How To Keep Rats Out of Your House

The crisp, fall air can be a sign of many things to come, from bonfires to football season. Unfortunately, it can also be a sign for mice, rats, and other rodents to seek refuge in your home. While you might be using the relief from summer heat as a chance to spend more time outside, it’s usually the opposite for these sneaky pests.

At Hulett Environmental Services, we are experts in eliminating all types of unwanted pests from your home. Continue reading our blog, written by the pest experts at Hulett, to learn what to do when you encounter rodents in your home and to understand how to prevent them from returning in the future.

Why Rodents Target Homes in Florida

Rodents are known to follow warmth, which will lead them to burrow inside your business, house, or even garage. Even though South Florida isn’t known for its cold weather in the fall and winter, there are still plenty of reasons for rodents to seek refuge inside your home.

The fall is usually a sign of great seasonal foods for humans, with pumpkin, chili, and pie season in full swing. For rodents, however, this is a time of year when food and water can become scarce. Without proper preparations on your end, this could mean you have to share your pumpkin treats with rats, mice, and other scurrying critters.

Common Signs of a Rat or Mouse Problem

Rodents entering your home can be common, so it’s important to recognize the signs that you have an uninvited visitor. Rodents often leave behind several signs that they’re there, and if you know what to look for, it can help you act quickly and prevent further issues.

One of the first signs you will notice is rodent droppings. Rats and mice both leave behind small, dark droppings that resemble black grains of rice, but can also be as large as half inch. These droppings are likely to be found near pantries, along walls, and near food sources. Other common signs of a rodent infestation include:

• Bite marks on wooden furniture and baseboards
• Chew marks and holes in food containers
• Scurrying sounds in the walls
• Squeaking sounds
• Seeing one or more rodents

Simple Mouse Prevention Habits That Deter Pests

Since rodents are most likely to enter your home due to a lack of food and water, make sure the food is locked away and secure. Cardboard, bags, and thin plastic can often be too tempting for rats and mice. If you have food in those containers, consider transferring them into airtight containers that rats and house mice can’t chew through. It’s also essential to clean up any crumbs and feed debris left out, so as not to attract rodents into your space.Seal Gaps and Cracks Around the Home

While cleaning up and storing food securely is a good start in keeping rodents away, it’s far from foolproof. Rodents can get into your home from a hole that’s only 1/4 inch wide, which is about the size of a pencil tip. That means it’s essential to make sure that any gaps and cracks around your house are sealed and secured.

Use materials that mice and rats have a harder time getting through, such as metal sheets and steel wool, to cover these gaps and keep the rodents outside.

How To Protect Your Yard To Keep Mice and Rats Away

Similar to inside your house, South Florida rodents are also drawn to food and water outside your house. If you are noticing rodents are often making their way into your house, there’s a chance it’s because they’re drawn to your yard as well.

To help keep your yard clear of rodents, make sure you clean up any vegetation or food sources that have fallen into the grass. It’s also important to keep the yard clear of any nesting areas, such as leaves, as well as water sources that come from leaks and spigots. Scents like peppermint can also go a long way in keeping rodents in South Florida away from your home for a short time.

When DIY Isn’t Enough: The Best Way To Keep Mice Out of Your House Long-Term

While there are efforts you can take to prevent rodents, it’s still possible they make their way into your home. If you’re noticing recurring issues with rodents getting in, consider contacting a professional rodent control service like Hulett Environmental Services.

Oftentimes, finding a rodent can be a sign that there’s more to come. Hulett uses the following strategies to help keep rodents at bay in your home:

• Rodent trapping. Hulett pest control technicians use swift and effective traps, along with non-toxic bait, in and around your home to help capture any existing rodents.
• Rodent monitoring. We place tamper-proof feeding stations around the perimeter of your home to observe rodent activity and reduce the population of rodents on the exterior of your home.
• Rodent exclusion. We’ll use modern, up-to-date practices to seal up your home and prevent rodents from ever entering in the first place.

The Value of Professional Rodent Inspections

Even if you aren’t sure if you have rodents, but want the peace of mind of knowing professionals have their eye on it, consider Hulett’s rodent monitoring services. Waiting to act until you know you have a rodent issue can often be too late. This monitoring service includes tamper-proof feeding stations that utilize bait that slowly eliminates rodents.

In addition to eliminating the pests at their root, it also helps inform our professional technicians about the hubs of rodent activity around your home or business. This data helps us make informed decisions on how to brace your space against rodents.

Looking For Rodent Control? Just Call Hulett

If you’re struggling to figure out how to keep mice away from your house, just call Hulett! Our team of expert technicians is ready to help monitor your rodent activity, trap these scurrying pests, and even help you keep them out long-term.

Find South Florida rodent control with Hulett Environmental Services—let us take care of the dirty work for you. With 50 years of experience under our belts, you can trust that we can handle rodents in your home quickly.