How to Keep Rodents out of Your Home

How to Keep Rodents Out of Your Home

Let’s talk about rodents. Unfortunately, these aren’t cute little Mickeys and Minnies. Rodents infesting people’s structures and areas are much less endearing and much more damaging. In fact, they can pose a significant risk not only to the structure of your home, but also to the health of your family. 

Along with eating your food and contaminating it with their urine and droppings, rodents can cause structural damage by gnawing. It doesn’t stop there. The CDC lists 14 human diseases spread directly by rodents. Many more are spread indirectly via the insects that make their homes on rats’ bodies. 

There are three species of rodents considered “commensal” rodents — that is, rodents that have adapted to live off everything humans provide for them, namely food, water, and shelter. These species include Norway rats, roof rats and house mice.

Norway rats

These little monsters cause big problems across the U.S. When they are outside, Norway rats create extensive burrows underground with multiple openings. However, when they make their way inside structures, they will take advantage of whatever sheltered spot they find. That can mean wall voids, behind kitchen equipment, in garages and more. Norway rats are mostly nocturnal, so they often won’t be seen until dusk, when they can hide from detection by predators (and humans)..

These rats are highly adaptable and will eat just about anything available. When they are still pups, they develop their food preferences from their mother’s milk. So if mom has been eating a lot of birdseed from the open bag stored in the garage, that’s the first thing the pups will go for when they start foraging. If something new appears — such as a big bag of dog food stored open in that same garage — and the new food source is closer, they may start feeding on it instead. They also need a consistent source of water to drink.

Roof rats

As their name suggests, these rodents are typically found up high in trees, attics, drop ceilings and of course, roofs. Roof rats are often found in the southern half of the U.S., and along northern coastal areas. However, as the climate changes, their range is expanding and they are found in more locations than ever. 

While Norway rats enter structures around ground level, roof rats prefer to access higher openings. They often travel from trees, along power lines, and are surprisingly skilled climbers. It can almost seem as if they have an aversion to touching the ground. They will use any object — like trash cans, decks, cables and anything they can jump on — to avoid contact with the ground. Like Norway rats, roof rats are also nocturnal.

These rodents will take advantage of any food options within their range, but they do have a preference for fruits and nuts. In fact, they can be a big problem for households with fruit trees, especially date palms. Once roof rats manage to get indoors, they will consume the closest food option first, then will branch out and explore other options. Like Norway rats, roof rats also depend on a daily water source.

House mice

Outdoors, these little creatures will burrow and nest in any safe space they can find. Inside, they use those same instincts to identify protected areas that are warm and sheltered to build their nests. They will collect nesting material such as pieces of cloth, cardboard, and other soft materials. While house mice are mostly ground dwellers, they are excellent climbers and can be found infesting structural spaces from the basement to the attic. Because of their small size, these rodents can make their way through surprisingly small openings.

Like the Norway rats and roof rats, house mice will eat whatever food sources people leave for them. However, they will often have very small ranges, rarely venturing far from their nests to find food. And unlike rats, house mice do not rely on a separate water source and can get all their water from the foods they are eating. However, if there is a convenient water source, house mice will happily take advantage of it.

Is there a mouse in the house?

Knowing the difference between rodent species is critical, as this information can help you keep them out of your home in the first place. And if they do make their way inside, understanding rodents’ habits makes it easier to find, identify and eliminate them. 

In many cases, the start of a rodent infestation is hard to detect and may go undetected for a while. Of course, encountering a rodent indoors can be distressing and is cause for concern. But often, you can spot the telltale indications of a rodent infestation well before spotting a critter.

Chew marks and damaged products are other good indications rodents have moved in. Rats and mice have strong jaws with large front teeth that easily gnaw into food and other household items. In fact, they can easily chew their way through cardboard boxes, thin plastic bags, wrappers and more. However, rodents cannot chew through cans, glass or other hard materials — so it’s always wise to store food in airtight containers.

Droppings are unpleasant to think about, but they offer one of the most useful signs when it comes to an infestation. Rodents often run the same “runways” day after day, leaving small brown or black droppings. They will start to appear in the same areas, indicating the pathways the rodents use to run from their nest to food sites. 

Droppings aren’t the only unsavory sign of rodents. In particular, rats especially leave behind greasy marks on surfaces, known as sebum. This substance comes from the oil in their fur and the dirt that has collected there. In the case of a heavy infestation, sebum on walls and other surfaces can be quite dark and thick; it can be scraped off like wax. 

These marks typically appear near entry points and “pinch points” they have to squeeze through. But remember — rodents aren’t very large. In fact, a full-grown rat can enter through an opening about the size of a quarter. And mice can make their way through a space the size of a dime. If they can manage to fit their skull into a space, the rest of their body will follow. As a homeowner, it can be startling to think about all the openings in and around your home that are accessible to rodents. But once you’ve taken an inventory of those spaces, it’s a good idea to seal off as many as possible using high quality sealing materials. Remember, rodents’ teeth can chew through a lot!

Getting rid of rodents

Once you’ve detected rodents in your home, traps are often the best way to physically remove the offenders. Again, by knowing which type of rodent is the culprit, you can select the right traps and place them in the right locations. For example, house mice need small snap traps and multi-catch traps. Norway and roof rats need larger rat snap traps or live cage traps. 

Glue boards can be used for mice and they may be able to hold a small juvenile rat. However, glue boards leave the rodent to die, which can cause its own set of problems. Remember to check the traps often, so they can be reset and replaced. Leaving a dead rodent in the trap is unsanitary and can lead to insect infestations.

Rodenticides are another effective option, but it’s important to note that these substances are highly poisonous. Always read and follow the label of the product you are using. Bait must be put in a sealed container that children and pets cannot access. 

The rodent eats some of the poisoned bait, leaves the station and returns to the nest or hiding spot before dying; they rarely expire in the open. That means you may have to deal with dead rodents in inaccessible areas like wall voids. As you might imagine, this can create a bad odor and, in large infestations, can attract insects and other pests. That’s why bait is used outdoors to keep exterior populations down and decrease the risk of rodents entering your home. Again, it’s critical to follow the label instructions carefully to protect children, pets and non-target wildlife.

Many homeowners are uncomfortable with a DIY approach to ridding their home of rodents. After all, even a single rodent getting inside can be a source of stress and worry. In addition to contaminating surfaces and foods, rats and mice carry diseases and parasites. Plus, they reproduce quickly, so an infestation can take hold sooner than you think. So if you’ve spied a rodent, or are seeing evidence of their presence, you’ll want to take action right away.

At Home Pros connects you to prescreened, top-quality pest control experts in your area, so you can feel confident knowing your home is safe from rodent infestation. In addition, many pest control services offer more humane treatment methods, as well as approaches that are safe for homes with children and pets. Let At Home Pros put you in touch with reputable local exterminators — and get the mouse out of your house today.