Here in Oklahoma City (OKC), we’ve got a lot going for us. From all the fun of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum to the beauty of the Bricktown canal, there’s a reason why OKC is the place to be! Unfortunately, it seems like rodents have the same idea. As in most big cities, we’ve got our fair share of rats and mice. However, we’re also located smack dab in the middle of squirrel country, meaning there’s an extra set of tiny, scurrying feet to listen for. Here are some tips for spotting the rodents and what to do to keep them out!
Why Do Rodents Seek Out Your Home?
It’s not hard to know a squirrel when you see it – the bushy tail and the stuffed cheeks are pretty dead giveaways. Differentiating mice from rats can be a different matter, however. Though they’re both brown or gray, mice are usually much smaller than rats. They’ve also got thin, fuzzy tails compared to rats’ thick, hairless ones. Regardless of the species, rodents are attracted to four key features in your home: comfortable shelter, nesting materials, food, and water.
Squirrels in particular are looking for a place to settle down for the cold winters. Once fall starts to roll around, there’s a good chance they’ll seek out insulated places like your attic to bed down in. Rats and mice are a little different. They’re active throughout the winter. They’re also omnivorous, meaning they can eat almost anything. Mice are usually pickier than rats, preferring fresh perishables like cheeses and dried grains, rice and seeds. Rats, on the other hand, will root through your garbage pretty indiscriminately.
Tips For Keeping The Rodents At Bay
The good news is, there are measures you can take to curb rodent enthusiasm for your home. Each of these measures revolves around reducing or eliminating access to one of the four main rodent attractors:
- Food: To repel rats and mice, cover your trash tightly and seal all pantry staples in plastic containers. Rats can chew through some pretty unbelievable things, so make sure these plastic containers are sturdy. Squirrels aren’t attracted to foods inside your home, but if you have gutters filled with acorns, squirrels will come for them – and then it might just occur to them that your house is a fine place to set up shop. So make sure you keep your house and the area around it clear of squirrels’ natural food sources.
- Shelter: Whether they’re active in the winter or not, all rodents are attracted to your cushy, climate-controlled home. Not only does it give them warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer, but it also provides unparalleled safety from predators.To keep them out, repair damage to your house like cracks in the siding, holes in window screens, and gaps in door frames. Also cover necessary holes in your home, like AC condensation and ventilation outlets, with metal rodent screens. Never assume a hole is too small for rodents. Rats can squeeze into some pretty tight spots, and mice are already tiny enough to pretty much squeeze in anywhere.
- Nesting Materials: All rodents love to shred common household materials to use in their nests. Anything soft, fibrous, or easy to rip is fair game – including cushion stuffing, fiberglass insulation, clothing, and paper. Make sure you seal up access to attics, walls, and other insulated areas of your home so rodents can’t nest in it. Also, clean up fabric clutter around your house. Don’t leave plush toys, patio furniture cushions, or other soft materials lying around for rodents to use to make their nests. Store unused clothing in rodent-proof containers. And don’t let paper and other shreddable waste accumulate in your home.
- Water: In the wild, water isn’t always as easy to come by as you might imagine. Fortunately for rodents, they have your toilets, leaky hoses, and clogged gutters for that! Make sure to reduce access to water sources. Fix leaky pipes, unclog drains and gutters to prevent water accumulation. Don’t leave pet bowls outside and close toilet lids if you think you may already have rodents in the house.
What To Do If Prevention Measures Fail
Unfortunately, rodents are wily beasts, and even the most meticulous prevention measures can often fail. If that happens, you’re going to need professional help. Here at Thunder Pest Control, we’ve been helping area home and business owners deal with pests for 25 years! Both our residential and commercial pest control services include inspection, initial treatment, and regularly scheduled maintenance plans to make sure that once we give your pests the boot, they don’t come knocking again. Make that call to Thunder Pest Control today at (405) 369-7807 or visit our contact page online to schedule our services.
