Rodents are some of the larger pests that you could find infesting your Houston property. Despite this, they are some of the most common invaders of homes and businesses in our area. Unfortunately, rodents are not just common; they can be dangerous, too. Therefore, if you are a Houston property owner, you need to know the effective rodent prevention techniques that you can rely on to keep rodents out of your home or business. Furthermore, should you find yourself dealing with a rodent infestation, you need to know the effective control solutions that you can count on to get rid of them.
Identifying Rodents Common To The Area
The most likely rodents to invade your Houston property are rats and mice (although squirrels also sometimes get into homes and businesses). Rats, the bigger of the two, grow to be anywhere from six to ten inches long. They can be black, brown, or gray. Rats have long tails and small ears, both of which are completely devoid of fur. Mice, on the other hand, only grow to be a few inches long. They are typically brown or dust gray and have cream-colored bellies. Mice have relatively longer tails and larger ears, both covered in felt-like fur.
Rodents have large front incisors that grow continuously throughout their lives. To keep their teeth from overgrowing, they constantly gnaw on objects. Therefore, when they get into homes, they can cause all sorts of damage to wiring, piping, and drywall with their chewing. In addition to causing damage, rodents can also spread a multitude of diseases, bacteria, and pathogens through the urine, feces, and saliva. Some diseases that rodents might transmit include salmonellosis, leptospirosis, LCM, plague, tularemia, and rat-bite fever.
Factors That Attract Rodents Into Properties
Many rodents have long depended on humans as sources of food and water, which is why they invade homes and businesses. Factors such as improperly stored food, open trash cans, and overall uncleanliness can all lead to rodent infestations. Rodents can enter properties through almost any opening they find, even small gaps under doors that may seem too small for them to fit through. Keeping rodents out of your home or business isn’t always easy to do on your own.
Helpful Rodent Prevention Methods
To keep rodents out of your home or business, you need to remove factors that attract them and seal off potential entry points.
- Store food in airtight containers or in the fridge.
- Keep countertops and floors free of food debris and spills.
- Take out the trash regularly and store it in bins with tight-fitting lids.
- Fix leaky pipes and fixtures.
- Install door sweeps under exterior doors.
- Seal off gaps around vents, pipes, and utility lines.
Effective Rodent Control Solutions
When facing a rodent infestation, many people elect to take care of the issue on their own. However, most DIY rodent control methods don’t address the entire infestation. Unfortunately, this can leave you exposed to the various threats that rodents pose. If you are dealing with a rodent infestation in your Houston home, contact the professionals here at All-Safe Pest & Termite. We offer rodent control solutions that you can count on to eliminate any rodent infestation from your home. Furthermore, we will also work with you to take the necessary steps to prevent future infestations. Give us a call today to get started with rodent control solutions that work for your home or business.