Wintertime Actions to Keep Rats and Mice Out of Your Home

Rats and mice will want to come into your home during the winter.  Homeowners need to respond with suitable measures to keep them out.  Here are some of the wintertime actions you need to undertake to keep mice and rats out of your home.

The most important thing you will need to do is to carefully look for openings these pests can use to access your home.  These openings can be cracked window sills or openings in the foundation or siding.  You will also need to check the location where pipes enter your home with care as well.

Mice and rats can get into any opening which is larger than their skulls.  Rats have a skull no larger than a quarter, while their smaller counterparts have a skull approximately the size of a dime. 

You should also be aware mice and rats have the ability to climb up your siding and enter into openings in high places.  They can even climb trees and use overhanging branches to find these openings.  It is best for you to trim overhanging branches and install flashing on the side of your home about a foot off the ground.

Rats and mice will look for food anywhere they can get it.  If you leave your trashcan unsecured then they will certainly appreciate it.  Always make sure the lid is on your trashcan tight.  Do not use a plastic trashcan on the outside of your home either, since metal bins are much harder to access.

It can be useful to use baits during the winter to attract mice and rats.  There are various forms for these baits, with pellets being one of the most commonly used.  You will need to place these baits in the proper locations for them to be most effective.

Setting up traps is also a good idea during the winter.  Mechanical traps have been used for years and years and are a very dependable way to deal with one or two stray mice or rats.  These traps will also need to be placed in the proper locations for them to work most effectively.  Glue boards can also be used to trap these small creatures.

One final thing you can do to keep rats and mice out of your home is to use certain electronic devices.  These ultrasonic or electromagnetic devices should ideally be combined with other preventative measures.

These are some of the various wintertime actions you can take in an effort to keep mice and rats out of your home.  If you still have any problems, then call a pest control professional in for a consultation to see what they can do about your pest problem.