It’s been another great spring and summer growing season, and as fall approaches and leaves start to fall, it’s a signal to all rodents that it’s time to prepare for the long winter months ahead. Usually people don’t even think about rodents seeking shelter in their home, until it’s too late. Rodents can do more damage than you would expect. Mice are one of the most common and notorious creatures for seeking shelter in households during the cold winter months. The can potentially nest in your home and destroy your food supply.
There are a number of ways to prevent rodents from invading your home and making sure that rats and mice do not nest in the warmth of your walls. Prevention is the most proactive method to making sure critters do not take up residence in your home.
The first step to preventing critters in your home is to identify possible entry points in your foundation. This involves looking at all areas of the exterior of your home for anything that looks like an entry point. Mice are great at climbing so you’ll want to look both high and low for their entry points. Focus on areas that are entry points for plumbing, electrical wiring, vents for dryers and even conduits for air conditioners. Mice can get in a hole that’s the size of a nickel or smaller. All they need is a hole that’s the size of their head and they can manage to get the rest of their body in.
After these entry points are identified, measures need to be taken to ensure that these critters stay away from your house. One of the best methods of keeping rodents out of your home and yard is to use electronic repellents. These devices have been used for years now and are highly effective for rodent control. In recent years they’ve become much more popular as word has spread about their effectiveness.
Electronic repellents use high frequency sound in order to drive rodents away from nesting grounds and food sources. In homes with pets or small children these are the most preferred devices for homeowners to use. They are non-toxic and have no effect on family pets. Their objective is not to kill the mouse, but simply use sound frequencies to drive them away.
These electronic deterrents use sound frequencies that cannot be heard by a human ear so they are not disruptive. This is a highly effective method for discouraging rodents from settling into your home or using areas of your yard for feeding. They are most effective when used outdoors, and electronic repellents have a range of approximately 400 square feet.
Another great method for protecting your home is granular or liquid animal repellents. If you choose to this avenue of prevention, make sure to purchase a non-toxic and natural repellent. This will be effective at keeping animals from invading your home while not harming animals, pets or your children. This method is less expensive, however the repellent needs to be frequently applied to ensure its effectiveness.
Preventing them from entering your home is the key, and using a deterrent in your yard is the best option. Once installed or applied to your yard, you will receive protection from raccoons, mice, rats, skunks and squirrels. Never again will you face the daunting prospect of having to bath a dog that’s been hit with the perfume of a skunk.
