What is your dream home? Is it a cabin at the top of a mountain with a scenic view? Perhaps it's a mansion on the lake with a 180-degree view of the water. Some just want a home they built themselves, nothing huge, but something that fits their tastes and comfort. For rodents, their dream home is anywhere people live. They have no preference for floor patterns or wall color; all they care about is that the person they share the house with keeps buying food and doesn't turn the thermostat off. If you do these two things, rodents will want to live with you too. To help you better understand these furry invaders, here are three things everyone in Buda, TX, ought to know.
Rodents Are Formidable Pests
There are around 4,000 species of mammals that live around the world, 1,500 of which are rodents. Here in Buda, TX, three rodents species make more trouble than the rest combined, house mice, roof rats, and Norway rats. Out of all other rodents, these three are the best suited to be pests. Roof rats are agile and able to jump from tree branches onto the roofs of homes. House mice are small and can squeeze through holes the size of a nickel. Norway rats have strong teeth. Not only can they chew through materials like wood and plastic like other rodents can, but they are also capable of gnawing through hard metals like copper, iron, or anything else stopping them from getting into a house.
Rodents Are Problematic
In the pest world, a creature is either annoying, dangerous, or destructive. Most pests fall under one of two categories. Rodents check all three boxes. The way they scamper through walls and ceiling voids at all hours of the night is downright annoying. They are destructive, using their sharp teeth to gnaw through walls, utility pipes, electrical wires, and anything else in their way. Finally, rodents are dangerous, capable of spreading diseases and disease-carrying pests such as fleas and ticks.
Here are some of the most common diseases rodents directly or indirectly spread:
- Hantavirus
- Salmonellosis
- Rat-bite fever
- Lyme disease
- Leptospirosis
- Tularemia
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- Ehrlichiosis
- Murine typhus
Rodents Are Treatable
There is a good chance your home is attracting rodents in one way or another. The only way to ensure these pests stay outside where they belong is to put in place prevention measures to stop them. Here are some methods our experts recommend you try:
- Trim back bushes and tree branches at least five feet from your home's exterior
- Make sure your gutters are clear of debris, damage free, and flowing properly
- Eliminate clutter and debris from around your property
- Fill gaps, cracks, and holes in your home's exterior with steel wool and caulk from a caulking gun
- Repair damage found in your home's siding, shingles, and roofline
- Limit hiding spots by tidying up storage areas
- Fix leaky pipes and fixtures in and around your house
- Thoroughly clean your home at least once a week and limit the number of rooms where you eat
- Store leftover foods inside airtight metal, glass, or rodent-proof plastic containers
- Make sure all of your trash cans are covered with tight-fitting lids
If you are looking for a more reliable way to prevent rodents or to have your home treated for a current infestation, trust the experts at White Knight Pest Control. Using advanced rodent trapping and proven pest control methods, our team will quickly handle any rodents taking refuge inside your house.
Your home is your home; you should never have to share it with rodents. For rodent control in Buda, TX, call or reach out to us through our website to schedule a service visit!