What are rodents?
Many people forget that squirrels are also rodents and can cause similar problems to mice and rats. Rodents are known for their quick reproduction rates, which is why there is rarely ever just one or two of these pests in your home. Even if you can’t see them, there are likely many more than you think.
Many different types of rodents are common home invaders. No matter what type of rodent problem you are experiencing, you can expect them to cause a host of issues, so the sooner you get them out of your house, the better. Common rodents are rats, especially roof rats, mice, squirrels, and flying squirrels.
Are rodents dangerous?
Rodents are dangerous for several reasons, including the damage they cause and the diseases and parasites they spread.
Rodents have teeth that never stop growing, so they need to constantly chew on things to keep them from overgrowing. If pests get into your home, they will chew on everything from wood to insulation, pipes, and wires.
Diseases and parasites rodents spread are hantavirus, rat-bite fever, salmonellosis, rabies, ticks, mites, and fleas.
Why do I have a rodent problem?
People and rodents have lived close together for a long time, which means rodents have come to rely on people, especially for food; this is the main reason rodents are common home-invading pests.
Where will I find rodents?
Depending on the type of rodent, they can be found in several different places once they have gotten into your home. Roof rats and squirrels usually enter a home through the roofline and are often found in the attic. Other rats and mice typically remain on the ground floor and make themselves at home in basements, crawl spaces, garages, and kitchens.
How do I get rid of rodents?
We use a three-step process to get rid of rodents. After an inspection, our first step is trapping and removal. We will place traps in the attic or other safe locations, depending on the species. We set up a one-way door for squirrels to allow them to get out but not back in or a live trap to safely remove and relocate them.
The second step in our process is exclusion, sealing up any known or potential entry points to keep them from getting back inside. The last step of our approach is prevention. For this, we place rodent monitoring stations around your property to keep the exterior rodent population under control and help keep them from becoming a nuisance again.
For more information about how we can assist you with rodents in Florida, contact us at Rowland Pest Management!
How can I prevent rodents in the future?
Once you start with our rodent control services, you will want to do everything to keep these pests from coming back again. To do this, you want to ensure that your home is not providing the things they need to survive. Remove these factors by doing the following:
- Remove food sources by storing opened food in airtight containers, cleaning up after eating or cooking, and regular vacuuming. You should also remove bird feeders from your yard as they can drop seeds, attract rodents, and use garbage cans with tightly fitting lids so that animals cannot get in.
- Remove access to water by addressing moisture issues such as leaks, poor ventilation and draining, and moisture buildup in your yard due to organic debris.
- Remove entry points and hiding places by trimming branches so they aren’t touching your house, sealing any cracks, using chimney caps and vent covers, and keeping the interior of your home organized.