How to Prevent Rodents from Setting Up Camp in Your House This Winter

As the temperature drops, rodents will start to look for refuge and search food sources. Rodents thrive and survive in winter and can reproduce quickly during this time. Thus, you could quickly deal with a rodent issue if one female rodent makes your house their home.

Rodents destroy properties and spread different diseases. They can get into your house through tiny holes like spaces between bricks, through your roof, and under doors. Remember that rats can fit through openings as big enough for the human thumb. If a pencil fits through a hole, a mouse can enter it easily. Such rodents can sneak into your home without being noticed. This makes it important to find one Portland pest control company and get rid of the pest now.

The Problems that Rodents Bring

Rats and mice are known to cause different issues to homeowners. That is why no homeowner will want these pests in their home. Rodents can do serious structural damage to your house, contaminate your food and surfaces, as well as spread diseases. To help you better understand what to expect if a rodent issue gets out of control.

Structural damage. If left unchecked, rodents and damage your home’s structures. They can chew on almost anything to keep their constantly growing teeth sharp. Mice and rats can burrow behind brick sewers and between soil joints, compromising the structure of your home. also, they can disrupt drainage when they destroy pipework, leading to flooding and electrical wiring destruction.
Damage to valuables. Rodents gnaw on storage features such as cupboards and cardboard boxes, possibly damaging their contents. They will rummage through electronic devices if given the chance. Rodents create nests in inaccessible areas such as attics. That is why they can destroy costly furniture pieces and other items.
Pest invitation. If rodents gnaw holes in the wall to enter your house, such holes allow other pests to get inside. Ants, roaches, centipedes, and spiders will appreciate those entry points.
Health risks. Mice and rats can transmit diseases like hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, plague, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, tularemia, and salmonellosis. Such diseases can spread through contact with rodent urine or feces, contaminated food, or air conditioning ventilation systems.

Identifying Rodent Infestation Signs

Below are common signs of a rodent infestation:

Droppings. Rodent droppings are often found near food packaging, hidden places, inside cabinets, under sinks, and along walls.
Gnaw marks. New gnaw marks tend to be lighter in color at first, but they get darker eventually. They are often visible on food packaging and walls.
Nests. Rodents build nests using shredded paper, dried plant matter, or fabric.
Scratching noise. Rats and mice are active at night, causing scratching or scurrying noises. You may hear these noises as the rodents move around beyond walls and joists, crawl under floors, or scamper around cabinets.

Keeping Rodents at Bay this Winter

To prevent rodents from invading your home, get rid of all access points. Fill cracks and crevices like those under doors, between bricks, and in the roof. Also, store your food in airtight containers made of materials that rodents cannot destroy. To make your home less attractive to such pests, get rid of clutter.