Spring is a time when rodents frequently move into homes. They're beginning to breed more extensively at this time, and so they are looking for comfortable spaces to nest. If your home is a good source of food, water, and shelter for these rodents, they'll move right in. That is, unless you take these steps to protect against rodent infestations in the spring.
Keep your basement dry.
Rodents, like all animals, need water to drink. They like to live near a water source, and basements are often that water source. Unfortunately, spring also tends to be a time when water ends up in the basement. So, you'll need to get water out of your basement so you can keep rodents out of the basement. Take these steps:
- Make sure your sump pump is working
- Caulk any cracks that are letting water seep in
- Install a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air
Cut back weeds and grass.
Sometimes in the spring, before you get back on track with the landscaping, you can get a barrier of weeds and grass around the outside of your home. This overgrowth attracts rodents who use it for shelter. As a result, they may find a way to access your home, which they might find even more comfortable. Make a point of trimming back all the weeds and grass around your home so that they do not start harboring rodents. If there are no families of rodents living right against your foundation, you're less likely to end up with rodents in your home.
Set up a few traps.
People often wait to set traps until they know they have a rodent problem. But the best time to set traps is actually when you suspect there are no rodents yet. There are two reasons for this. First off, you'll find out if you have rodents immediately as they may find their way into the trap. This allows you to be proactive and call a pest control company before the rodents have a chance to reproduce. Second, setting traps may actually protect you against an infestation. The rodents that the traps catch may be scouts — individuals sent out to find a new living space. When they don't return to the nest because you trapped them, they won't be able to lead others of their kind into your home.
Spring is an important time to focus on rodent control. Keep your basement dry, trim those weeds, and set the traps. For more information, contact a rodent control company.
Most pest infestations can quickly get out of hand if you do not address them. There is a reason people joke about "breeding like mice." You can go from having two mice in your home to having hundreds in a matter of weeks! When you think there are pests inside your home, you need to take control, and quickly. You take control by calling in a pest control professional. They can use a combination of trapping, poisoning, and cleanup methods to eradicate the pests. Learn more about these methods and about other pest control topics on this website, created to educate people like you about the pest control industry.