Throughout the colder months, it’s common for rodents to become a problem. Deer mice, house mice, Norway rats, and roof rats are popular rodents found in homes and businesses during the winter. They enter for easy access to food, water, and shelter. Let’s talk about how rodents are likely to break into Albany homes this winter.

Mice

Deer mice can be distinguished from house mice by their long, multi-colored tail. These mice range in color from black to white, whereas house mice are gray to brown in color. Mice are likely to be found in attics, basements, and crawl spaces of homes. They can enter through small cracks and crevices in the exterior of your home, searching for a space to build their nests for the winter. These small rodents can enter through holes as small as a dime!

Rats

Norway rats and roof rats are also potential threats. Norway rats range from brown to gray in color like roof rats, however, they are larger in size. They can’t climb as roof rats can, so they are more likely to enter at the ground level of your foundation. If inside your home, they’ll be in the lower levels. Roof rats, on the other hand, are excellent climbers and are likely to hang out on the roof, in your attic, or upper levels of your home. These rats will gain entrance through holes on the exterior of your home higher up than Norway rats.

No matter which rodent you’re dealing with, you’re going to run into an array of health and safety threats. Not only is their presence distressing, but the damage they’re doing to your home can become costly and upsetting. Their constant chewing can create holes all over the house, including in drywall, furniture, personal items, clothes, wires, and anything else in their path. Their urine and feces can contaminate your insulation, structures of your home, and food sources. Salmonella, dysentery, and other illnesses can be spread from rodents, and mice are common carriers of Lyme disease, via the ticks in their fur. For more information on the dangers that rodents pose, read our previous blog on protecting your property.

Once rodents enter your home, they can be extremely persistent and hard to get rid of. Prevention methods are important to put in place to keep them from entering. Here are some tips:

• Seal off any entry points found along the exterior of your home, including the roof line.
• Repair damaged shingles or siding.
• Keep trash well contained.
• Place woodpiles a safe distance from your home.
• Trim shrubs and trees that may be allowing rodents easy access to your roof.
• Contact a professional who can help identify how they may be entering.

If you have an infestation already, Thomas Pest Services can help. With our rodent control, our experienced pest control specialists will come to your home to do a detailed inspection. After they’ve identified problem areas and located nests, they’ll remove the rodents and clean up their mess! They’ll sanitize contaminated areas, which is necessary to eliminate bacteria and protect your health. Our specialists can also help you prevent future invasions. Contact Thomas Pest Services for your customized quote today.