Don't Let Mice and Rats Ruin Your Holiday Cheer—Protect Your Home from Rodent Infestations!
The holiday season brings joy, family gatherings, and festive decorations but also invites some unwanted guests—rodents. Mice and rats are mainly active during the colder months, seeking warmth, food, and shelter.
If you're not careful, rodents can sneak into your home through small openings, scurry through your decorations, and even nibble on holiday treats. The most common rodents that scurry to your seasonal gatherings include mice, rats, and squirrels.
Why You Don't Want Rodents at Your Holiday Party
Many rodents, such as mice and rats, carry and spread diseases like salmonella. They also carry parasites like fleas, ticks, lice, and mites. If that doesn't gross you out, this next one will. Rodents, like mice, leave a "mess" everywhere they go. This means wherever they crawl, they leave a trail of urine and feces behind for their furry friends to find them.
Rodents also reproduce quickly, cause structural damage, and are nimble. Mice only need an opening the size of a nickel, while rats need an opening the size of a quarter to find their way into your home.
In this guide, we'll help you identify signs of rodent activity, explain why they're more common around the holidays, share the top five Ways to Prevent Holiday Rodent Problems at Home, and give you the tools to keep them out of your home this season.
Why Rodents Invade Homes During the Holidays
Rodents like mice and rats are naturally attracted to warmth, food, and shelter during winter. Your home provides all these in abundance, especially during the holidays when you cook large meals, decorate, and bring in seasonal items.
Holiday treats, like cookies or fruit bowls, can attract rodents, and holiday decorations, particularly those in attics or basements, can offer hiding spots for them. The colder weather drives rodents indoors, making your home a prime target for infestation.
Signs of Rodent Infestation in Your Holiday Decor
Signs of rodents in your holiday decor include droppings, gnaw marks on boxes or ornaments, and shredded material from your decorations or packaging. You might also notice an unusual smell, especially in rodent nesting areas.
Rodents often target dark, quiet places like attics, basements, or storage rooms where decorations are kept. Pay special attention to areas where food or treats are stored, as these can be prime locations for rodents to scavenge.
How to Prevent and Handle Rodent Problems During the Holidays:
Prevention is critical to keeping rodents out of your holiday fun. To keep them out of your home, do the following:
- Seal off potential entry points, such as cracks around windows, doors, and vents.
- Store food in airtight containers and keep holiday treats in the refrigerator or sealed storage.
- Inspect your holiday decorations before bringing them into your home, looking for signs of rodent damage.
- Keep pets, especially cats, around your house.
- Do not leave pet food out for house pets to graze all day. Feed them and then put away any open food sources.
- Keep your home clean and decluttered.
If you discover a rodent problem, it's crucial to act quickly. Set traps, remove nesting materials, and, if necessary, contact a pest control professional, like the Turner team, for a thorough inspection and treatment plan.
Protect Your Home from Rodents This Holiday Season!
If you suspect a rodent problem or want preventive measures, contact us today for professional inspection and rodent control services. We'll help ensure your home stays safe, warm, and rodent-free during the holidays and beyond!
Call our team at Turner Pest Control at 800-225-5305 or complete an inspection form HERE if you need support.
