As hard as it may be to believe, it won’t be long now and air conditioners and lemonade will be replaced by cozy fires and pumpkin spice. Summer fun will give way to preparing for Halloween. Before you know it, you will be picking out your Thanksgiving turkey and trying to decide between a real tree and an artificial. It is true, the year can go by extremely fast while we are busy doing other things. We need to keep in mind though, with all this preparation, that people are not the only creatures on earth who plan ahead.

Pests such as mice and other rodents are already starting to look for the best spots for them to hide away from the winter weather that will be here before we know it. There is no better choice for them than our properties where they can readily find food and water in a year-round temperature controlled environment away from predators. Once inside, rodents will quickly make themselves at home deep inside the walls, or in the attic where they can build their nests and live in peace undiscovered for a long period of time. From there, they have the run of the house and tend to come out at night when no one is looking to find food. Rodents can easily raid a kitchen, chewing their way through bags of rice, cereal, and flour. They will grab pet food right from the bowl, and bread right from the counter. While they are on the hunt for food they are leaving behind a whole host of disease causing bacteria that can lead to food poisoning and illness. Rodents also have a chewing problem. Their teeth do not stop growing so they need to chew constantly to keep them filed down. Wood, plastic, and drywall all suffer a lot of damage when a family of mice move in. They will even chew on wiring leading to many house fires across the country each year.

Homeowners can deter these creatures from moving in. Starting now may prevent them from being attracted to your home in the first place. The first line of defense starts in the kitchen. Make it a habit to keep it as tidy as possible by keeping dirty dishes washed each day, washing counter tops, taking out the trash, and sweeping the floor each day. Keeping pet food that is not being eaten up off of the floor, and storing any dry goods, cereals, and bread in heavy-duty plastic containers can also deter rodents from sensing an easy meal. Looking around outside, pay attention to entry points that rodents can fit through. Some mice can get through some very tiny spaces so make sure that screening and windows are in good repair. Check the areas around any piping leading into the home for access space around them as well as any leaking. Water will also attract pests. Keeping clutter in and around the home can also help reduce hiding places for rodents who are just waiting for a chance to come inside.

Of course, there is no fool-proof way to keep every pest out of our homes, no matter how hard we try. A savvy mouse will still know a good thing when he sees it. Luckily there are pest professionals out there like Thomas Pest Services. Thomas Pest Services have been dealing with rodents for three generations. We know that prevention is much more cost effective for our clients than an infestation that is why we always encourage year-round pest preventative measures. Give us a call today and ask us how to make your home safe from a future rodent invasion.