Mice and other rodents can cause a lot of destruction if they gain access to a home. Mice are more likely to make an appearance during the spring and summer but can be active during any season. For example, during the winter mice are often looking for a warm place to sleep. If you are experiencing a mouse infestation, hiring a professional rodent removal service may be something to consider.

Some signs that you have a mouse infestation include hearing rustling sounds in the walls or attic, seeing evidence of fur and droppings, and noticing food that has been tampered with. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to help prevent a rodent infestation in the first place. Here are three ways you can keep mice out of your home.

1. Clear Away Sources of Food and Water

Mice often enter houses looking for food and water, so removing their availability will help prevent rodents from entering your home. While all types of foods are a culprit for attracting mice, they are especially fond of fruits, nuts, grains, meat, and pet food. While mice are stereotypically enthralled with cheese, the truth is that they are much more likely to go for some peanut butter or dry dog food. Try to remember to:

• Keep indoor and outdoor trash canisters covered 

• Clean liquids, crumbs, and other food scraps off of countertops and floors 

• Store food, including pet food, in tightly sealed containers 

• Get rid of standing water in outdoor areas around the house 

It is much easier to keep the indoor and outdoor areas of your home clean and free of debris than it is to deal with pest control in Markham after rodents have already taken over. However, once your own preventative measures for rodent control have failed, it is best to bring in a professional to perform safe rodent removal.

2. Seal Cracks and Crevices

Rodents like mice take advantage of easy entry opportunities, such as cracks and crevices in a house’s foundation, walls, and roof. Mice can fit through surprisingly small openings, typically around the size of a dime. Some things that you or a pest control specialist can do to keep rodents out of your house include:

• Repairing windows and doors that do not close all the way or that have gaps in them

• Filling in holes in the walls, foundation, and roof of your home, including walls in the garage, basement, and attic

• Sealing off the chimney and sweeping the fireplace and neighbouring areas for nests and other signs of mice

• Checking vents, drains, and pipes for openings and fixing holes that might permit the entry of mice and other pests 

Besides keeping rodents and insects out, sealing cracks and crevices in the home saves costs in the form of heating, since warm air is no longer allowed to escape.

3. Remove Possible Habitats

There are things that you can do in the outside areas surrounding your home to deter mice from wanting to stay in the location. Some ideas include removing large shrubs and other hiding spots near entry points to the home and bringing bird feeders and other food sources inside at night.

Rodents such as mice are stealthy, great at hiding, and can carry diseases. Even more, they can chew wires and put your home at risk for a fire. For these reasons, it is best to leave rodent removal to experienced professionals like the ones we employ at Truly Nolen Canada. We can check hiding spots that you might overlook and assess your wiring for signs of danger. Contact us as soon as you think you have a rodent problem, and we will fix the issue using our pet-friendly pest management system.