How to Avoid Rodents on My Sunrise Property

How to Avoid Rodents on My Sunrise Property

Contamination, disease, and property destruction are all possible in your home if a rodent invades it! Rodents, including mice and rats, can be destructive creatures and once they’ve invaded your home, it can be difficult to remove them since they reproduce so quickly! One of the best ways to ensure these pests don’t enter your Florida home is taking the necessary precautions to avoid them in the first place. We break down the types of rodents to be cautious of and our best do-it-yourself rodent prevention tips to keep rodents out of your Sunrise home.

Types of Florida Rodents

  • House Mouse: Preferring dark, secluded areas in your home, these rodents are found in crawlspaces, basements, and attics. Mice adapt quickly to our human environments, seeking out food and water for survival. These rodents are also skilled climbers and can jump a foot high to reach isolated areas!
  • Roof Rats: With their padded feet, roof rats will climb into our homes at the highest points, including our attics, eaves, and roof lines. These rodents typically live in colonies and stick together once they’ve found a place to habitat.
  • Norway Rats: One of the largest rodent species, Norway rats are nocturnal and will seek food sources at night, especially in your trash can. Once they’ve infested a home, they are known to gnaw on furniture, walls, plastic, lead pipes, and even electrical wires.

Preventing Rodents in Sunrise

Rodents are attracted to food, water, and available shelter, so it’s crucial to eliminate these factors from your property to avoid a rat and mouse infestation. Check out our DIY rodent prevention tips for your Florida property:

  • Seal and repair windows and doors that are loose or have a broken seal.
  • Utilize screens on doors and windows, especially for those that tend to be open.
  • Inspect the exterior of your home for any cracks or gaps and seal them immediately.
  • Avoid leaving your pet food and water bowls outside overnight and store pet food in plastic containers with lids.
  • Repair any leaky pipes and eliminate excess moisture in your crawlspace; we recommend enclosing crawlspaces to moisture issues and help eliminate household pests.
  • Keep your yard well-maintained by mowing your grass, trimming back shrubbery, and removing debris on a regular basis.
  • If you store lumber on your yard, look to place it at least 20 feet from your home and elevated off the ground.
  • Have a regular cleaning schedule that includes vacuuming, mopping, and sweeping.

If you suspect you have a rodent infestation or are interested in getting ahead of preventing them, call your local pest control company. Professionals will provide you with a thorough inspection, identification of the rodent, possible entry points, and a rodent control and prevention plan.

Winter Pests to Lookout for in Florida

Winter Pests to Lookout for in Florida

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean pests can’t invade your home! Unfortunately, there are several overwintering pests looking to your home to provide them with food, shelter, and water. Let’s breakdown the most common winter pests to lookout for at your Florida property.

Roaches

Cockroaches
Cockroaches are common household pests seeking a warm environment to provide them with food and water. These pests can pose a serious health risk to humans as they transmit diseases and trigger allergies and asthma. Roaches will utilize any small hole, gap, or cervices to enter your home. They are also known to hitch a ride inside grocery bags, boxes, and used appliances.

Rodents

Rodents
Rodents, including rats and mice, are year-round pests but they can become a major problem as the winter season approaches. Rodents will seek out warmth, food, shelter, and water inside our homes, squeezing through small holes and gaps to get inside. Mice and rats can cause damage to our homes and be a health risk to humans as they are known to chew through insulation, wiring, wood, and contaminate surfaces through their droppings.

Silverfish

Silverfish
These pests will look to your basements and bathrooms to seek a damp, cold place to live in. While silverfish are harmless to humans, they can invade in numbers, and cause them to be a major nuisance to remove them. These pests will often gain access to your home by hitching a ride through the items you’ve taken out of storage in your garage or attic. Silverfish will also feed on your books, glue, wallpaper, and boxes.

Preventing Winter Pests in Florida

It might seem impossible to deter wildlife creatures from your home during the winter but by placing certain preventative measures throughout your property, you can avoid their infestation! Check out these winter pest control tips when you want to keep these pests away:

  • Inspect the exterior of your home for any cracks, gaps, and holes, seal them as soon as possible.
  • Avoid leaving your pet food and water out overnight.
  • Fix any leaky faucets or pipes found as soon as possible.
  • Take your garbage out on a regular basis and utilize a trashcan with a tightly secure lid.
  • Declutter your home by removing old newspapers, mail, and cardboard laying around your home.
  • If you’re using mulch in your landscaping, place it at least 1 foot from your foundation.
  • Consider reaching out to your local pest control company to get a customized plan to prevent pests from invading your home.
Common DIY Ways to Prevent Rodents in South Florida

Common DIY Ways to Prevent Rodents in South Florida

Rodents, including rats, mice, and squirrels, look indoors for a place to nest and food. Once these wildlife creatures get inside your Florida home, they can wreak havoc, destroying insulation, chewing electrical wires, and contaminating food. Prevention is critical when it comes to protecting your home against rodents, especially as the weather cools down and they begin looking indoors for shelter. Check out our rodent prevention tips below.

