
Why Do Rodents Come Inside?
Just like people, rodents don't like to be cold. When the weather starts to turn chilly, mice and rats want to find a warm place to live. If they can find their way into your home, they'll have plenty of warmth and food so they likely won't leave on their own. Mice especially rely partially on humans to provide them with food and shelter. Depending on which type of rodent has taken up residence in your home, you may find the pests in different locations. Mice can squeeze through holes as small as the size of a dime. They like to cozy up in small crevices inside your home. They can often be found behind large appliances or in attics and crawl spaces. Mice are small, so you may not realize you have an unwanted houseguest for a while. Rats, on the other hand, are much bigger than mice. While they need slightly larger crevices to hide in, they can still squeeze into small spaces. These pests tend to hide in basements and under loose floorboards. Because the creatures are nocturnal, you may be more likely to hear them scurrying around than to see them.How Can You Prevent Rodents From Entering Your Home?
Because rodent removal can be challenging, it is easier to implement a few habits to discourage them from entering your home. You can make your home less attractive to rodents by taking the following measures.- Keep your kitchen clean. Keep food in airtight containers and wipe down counters to minimize crumbs.
- Close up potential entry points. Even spaces that are the size of a dime can be big enough to let a mouse in, so it is a good idea to inspect your home regularly and block potential entry points.
- Replace worn-out weather stripping around your doors and windows.