KEEPING RODENTS OUT: EXPERT CONTROL STRATEGIES FOR AIKEN PROPERTIES

When we talk about controlling rodents in Aiken, we are referring to two specific kinds of rodents—the two worst pest rodents in the world. Can you name them? The rodents we're going to talk about are rats and mice. Why are these rodents the worst of the bunch? It has to do with their propensity to get into our homes and stay permanently. Other rodents, like beavers and woodchucks, stay outdoors where they belong—not rats and mice. They love indoor spaces. Your attic, drop-down ceiling voids, and wall cavities are perfect for rodent habitation. As a bonus, your home also contains food. What more could a rat or mouse want? 

Unfortunately, there are issues with having wild critters living in your house. Join us today as we look at common rat and mouse species in Aiken, the risks associated with them, smart prevention tips, and effective control strategies. If you'd like to get a professional opinion about a rodent problem, your Aiken Pest Control team is always here to assist you. We're the right company to call when you need rodent control near you. Connect with us by phone, text, or email to get started.

Common Rodent Species: Identifying Different Types Of Rodents

In Aiken, we have two common rat species and two common mouse species. It is helpful to know a few facts about each of these unique critters:

• House Mice: These are the most common of all rodent pests. They get into homes through very small holes because they are small rodents. They also can make the tiniest of holes large enough to squeeze through. House mice are gray with a white underbelly. If you catch a glimpse of one of these mice, know for sure that there are more that you haven't seen. They reproduce quickly and are "as quiet as a mouse" when they move about inside your home.
• Deer Mice: These mice have the coloration of a deer. They are tawny on the top and white on the belly. While they can infest your home, you're more likely to find them in your shed. Deer mice prefer undisturbed habitats that feel like the outdoors. Though they aren't pernicious pests, like house mice, they can transmit a disease called histoplasmosis. We'll discuss this in a moment. 
• Roof Rats: These rats like to live in high places. In nature, you'll find them in tree cavities. So, it only makes sense for roof rats to live in your attic. To a roof rat, your attic is a mansion. When considering what to do about these rodents, keep in mind that they behave a lot like squirrels. Though they are black, nocturnal animals, you can imagine them scrambling up trees, running across power lines, and chewing holes in your eaves to enter your home, just like squirrels do in the daytime.
• Norway Rats: These rats tunnel in the ground. While they don't create extensive tunnels, like a woodchuck or gopher, they can take an existing hole and add quite a bit to it. Don't underestimate this rodent's ability to dig. When you see a brown rat waddle through your yard at dawn or dusk, you likely have a Norway rat infestation. The question is whether or not they're living inside your home or just outside in your yard. When rodents enter your home, they'll likely do so through ground-level entry points, but they can climb up through your walls to infiltrate your attic.

These are rodents in Aiken that will come into your yard and invade your home. When they do, they can cause a bit of trouble. Let's look at the risks so you can reduce the risk of sickness and property damage.

Health Risks Of Rodent Invasions: Protecting Your Family And Pets

There are many ways a rodent problem can rear its ugly head. Often, the signs are subtle or misunderstood. If you hope to guard yourself and catch trouble early on, you need to see and interpret the signs. Here are some common hazards associated with rats and mice:

• Insulation Damage: You likely know rats and mice have a tendency to damage insulation, but are you aware that they can damage insulation in a car or truck? If you open the hood of your vehicle and see the insulation all ripped to shreds, you have a rodent problem—likely a mouse issue. These animals do the same thing in your walls and attic. They collect soft insulation and use it to line their nests.
• Cut Wires: Rats and mice chew on many things. When they get into your wall or inside a vehicle, they can cut wires. A cut wire in your vehicle can make you late for work, but a cut wire in your wall or attic is a fire hazard that can present a serious danger to your family and property.
• Bacteria: In your yard, rats and mice can get into your trash. As they move about in your yard, they can deposit invisible germs they've picked up from your trash. If you have an outdoor grill, rodents can contaminate it, which can result in a stomach illness. They do the same thing on the inside of your home. They can contaminate counters, cutting boards, plates, cups, silverware, and stored foods.
• Ticks: Rats and mice can bring ticks into your yard and leave them for your dog or cat to pick up. They can also bring ticks into your home and drop them as they explore every level. Ticks can transmit several diseases that impact human health, including Lyme disease.

As you can see, rodents are small animals that are no small problem. It is essential to take the steps you can to keep them out of your yard and away from your home. In the next section, we'll look at some rodent prevention tips that really work.

Proactive Rodent Control: Preventing Infestations Before They Begin

Rat and mouse control can seem a bit mysterious because rats and mice are elusive pests. The secret to DIY rodent management is to remove the things that attract rodents and to make alterations to your home to prevent them from getting inside. These methods don't require you to see the animals as you work to control them. 

Here are some steps you can take to get rid of rodents in your yard and stop them from getting into your home:

• Remove objects in your yard that rest on the ground. Rodents use these to hide themselves as they travel through your yard.
• Trim your landscape plants near the base of each plant. Removing the leaves close to the ground will remove hiding places.
• Apply hardware cloth to keep rodents out of the space under your deck, stairs, and other structures. Rodents like to nest in these places. Make sure you bury it several inches underground to prevent them from digging under it.
• Protect your crawl space if you have one; this is another common nesting location, particularly for Norway rats.
• Rake up nuts and pick up fruit that falls from trees. These are primary food sources.
• Relocate bird feeders so that seeds don't fall close to the exterior walls of your structure. Birds aren't the only animals that love to eat seeds; they are a dietary staple for rats and mice.
• Install guards to prevent rodents from climbing trees, scaling pipes, or running across power lines to get onto your roof.
• Protect downspouts to prevent rodents from wiggling and scratching their way up to your roof.
• Apply expanding foam to fill in structural cavities, gaps, cracks, and holes.
• Replace damaged weatherproofing materials.
• Keep trash covered and receptacles free of odors.
• Rake and remove leaves and branches from your property.

If you don't mind rolling up your sleeves, you can prevent rodent problems by staying on top of general maintenance. A well-maintained yard and home are resistant to rodents. Now that you know how to get rid of rodents in your yard and seal them out of your home, let's look at what a professional can do for you.

Professional Rodent Extermination: Seek Expert Help

If you have a rodent infestation or want to keep rodents out of your house, it pays to get expert help. A licensed technician comes with many benefits. A trusted pest control company has expertise and experience in dealing with rats and mice routinely. Professionals, like those here at Aiken Pest Control, can tailor a control solution based on the specific issues on or in your property. Your technician will get the job done quickly and efficiently and provide you with a long-term solution, not just a temporary fix. Most of all, your rodent control comes with a guarantee that will give you real peace of mind.

Do you need assistance with home pest control in Aiken? Contact Aiken Pest Control for effective rodent control. Our licensed technicians apply field-tested methods to track rodents, capture them, evaluate control strategies, seal entry points, and monitor your property for continued activity. We'll make sure no rodents remain inside your home. Contact us today for more information or to schedule to have one of our friendly technicians come and take a look.