During winter, rodents like mice and rats seek warm shelter and food—often inside our homes. These uninvited guests can cause significant damage, carry diseases, and disrupt the comfort of your living space. We got you covered on everything you need to know on prevention and SMART solutions for winter rodent control and how to keep your house squeaky-clean of them.
How Rodents Get in and Where They're Likely to Stay
Rodents are resourceful and can squeeze through small openings. Mice can fit through holes as small as a dime, while rats can enter through gaps the size of a quarter. Common entry points include:
- Cracks in the foundation
- Gaps around doors and windows
- Vents and utility lines
- Holes in roofing or siding
Once inside, rodents quickly establish nests, reproduce, and scavenge for food, making them difficult to remove without intervention. Typically, they prefer to lodge or hang out in kitchens, walls, cabinets, drawers, and attics, which provide them with quick access to food and warmth.
Risks of Rodent Infestations
Housing these unwanted guests can pose both structural and health risks:
- Property Damage: Rodents chew through electrical wires, insulation, and wood, increasing the risk of electrical fires and costly repairs.
- Contamination: They contaminate food and surfaces with droppings, urine, and saliva, spreading diseases like hantavirus, salmonella, and leptospirosis.
- Allergens: Rodent droppings and dander can trigger allergies and asthma, especially in children.
Tips to Keep Rodents Out This Winter
There are several steps you can take to keep these critters out of your home. First, you can start by taking note of potential entry points and sealing any openings or cracks that may allow them to get in. These include:
- Doorways
- Windows
- Utility entrances
- Plumbing
- Walls
- Roofing
Rodents are also notorious for seeking out food supplies. You can limit their access by:
- Storing food in airtight containers.
- Cleaning up spills and crumbs immediately.
- Using sealed trash bins with tight-fitting lids.
- Keeping pet food stored securely and not leaving it out overnight.
Signs of a Rodent Infestation
Unfortunately, prevention isn’t always enough to keep these pets from sneaking into your home, especially in winter. If rodents are already present, you may notice:
- Droppings along baseboards and behind appliances
- Gnaw marks on wires, wood, and food packaging
- Nests made of shredded paper, fabric, or insulation
- Hearing small footsteps or scratching in your home
- Consistent, strange odors
If you notice any of these signs, it’s likely you have an infestation-- even if you haven’t seen a rodent out in the open yet.
Call on Turner's Professionals
Rats and mice are not just a nuisance---they can cause damage to your home and post health risks to your family.
That’s why the experts at Turner Pest Control are your trusted team to provide year-round pest management and prevention services for your home.
Right now, stay ahead of these critters with Turner Pest Control’s SMART monitoring system. Our SMART pest control technology is carefully designed to offer advanced, continuous protection against rodents and tailored to the specifications of your home.
Unlike traditional methods (like traps and poison), SMART monitoring is proactive AND reactive. SMART monitoring’s advanced sensors detect rodent activity in real-time throughout your home. Once activity is detected, the system alerts our pest control team to take immediate action and investigate. Additionally, SMART is safer than your standard rodent control: our pesticide and poison-free traps humanely trap pests.
Contact us today to schedule your free home inspection and discover how our innovative solutions can keep rodents out. Call us at (904) 495-7698 or fill out our online contact form to receive a free quote.
