Rodents can be a nightmare to deal with once they’ve invaded your Austin home. Follow our tips below to understand how to keep these pests far away from your property.
Types Of Rodents And Their Risks
There are a couple of different types of rodents that you may commonly see in the Austin area, the most notable of which are mice and rats. Both of these types of rodents can cause significant issues in homes and businesses due to their penchant for gnawing and scratching items in your home. Mice and rats can chew through virtually any material, including electrical wiring, plumbing, wood, brick, and cinder block, which can add up to costly repair bills, especially when an infestation is left to grow.
Additionally, rodents carry a number of diseases, including serious illnesses such as hantavirus, tularemia, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, and salmonella. You can contract these diseases through encountering a mouse or rat directly, contaminated food, or the urine and feces that these pests leave behind.
Rodents may also bring parasites such as fleas, ticks, and mites into your home, which can start their own infestation and spread their own array of diseases.
How To Get Rid Of Rodents In Your House
Several factors may attract rodents into your home. If you want to know how to get rid of rodents in your house, you can follow the tips below to remedy these factors and deter rodents from entering your property.
- Rodents are attracted to left-out food, unprotected food storage areas, and unsealed trash and food or liquid spills. To prevent rodents from being drawn into your home, you should make an effort to seal all trash and food waste tightly, disposing of it promptly in sealed trash cans. Also, clean up any food or liquid spills as soon as possible.
- Rodents also enjoy hiding in cluttered areas of your home, especially places that are dark and secluded, such as basements, garages, attics, and the backs of closets. Clean up regularly and declutter your home and any outdoor storage areas to reduce rodent hiding places around your property.
How To Keep Rodents Away
Rodents are experts at entering even the most well-protected homes. To understand how to keep rodents away, follow the tips below to protect your property:
- Rodents typically enter homes by squeezing through cracks and gaps in windows, doors, foundations, or roofs. You should inspect your home thoroughly and seal up any potential rodent entry points with a chew-proof material such as steel wool or hard cement to ensure that rodents can’t get through. You may also want to invest in a chimney cap to stop rodents from entering this way.
- Rodents that hide out in your yard may be more apt to enter your home. Remove all outdoor debris, especially organic debris, such as fallen fruit, and keep the grass in your yard trimmed low to deter rodents from hiding outside.
Get Rid Of Rodents Permanently
If you want to get rid of rodents infiltrating your Austin home, the best form of rodent protection comes from professional assistance. Roberts Termite & Pest Control can provide you with effective, safe solutions that remove rodents from your home without you ever having to interact with these potentially dangerous pests.