Rodent Control Done Right For Your Chesapeake Property

Types Of Rodents Common To The Area

Three types of rodents commonly invade Chesapeake homes. They are house mice, Norway rats, and roof rats. Knowing a few facts about these different types of rodents is helpful because they act differently. Let's quickly break down these behavior patterns.

House Mice: These are amazing little critters that don't run across your lawn; they hop. Their hopping ability allows them to spring through the air and reach entry points you wouldn't expect. They scale trees, climb exteriors, and use downspouts to get to your roof. When a house mouse finds a tiny entry point, it can use it to enter your home. A full-grown mouse can slip through a gap the width of a dime. If an opening is too small, it can use its strong teeth to make it larger. The control used must consider the following:

• While they are tiny animals, mice often hide in attics because they have the skills to get up there. 
• Mice can enter wall voids and create nests in hidden places.
• Trimming tree branches away from rooflines helps deter mice from finding a way to enter your home.
• Sealing the smallest of entry points is essential. No opening is too small to seal.

Norway Rats: These brown rats often live in ground holes. They'll hide underneath junk piles and construction materials. They'll dig a burrow. They'll also dig their way into a crawlspace under your home or live underneath a shed in your yard. Consider these essential facts related to rodent control:

• Norway rats often live in crawlspaces or under sheds. It is essential to block access to these zones.
• Norway rats typically invade homes through foundation cracks. Pest proofing and home repair can greatly impact rodents and provide exceptional and long-lasting protection. 

Roof Rats: These black rats are similar to house mice and are commonly called house rats. They are excellent climbers and will enter homes in the same way house mice will. While they are larger, they may still invade wall voids. Their large size does differentiate them from mice as they require hearty food sources. They may leave your home to feed on nuts and other food sources in your yard, but they'll return to their attic nests each night.

• Roof rats are similar to squirrels in how they enter homes. Trimming tree branches away from your roofline can help to keep these rodents out.
• Roof rats are different from squirrels in how they explore every level of a home in search of food. Control methods should consider their ability to travel from floor to floor and address the spaces they'll likely explore.

When you consider what to do about house mice, Norway rats, and roof rats, the points listed above will help. Rodent control methods that make your attic space unwelcoming to rats and mice can deter them without mechanical methods or bait. Exclusion work that addresses foundation cracks and other damage provides a physical barrier to keep these pests out. Crawlspace encapsulation and some home improvement work can keep these pests out of your crawlspace and out of trouble. What kind of trouble do rodents get into when they enter your home? Let's take a quick look at a few things. It only takes one tiny mouse to create a big problem within the walls of your home.     

The Many Problems A Rodent Infestation Can Create

House rodents are familiar with living in homes. Experts refer to them as domestic rodents, but they are not domesticated. A rat or mouse will not go outside to use the restroom! They will leave their droppings and urine in your walls, attic, and other indoor spaces. The waste left by rodents is not only stinky, but it is also a disease concern.

When rodents move about inside your home, they chew on everything. Rodents create holes to exit wall voids and enter food storage areas. They chew holes in food packages and contaminate the food while they feed. They chew on stored items such as furniture and cardboard boxes. The worst thing a rodent will chew on is wiring in your walls. Chewed wiring can spark a house fire.

Rodents pick up organisms and spread them around in your home. They will collect bacteria and parasitic worms from garbage and sewers. They will pick up ticks and fleas from landscaping and wooded areas. The organisms they pick up are a potential source of illness. It is wise to deal with rodent problems quickly and effectively.     

The Hassles With Do-It-Yourself Rodent Control

When you detect rodents in attic spaces or hear them in your walls, you'll want to do something about them. But rodent control is rarely easy. These pests have hiding places you can't easily access and behavior patterns that help them avoid capture. 

The primary method used to arrest rodent problems is to apply traps. Do traps work? Yes. But there are a few challenges to consider.

• Traps are only a partial solution. For example, you can trap rodents continually and never stop an infestation if you don't apply exclusions.
• Rodents often avoid traps. It is worthwhile to look at university sources regarding the behavior patterns that allow rats and mice to avoid traps. You can find enough information to provide you with hours of valuable study time.
• Traps can harm rodents if not deployed correctly. A rodent will chew off an appendage to escape from a trap.

The best solution for rodent control is one that considers these challenges. A rodent control plan requires a multi-pronged control strategy. Traps require proper placement, baiting, and evaluation. It is best always to use traps that don't unnecessarily harm rodents during the trapping process.