpsters and sewers, and then enter homes where they have the potential to deposit disease-carrying bacteria on counters, silverware drawers, cabinets and anywhere else they roam. Exposure to these germs can lead to flu-like symptoms for an entire family.
- Rodents carry diseases: Rats and mice leave their feces and urine everywhere they travel inside a home. Diseases linked to rodents include salmonellosis, leptospirosis, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, hemorrhagic fever, tularemia, and more.
- Rodents carry parasites: These furry creatures, when they enter your home, do not usually come in alone. They often will be carriers of parasites such as lice, mites, ticks or fleas, which pose a whole host of other problems.
How Do They Get In?
As we mentioned, rodents don't come to the front door and knock. They break in. But, before they do, they are drawn to a home because of food, water, and shelter sources. A yard that has bird seed, pet food left out, leftover barbecue food, or open trash cans, will be a magnet for mice, rats, and other wildlife and insects. Yard clutter, overgrown grass, and weeds provide rodents with plenty of places to hide and come in close to home. Once they get in close, all they need is what pest control companies call an "entry point.":
- Bushes and overgrown trees or other vegetation can provide rodents the bridge needed to reach your outer walls or roof area where they will look for entry points.
- Holes in a foundation will allow rodents access. Mice only need a hole the size of a dime to squeeze through.
- Gaps or cracks in outer walls or roof areas are other likely entry points for rodents.
- Torn screens, especially at ground level, are excellent ways for rodents to enter homes.
- Damaged or absent door sweeps also provide a possible entry point for small rodents.
While it is relatively easy to keep unwanted people out of your home, keeping rodents out takes a little more effort. If you need help in sealing up your home and making conditions in your yard less inviting to rodents, the experts at Aiken Pest Control will be more than happy to assist you. We've been helping folks be pest-free for over 50 years. And we can help you too.