Florida Rodent Prevention Tips

Start Rodent Prevention Outside

Rodent Prevention Outside
Your yard is the first defense against rodents, making it essential to place outdoor preventative measures to deter them away. Consider these DIY tips:

  • Remove potential nesting sites such as leaf piles and deep mulch
  • Fix gaps in trailer skirting and use flashing around the base of your home
  • Keep outdoor cooking areas and grills clean
  • Remove any old tires, vehicles, etc. From your property
  • Elevate woodpiles, hay, and garbage cans at least 1 foot off the ground
  • Keep your garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids
  • Seal holes or gaps outside of your home with steel wool or metal sheeting

Keep Tidy Indoors

Keep Tidy Indoors
Your home can provide the perfect place for rodents to inhabit, so removing those attractants from inside your home will help keep these creatures out. You can do this by:

  • Clean up leftover food crumbs and spills after each meal
  • Store food in plastic or metal containers that have tight-fitting lids
  • After cooking, wipe down your stovetop and countertops
  • Wash your dirty dishes and put them away after each meal
  • Keep your home decluttered by removing old newspapers or magazines and storing items in plastic containers instead of cardboard boxes
  • Regularly vacuum, sweep, and dust throughout your home
  • Remove excess water from inside by fixing any leaky pipes and keeping your attics and crawlspaces dry

Consider Professional Help

If you suspect rodents are inside your home, it’s important to reach out to your professional pest control company. These professionals will be able to inspect and identify the rodent that’s invaded your property. They will also be able to safely remove these creatures, identify areas of entry, and provide a rodent control and prevention plan for your home to avoid further infestations.

Why Are Rodents Invading My Punta Gorda Home?

Why Are Rodents Invading My Punta Gorda Home?

Punta Gorda Rodents

Rodents are a common pest Floridians will deal with. Rodents, like rats and mice, invade homes in search of water, shelter, and food to survive. Once rodents have infested your Punta Gorda home, it can be difficult to remove them as they will often reproduce quickly! It’s important for Punta Gorda homeowners to understand what attracts rodents to their homes and how to prevent them from infesting.

What Attracts Rodents

  • Food: The most common reasons rodents will invade your property is if they find food. Both rats and mice will eat anything you leave laying around inside and outside of your home, including pet food.
  • Warmth: Rodents like a warm, comfortable place to inhabit, which is why they often look to our homes to find it. Common places these creatures will inhabit include attics, sheds, basements, and other structures that are dry and warm enough to make a nest.
  • Water: Like any pest, rodents need water to survive. Mice and rats are in constant search for water, which our homes have plenty of supply of. These rodents will take advantage of leaky pipes, bowls of water for our pets, leaking sprinklers, fountains, and birdbaths.

How to Prevent Rodents

Dealing with rodents in your home is less than ideal. Luckily, there are do-it-yourself preventative measures you can place throughout your home to keep these pests from invading. Consider the following rodent control tips:

  • Empty your garbage regularly, utilizing a tight lid or lock
  • Utilize screens on vents, chimneys, windows, and doors
  • Keep your home free of clutter from paper, fabric, and other materials used for nesting
  • Seal any entry points leading inside your home with metal mesh
  • Rinse food and drink containers before throwing them away
  • Avoid leaving pet food and water out overnight
  • After each meal, wipe down your countertops and clean up any spills or crumbs
  • Repair any leaky pipes found in your home
  • Keep firewood elevated and stored at least 20 feet away from your home.

In summary, what attracts rodents to your Punta Gorda home is food, water, and shelter. If you suspect a rodent infestation, contact your local pest control company for help. These professionals will thoroughly inspect your home and safely remove any rodents that are found on your property.

Request a Free Punta Gorda Pest Inspection

Fall Pests To Look Out For

Fall Pests To Look Out For

As the leaves change color and the temperature begins to drop, many people in Georgia eagerly await the arrival of fall. However, along with the beauty of this season comes a new set of challenges for homeowners – the invasion of fall pests. These household pests are often seeking shelter and warmth as they prepare to overwinter, making your cozy home an inviting destination. In this blog post, we’ll explore some common fall pests in Georgia and provide valuable tips on how to prevent their intrusion.

  1. Stink Bugs: Description: Stink bugs are notorious for their pungent odor when threatened. They are shield-shaped and usually brown or green. Prevention: Seal cracks and gaps in your home’s exterior, repair damaged screens, and use weatherstripping. If an infestation occurs, consult a professional pest control service.
  2. Ladybugs (Asian Lady Beetles): Description: These insects look similar to ladybugs and can vary in color from red to orange. They often cluster in large numbers. Prevention: Seal entry points like gaps around windows and doors, and use screens. If you find an infestation, consider vacuuming them up and releasing them outside.
  3. Rodents (Mice and Rats): Description: Rodents are notorious for seeking shelter in homes during fall and can cause damage to property and spread diseases. Prevention: Seal holes and cracks, store food securely, and keep your home clean. If you spot signs of rodents, contact a rodent control professional immediately.
  4. Cockroaches: Description: Cockroaches thrive in warmer climates and often seek shelter indoors when the temperature drops. Prevention: Maintain a clean home, fix leaks, and seal entry points. Cockroach baits and traps can be used, but professional pest control is often necessary for a severe infestation.
  5. Spiders: Description: While many spiders are harmless, some can be venomous. Fall is when they seek refuge indoors. Prevention: Keep your home clutter-free, remove webs, and seal gaps in doors and windows. Regularly clean and vacuum to deter spiders.
  6. Ants: Description: Ants are persistent pests that may enter your home in search of food. Prevention: Keep food sealed, clean up spills promptly, and seal entry points. Use ant baits and traps, and consult professionals for extensive infestations.

While fall brings cooler weather and beautiful landscapes to Georgia, it also heralds the arrival of these common fall pests. Preventing these pests from entering your home is crucial to maintaining a pest-free environment. Don’t let these overwintering pests ruin your autumn. Contact your local pest control company today for a free pest control quote to help protect your home and family.

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