There’s no such thing as a “good” pest. By definition, pests are a nuisance. And in some cases, they are much more than that. Take rodents, for example. These furry pests invade homes, destroy property, threaten homeowners with diseases, and are all-around problematic creatures. Rodents like rats and mice are a fairly common issue for Omaha residents. These pesky critters are very difficult to get rid of once they are inside your home. That’s why rodent prevention and professional pest control in Omaha are so important.
In this article, we will explore simple ways that every homeowner can protect their home from rodents. But first, learn how to identify common rodents and recognize the signs of a rodent infestation.
Identifying Rodents In Omaha
Mice and rats are the most common rodents to invade your home, but pocket gophers and voles can also cause problems on your property. Here is how to identify the most common types of rodents in Omaha:
- House mice: House mice are around 2 ½ to 3 ¾ inches long and have dusty gray fur.
- Norway rats: 7 to 9 ½ inches long, these rodents have brown fur with white or gray bellies.
- Pocket gophers: Gophers are medium-sized rodents with cheek pouches and short tails; they are known for tunneling underground.
- Voles: These small, stocky rodents have short legs and tails and are brown with some black hairs intermixed. Like gophers, voles create underground tunnels.
Each of these species is common in Omaha, but mice and rats are the rodents that typically infest homes and structures. Next up, learn our top five rodent prevention tips.
Tip #1: Keep Things Clean
Rodents thrive in dirty environments. Cluttered rooms provide these pests with places to hide, food spills allow them to stay well-fed, and left-out beverages are a good way to keep hydrated. To ensure your living areas are not providing rodents with their necessities, do your best to keep things clean. We recommend deep cleaning your home once every season, giving things a thorough wash down once a week, and addressing drink spills and food messes when they happen. In addition to these things, keep your outdoor and indoor living areas tidy. This will reduce rodent harborage opportunities and, in turn, deter them from settling down inside your home.
Tip #2: Seal Off Entry Points
There are many ways rodents find their way into living areas. To make sure these pests are staying outside of your home, here are some exclusion tips to keep rodents out of your home:
- Purchase some high-quality silicone caulk and a caulking gun. Use this tool to fill in holes, gaps, and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation and spacing around window/door frames and utility piping/wires.
- Invest in door sweeps for exterior doors around your home and repair the ones you have that are damaged.
- Make sure all windows and doors have weatherstripping.
- When you are not using them, keep windows and doors shut, including second and third-story windows.
- Repair damage to your home’s exterior.
- Make sure your chimney has a rodent-proof cap.
Sealing off potential entry points is the best way to ensure that rodents are not able to enter your home.
Tip #3: Store Food Properly
Rodents do not just eat trash and food found on floors. They will also snack on fruit baskets, candy bowls, and other left-out delicacies. To limit a rodent from finding food inside your home, package leftovers and food stored in cardboard boxes or plastic bags into plastic, glass, or metal containers. Do the same for candy, fruit, and other items you want to leave on your countertops. Finally, clean out your pet’s food bowls after finishing a meal and store their food inside a durable container.
Tip #4: Address Moisture Issues
All rodents need water to survive. To limit their access to moisture, fix leaky piping and fixtures around your home, wipe down sinks and tubs before going to bed, eliminate sources of water build-up around your property, and make sure your gutters are in good working condition.
Tip #5: Call A Professional
Many difficulties and complications can arise with do-it-yourself (DIY) rodent control. If you are trying to remove an infestation of these pests from your property or are looking for a simpler way to keep these pests out of your home, consider calling in a pest control professional. For professional services you can trust, let the experts at Beeline Pest Control come to your aid. We work hard to provide quick and effective rodent control options to deal with rodents before and after they invade properties.
Call us today for more details and schedule your Omaha property for a service visit.