Spring into action the moment you see signs of a rodent in your house. Ignoring the problem and hoping it will go away on its own is a sure-fire way to guarantee that they’ll divide and conquer. Before you know it, you’ll have a full-blown infestation on your hands. Here’s the ultimate action plan for dealing with mice and rats when they enter your home:
1. Know the signs of a rodent infestation
How can you tell if you’re dealing with a rodent in your house? Besides seeing one scurrying across your floor, there are several tell-tale signs that will let you know that you’re dealing with an infestation. You may notice a vinegar or ammonia-like smell that house mice give off. You might see black grease marks on the walls or floors from the oils in their coats. You’ll see their droppings and urine trails. Finally, you’ll discover nibble marks in fruit or small holes left in cereal or bags of grains that they help themselves to for a midnight feast. Once you notice any of these signs, it’s safe to say you’ve got a mouse or rat problem.
2. Identify the enemy – know the difference between rats and mice
Figure out who exactly you’re dealing with, so you can give the most accurate information to your Toronto rodent control company. The differences between rats and mice are subtle, but with a little sleuthing you can figure it out. If you happen to see one, rats are larger with long tails with a blunt nose. You can spot a mouse by its tiny body, long thin tail, and adorable floppy ears. Another key difference is in the droppings: mouse droppings are the size of uncooked grains of rice while rats have larger pellet sized droppings. Report your findings to your exterminator so they can pounce onto your problem quicker.
3. Where there’s one, there are many
We hate to break it to you, but as any pest exterminator will tell you, there’s rarely just one rat or mouse in your home. If one found its way into your home to enjoy the central heating and food supply, there’s a good chance that others will have the same idea. For this reason, setting one trap isn’t enough to effectively deal with your rodent problem.
4. Scout out the nest
If you can spy the nest, you can easily remove it. Look for piles of paper, twigs, scraps of fabric, and other bits and bobs that are tightly wound and stashed in areas like attics and crawl spaces. Many mice and rats burrow in places you can’t see, so you may not be able to see a nest, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist inside your walls.
5. Cut off their food supply
Mice and rats simply adore the midnight snacks you leave out for them. From nibbling holes in your bags of oats to feasting on crumbs in your cupboards, you are providing a plethora of food without even knowing it. Store all cereals and grains in sealed containers and make a point of cleaning out your kitchen cupboards and pantry regularly. Make sweeping up the kitchen floors part of your dreaded list of evening chores. If there’s no food, your infestation may dwindle as they move elsewhere for their feasts.
6. Do some yard work
Your junky yard might be a turn-off for your neighbors, but it’s the perfect place for mice and rats to hang out when they’re outdoors. Old, neglected wood piles, piles of leaves, and heaps of junk are all backyard no-no’s because they give rodents a cozy shelter.
7. Find their point of entry
“How the heck are rodents getting into my home?” you ask. They don’t need a welcome mat to stroll on in. All they need to gain entry is a small hole or gap in your foundation or around doors and windows. Rodents are contortionists who are determined to get inside, even if that means squeezing themselves as flat as a pancake to do so. They puff right back up once they’re in and can get started on their takeover of your home.
8. Don’t forget about your garage
Rodents don’t need to be in your kitchen to be a problem in your home. Don’t forget about the other areas they can inhabit, like your garage or attic. Your garage has easy access from right outside and is often not sealed up as tightly as your house is. A garage infestation is bad news because once they’re on your property they can find a way to get into your house from there.
9. Exercise caution with traps and poison
If you’re ready to take action against a rodent infestation, make sure you do it the smart way. This means watching where you’re planting poison and being mindful of family pets and curious children. Be careful when setting traps and for goodness sake, please don’t catch your finger in one. You can begin the extermination process yourself with these methods, but it’s important to do it safely.
10. Call the professionals to get rid of rodents quickly and effectively
Your best bet for tackling a rodent problem in your house is to call your friendly neighborhood Toronto exterminator. A pest control expert knows rodents inside and out. They know their habits, their behavioral patterns, and the way they think. All this means that they can outsmart your rodents and wipe them out. Extermination experts have all the know-how and tools needed to eradicate your infestation the right way. Not only can the pros get rid of your rats and mice, but after their site inspection they can point out all the areas you should address to keep pests from coming back again.
Having a rodent problem is no laughing matter. They’re dirty, they carry disease, and they’ll send you screaming out of your own house. If you have rats or mice at your place, act on the problem ASAP by getting in touch with our expert team. Call us at 647-708-7378 or connect with us online. Pests can be a thing of the past when you let the pros fight the battle against your rodents and get the job done right the first time.
