Lewisville's Ultimate Rodent Prevention Handbook

When rodents get into Lewisville homes and businesses, they can create many problems. Mice, rats, squirrels, and other rodents can chew holes in your property, damage your belongings, and present a fire hazard by chewing on wiring. Mice and rats will not be content to stay in your attic. They can explore every floor. When they do, they can contaminate your stored food, dishes, silverware, cutting boards, and food-preparation surfaces. They also spread ticks and fleas, which are known to spread diseases. It is not good to have rodents in your home or business. Here is a quick handbook for keeping them out.

Food Sources

It is important to secure food sources both inside and outside of your home. Mice, rats, and squirrels have different food preferences. Keep these in mind as you seek to prevent them from getting into your home.

• Mice — The key food source for mice is seeds. One common attractant that property owners don't consider is bird seed, grass seed, and newly planted seeds in a garden that will lure mice into your yard. The more mice you have, the greater your chances of infestation.
• Rats — While rats can eat seeds, they prefer larger foods because they are larger animals. Their ability to jump allows them to get into trash to find meat, fish, eggs, candy, and other human foods. Make sure your trash receptacles have covers.
• Squirrels — It may come as no surprise that squirrels prefer nuts and acorns. If you have trees that produce these, you will have more squirrels. Raking nuts and acorns up can have a limited impact on squirrel populations. But squirrels eat seeds as well. They can be reduced in the same way you reduce mice around your home.  
• All of these pests eat insects. The more insects you have in your yard, the more interesting your yard will be to all rodents.

Mice are timid critters. When they come into your yard, they will move from one area of cover to another. If you have unnecessary clutter in your yard, it can promote mouse activity. Rats are bolder than mice, but they still like clutter. Norway rats are particularly fond of clutter as they dig burrows underneath things to establish nesting sites.

Reducing clutter inside your home can have an impact on mice and rats as well. While it won't help with your rodent prevention, it can help with tick and flea prevention. Cluttered rooms allow mice and rats to move away from walls and to explore the entire space. This spreads ticks and fleas more thoroughly.

Water

Every animal needs a drink. If you have objects in your yard that collect rainwater or areas where puddles form, rodents will be attracted to your yard. Do what you can to remove containers and alter conditions that create standing water.

Fences

When a rodent finds food and water in your yard, it may decide to nest in your yard. One area rodents may consider nesting is in the voids under external structures. Fencing can prevent them from doing this. Fencing can also keep rodents from accessing food resources. When you install fencing, be sure to install it with at least a foot of the fence underground. This prevents burrowing rodents, like Norway rats, from getting under.

Exclusion

Rodents can also get the bright idea that it might be good to create a nest inside your property. You can have some success excluding them by inspecting your foundation walls and exterior, and sealing any gaps, cracks, or holes you find. Pay particular attention to doors, windows, vents, pipes, and wire conduit. These commonly offer vulnerabilities that rodents will exploit.

Added Rodent Protection

The best way to reduce rodent populations and establish complete exclusion of these harmful pests is to invest in professional rodent control services. At Adams Exterminating Company, we understand the serious threat rodents can present. That is why we include coverage for rodents in our residential and commercial pest control programs. Whether you own a home or a business, we can give you the support you need to keep rodents out.

Reach out to us today and request a free home estimate to get started.