Three Ways To Rodent-Proof Your Home This Holiday Season

There’s something about the holidays that makes our homes feel extra cozy. The lights, the decorations, the shorter days, and the cooler weather all combine to make our houses places where we want to spend our time. Unfortunately, if we’re not careful, we might also end up with rodents spending time in our homes. 

Rodent infestations in Norfolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and across Hampton Roads are common this time of year, so you have to be proactive to avoid one. The following three tips to rodent-proof your home will help you keep rodents out this holiday season.

Reduce food and water sources

Like all creatures, mice and rats need food and water to survive. They often get into homes in the winter in search of these necessities. To keep rodents out of your house, it helps to ensure that they aren’t first drawn to your property because of a food or water supply outside and then enticed to stay by a steady source of food or water inside. 

If you feed the winter birds or leave a bowl of food outside for your dog, you may want to rethink those actions, as those food sources attract hungry rodents. Even an accessible garbage bin can attract rodents to your property. Fruit that has fallen from trees and left to rot on the ground will also attract rodents.

The same goes for any areas of standing water around your property. Whether you intentionally leave out a bowl for your pets or unintentionally allow water to build up in clogged gutters, rodents may see your property as a great place to live.

Once inside your home, rodents will stick around if they can find food and water. Of course, your house will have both of these things if anyone lives there. The way to stop rodents from accessing them is to be vigilant about storing your food and cleaning up after meals. 

• Keep all food in hard-sided, sealed containers.
• Wash all dishes after each meal.
• Wipe down counters and cabinet shelves regularly to remove crumbs and messes.
• Sweep or vacuum your floors routinely.
• Take out the trash frequently.

Taking these precautions can make your house less attractive to rodents.

Eliminate entry points

Rodents won’t invade your house if they can’t get inside. If you take the time to eliminate entry points into your home, it’ll be far less likely that you’ll end up with an infestation. 

Sealing entry points can be difficult because you have to take the time and care to look for them. Rodents can fit through small openings, so you should not overlook even little gaps. 

• Seal cracks and other small areas. 
• Fix gaps around windows and doors.
• Install door sweeps on exterior doors.
• Fill holes.
• Cover vents, downspout openings, and other larger openings with wire mesh.
• Cap chimneys.
• Repair or replace torn screens.

By making the inside of your house inaccessible to rodents, you can prevent an infestation before it starts.

Remove rodent nesting sites

Rodents are cautious by nature. They don’t like to spend much time out in the open where they might be discovered. That’s why they tend to stick close to walls when running from place to place and build their nests in quiet, secluded spaces.

To help prevent a rodent infestation, you can eliminate areas where rodents might nest or spend time outside and inside your house. To do this:

• Keep your grass trimmed.
• Cut back foliage around your house.
• Remove leaf litter and other debris from your lawn.
• Store firewood away from your house.
• Remove unnecessary items around the perimeter of your house.
• Reduce clutter inside your house.
• Only keep essential items in storage areas in your house.
• Check frequently to ensure that rodents haven’t built nests in your garage, attic, basement, storage areas, or under or behind appliances.

Getting rid of potential nesting areas will help you avoid a rodent infestation.

Contact Getem Services for the best rodent control in Hampton Roads

Although taking all of the suggestions mentioned above will make it more difficult for rodents to infest your home if you want even more peace of mind, contact Getem Services. Our customized rodent control services are designed around your needs. We provide rodent traps, baiting, and exclusion services, so you don’t have to worry about rodents entering your home in Hampton Roads.

We also offer year-round home pest control services that target rodents and house-infesting insects. 

Contact us for more information or to set up your rodent inspection today.