Removing Rodents From Your Home In Evansville Can Be A Real Pain!
Have you noticed that it isn't easy to get rid of rodents? Do you have any guesses as to why? If you're like most, you'll quickly point out that rodents hide in walls, so getting at them is difficult. You may also say, as most people do, rodents tend to avoid traps. If you can't go in after them, and trapping them is a pain, what can you do? We've got you covered.
Today, we'll look at the different types of rodents in Evansville. We'll explain their behavior and why they want to live with you. Most of all, we'll share simple tips to help you drive them out and keep them out. If you have a rodent problem that requires the use of control products, contact Action Pest Control for rodent control in Evansville. Capturing rodents and blocking their access to your home requires specialized knowledge. Our technicians have the training and experience to complete this tough job.
Common Rodent Species: Identifying Different Types Of Rodents
There are several kinds of rodents. Some rodents stay in your yard and will never come into your house. Voles and gophers are good examples. Some rodents may get into your home, but they don't like living with you. Chipmunks and deer mice are in this category. Some rodents get into your house and stay for a season. Squirrels do this. If you have rodents in attic hiding places, they may only remain for the winter.
The worst rodents to have in your house are rats and mice. They can live in your home permanently. But, as you can probably guess, not all rats and mice are the same. While deer mice can most certainly live in your house permanently, they aren't particularly inclined to do so. You're much more likely to find them infesting a shed or barn. Therefore, it is helpful to know how to identify different rodents in Evansville:
- Deer Mice: These rodents have the coloration of a deer. They are tawny on the top and white on the bottom. You'll find them in outbuildings or your garage.
- Norway Rats: These are large, brown rats. They can get into your home and stay, but you're more likely to find them in a ground burrow outdoors or living near an exterior water source.
- Roof Rats: These are mid-sized black rats. Their behavior patterns resemble those of squirrels, except they are active at night, so you won't see them running across power lines, climbing trees, running down tree branches, or eating nuts. Roof rats are also known as common house rats because they commonly live in houses.
- House Mice: These are dark gray mice. If you see one, you should know that you have the worst of all rodent pests. These tiny critters live on crumbs, grow large populations, and will be happy to stay indoors permanently.
Now that you know the usual suspects, let's turn our attention to the reasons they want to live inside your Evansville home. Understanding the motivation of a rat, mouse, or squirrel can help you drive them out of your house if you're diligent.
Why Rodents Are A Problem For Evansville Homes
Why would a woodland critter want to live in your house? The truth is that most don't. Just in the list we provided here, you can see that many rodents prefer outdoor living. Voles, gophers, chipmunks, deer mice, woodchucks, rabbits, beavers, and many other rodents in our area are mostly just outdoor nuisances. Indoor rodents are special. Here's why:
- In nature, these rodents live in tree cavities, so your wall voids and unfinished attic spaces feel like home.
- In nature, they have many predators. Your home offers substantial protection. Not many house mice need to fear snakes when they live indoors.
- In nature, rodents feed on seeds, nuts, and grains. A box of cereal can have all three. Why would a rat or mouse want to live anywhere but in the wall of your pantry or kitchen?
- In nature, rodents continually touch ground clutter, such as branches, rocks, leaves, and bark. These materials help them stay hidden as they search for bugs to eat. A cluttered basement floor does the same.
- In nature, a mouse can get most of the moisture it needs from its food. It will do the same in your home. But rats require a water source. If you have a leaking faucet or pipe, you can bet a rat will take notice, particularly in a basement or laundry room.
Are you starting to see how you might drive rodents out of your home? Protect stored foods, clean up food debris, and deep clean your house to remove any possible food options for rodents. Remove clutter in your basement, attic, and storage rooms. Address any plumbing issues that provide a source of water. If you do all these things, you may just send those rodents packing. If they persist, you will need control products. Contact Action Pest Control for rodent control in Evansville to avoid the pain of attempting to manage a rodent infestation on your own.
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Four Simple Rodent Exclusion Tips For Around Your Home
Once you've driven rodents out, the next step is to keep them out. We have four tips to help you do it. You can also use these four simple exclusion strategies to prevent a rodent infestation in the first place. They are general methods, so you don't need any special knowledge of the common rodents in our area or rodent control product applications.
1. Apply Rodent Guards
Rodent guards prevent rodents from climbing or traversing. When placed on the trunk of a fruit tree, it can keep rodents from scaling the bark to get to the fruit on the branches. You can also use guards to keep rodents from climbing trees near your home and prevent them from getting onto your roof. You can place guards on power lines to stop rodents from running from the poles to your roof. You can use guards on pipes that run up the side of your home, too. They are incredibly effective.
2. Trim Branches
Sometimes, the simple solution for keeping rodents off your roof is to cut branches that hang near or over your roof and trim them away from your roofline. It is a simple solution if you have the skills and equipment. However, if you don't, use guards to block rodents.
3. Seal Entry Points
There are a few common ways rats, mice, and squirrels get into homes. Inspect your utilities, sole plates, exterior doors and windows, vents, weep holes, and garage door. If you find holes, gaps, cavities, or structural voids, fill them with expanding foam. If you see damaged screens, weatherstripping, or door sweeps, swap them out. If you have unprotected vents or weep holes, apply devices to protect them.
4. Address Hiding Places
Rats and mice may hide underneath structures if given the opportunity. If they get under a structure (for example, your back deck), they may chew on the wood attached to your home to gain entrance. You can keep them out of these places by removing leaves, wood scraps, dead branches, and objects they can hide behind. You may also apply screen material to prevent rodents from gaining access to these zones.
Applying these exclusions is a bit of a pain, but at least there is an end in sight. When you struggle to get rid of rodents, the process can go on and on. If you're currently battling rats, mice, or squirrels, and you've had enough, we're here if you need us.
