What is rodent pest control? It is the targeted collection and exclusion of rats and mice. While rodent exclusion work can keep squirrels out of your home, those furry-tailed rodents fall under the category of wildlife management. When you request rodent control, your pest control service provider will assume you mean rats or mice, not squirrels, voles, chipmunks, gophers, or woodchucks. When it comes to addressing a rodent problem, there are many strategies. We'll look at them today and discuss what works and what doesn't work. We'll cover professional and DIY rodent control and discuss details about addressing large and tiny rodents. Do you need immediate assistance with rodent pest control in Chesapeake, or do you want to speak directly with a pest professional? Consider calling us. We can help you find a solution for your rodent issue.
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.
The Pros To Know For The Best Rodent Control For Your Home
Contact Hawk Mosquito & Pest when you need rodent control in Chesapeake. We stand out from the competition because we do the hard work that many service providers don't. We also target the zones and work to counteract natural rodent behavior patterns.
Exclusion Work: We do all the work necessary to address the entry points that rodents may be using (or have used) to enter your home. Our technicians have the experience and training to do everything. Other service providers have limited exclusion services or don't provide exclusion work at all. It is essential to check. Exclusion work offers long-lasting protection against rodent entry.
Foundation Repair: When Norway rats enter your home through your foundation, it pays to hire a professional who offers foundation repair services. Some problems require more than a can of expanding foam or a caulking gun. We provide all the services needed for property rodent exclusion.
Crawlspace Protection: When Norway rats find their way into your crawlspace, we remove them. We also offer a solution to help you keep rodents out of that sensitive zone. Our crawlspace encapsulation service provides many benefits, not the least of which is its ability to help keep rodents out. A dry crawlspace is a pest-resistant space.
Attic Sanitation: When rodents nest in your attic, they will likely soil your attic insulation. Going with a pest control company that addresses this issue is helpful. We remove contaminated attic insulation and sanitize your attic to address the potential for disease transmission. We also install insulation to help you maintain a good insulation layer in your attic. Along with insulating your attic, we also apply insulation in crawlspaces. If you like lower energy bills, better air quality, and improved comfort, you'll enjoy this added perk of addressing your rodent problem effectively.
Are you dealing with a rodent control problem in your Cheseapeak home? Are you hoping to keep rodents out and never have them invade your attic or crawlspace? In both cases, we can help. Contact Hawk Mosquito & Pest today. While we specialize in mosquito control, we have increased our services to include all of the many critical services homeowners need for rodent and pest control. Our technicians are trained and experienced professionals. See what a difference it makes to choose a pest control service provider that goes the extra mile. Contact us today to get started. We look forward to meeting and surpassing your expectations.