How to Keep Rodents Out of Your Tallahassee Home

Finding evidence of rodents in your home is something that no homeowner expects or wants, but it is a surprisingly common occurrence. According to data from the 2020 Census, roughly 12% of occupied homes, apartments, and other housing units have reported seeing mice or rats. Rodent control experts Capelouto Termite and Pest Control know that Tallahassee and North Florida are no exception and work hard to eliminate pests and help you stop the problem before it starts with proactive rodent exclusion strategies.

What Draws Rodents to Your Home?

We can understand what attracts mice and rodents into your home by understanding the animals themselves. Rodents are scavengers, meaning that they look for an “easy meal” instead of hunting prey or living off vegetation. Rodents are attracted to the smallest things, so even leaving out an old cup of coffee, dog food, or fruit and vegetable peels will bring them right into your home. Once they are aware of a food source, it is really hard to keep them away so you want to make sure that you secure your trash and keep your spaces clean.

They’re attracted to garbage, but there are other reasons that a rodent may choose your home to infest, such as looking for a warm and dry shelter to live in. Rodents are also attracted to things like piles of leaves, barbeque grills, outdoor garbage containers, and even birdfeeders. If you suspect that you may have rodents in any of these areas, it is important to take action right away.

Why is it so important to take immediate action?

There are two main reasons why you want to call a pest control professional as soon as you suspect that you may have a rodent infestation in your home: safety and sanity.

Infestations Can Quickly Grow Out of Control

While you may have only noticed one or two rodents in your home, a female rat or mouse can have as many as 100 babies per year and it only takes one or two months for these mice to reach reproductive age. It isn’t uncommon for a mouse to have a litter every 25 days or so, and a litter can be as many as 18 babies. So you can see how one or two rodents can quickly become a much more serious problem.

Rodents are a Sanitation Nightmare

Considered one of the agents of spreading The Plague, rodents are known worldwide for spreading over 35 diseases worldwide. Rat feces can carry salmonella, which greatly increases the risk of contracting food poisoning. Rats eat often, and with how quickly the population can grow, you may find these droppings in your drawers, cabinets, and even foodstuffs. Rat Urine can stay in the air for days, creating a dangerously unsanitary situation that can even make insect activity in your home an issue.

Rodent control is important because not only do they spread deadly diseases, they carry them as well. Rodents are indirect vectors of mosquito and tick diseases, like Lyme Disease, West Nile, and Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever. They also leave “rub marks” on their exit and entry points because their fur and body are oily. Any one of these would make your home a dangerous place for you or your children, so let’s take a look at stopping and preventing rodent infestations in your home.

What Can You Do to Keep Rodents out of Your Home?

The easiest way to keep rodents and other pests away from your home is to keep your kitchen and dining areas clean. Take out your garbage regularly and make sure that your garbage can lids are secure.

You also want to make sure that you keep the areas outside your home free of mouse-friendly nesting areas, like large piles of leaves, overgrown shrubbery, bags of fertilizer, and even landscaping mulch. Clear your crawlspace yearly and look for any gaps or holes where a mouse could possibly get in.

Rodent Control in Tallahassee, FL

If you suspect a rodent or pest infestation and need rodent control in Tallahassee, don’t wait. Remember, rodents are small and clever so it may be difficult for an untrained eye to identify all the possible ways they can invade your home. Capelouto Termite and Pest Control are experts with a specially designed rodent exclusion program that stops rodent infestations before they can begin. If you are having trouble with rodents or any other pests, contact Capelouto Termite and Pest Control to see how they can help.