Termite Inspection Orange County Termite Terry Pest Control

Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, South Orange County, Long Beach Area

How To Keep Your Home Rodent Free!

Many homeowners in OrangeCounty are having a problem with mice and rats, especially during the cold season. That is because these pests will often enter homes so they can avoid the bad weather and stay warm.

The most common complaint we hear is that mice and rats are making a lot of noise and keeping people awake at night, as they scurry around in attics and walls. Many are finding food, clothing, furniture and even their cars are being chewed up and eaten by mice and rats. Others are seeing their homes contaminated and ruined by rodent droppings and urine. Of course, nothing is worse than literally being stunk out of your home when one of these rodents dies inside of an attic or wall where you can’t find them.

The good news is many of these problems can be prevented and that is why we would like to give you:

 10 Tips To Keep Your
Home Rodent Free!

  1. Store garbage in sound, metal containers with tight lids.
  2. Store food in rodent-proof containers. In the case of pet food, only put out what you pets will eat and don’t leave any food exposed overnight.
  3. Regularly inspect your stock of food and quickly clean up any food spills. You should always dispose of any packages which have been penetrated by rodents.
  4. Seal holes leading into wall voids. You should also pick up any long-term clutter or debris to reduce nesting opportunities for rodents.
  5. Store firewood, boxes, etc. 18 inches off the ground and at least 1 foot from walls to reduce cover or nest sites for rodents.
  6. Discourage rodents from living too close to your home by trimming or removing vegetation around its foundation. Trees should be cut back at least four feet away from the house and none of the branches should be left hanging over the roof. Shrubs and vines should be kept four feet below the roofline. You also need to move bird feeders and kennels away from your house.
  7. Exterior doors need to be tightly fit and should be kept closed when not in use, including garage doors.
  8. Cover exterior vents with 20-gauge wire screen of 1/4 inch mesh to exclude rodents.
  9. Repair any holes in exterior walls with concrete. Wire mesh can be rammed into small holes as a temporary measure to exclude rodents.
  10. Check any incoming supplies, particularly boxes which have been stored in garages and outbuildings, to prevent hidden rodents from being carried indoors.

    How To Get Rid Of Mice And Rats

    1. The first thing you should do is to complete the 10 steps listed above. There are a lot of rats in OrangeCounty and there is no way you’ll ever be able to catch them all. The real secret of effective rodent control is to keep them out of your home so you don’t have to spend the rest of your life chasing them!
    2. Do not use poisonous baits on the inside of your home! I know, I know – The guys at the hardware store will always tell you to put out some of their magic mouse or rat bait and once they eat it, they will get thirsty and go outside to die. However, in the real world, that doesn’t always happen. We frequently have to go out to a lot of homes and businesses to remove mice and rats that have been poisoned. Ask anyone that has had to endure the foul odor of a dead rodent and they will all agree that you shouldn’t use poisonous baits on the inside!
    3. We highly recommend you use “Old Fashioned” snap traps! They will take a bit more effort but they are well worth it. The secret to good trapping is to place the traps in a runway where the mice and rats frequent. Remember, mice and rats have very poor vision and always follow walls and surfaces with their whiskers. Please note that if you place the trap away from their pathway, they may never even see it, much less step on it.
    4. You may want to place rodent bait stations on the exterior of your home to help control the rat population. This works especially well in areas where the rodent population is high. However, bait stations should never be installed unless your home is rodent proofed, first!

      Need help with rodent control? Call our office at (949) 631-7348 and we’ll schedule an appointment at your convenience.