Do you suspect you may have a few mice or rats running around on your property or in your home? Have you been finding droppings or noticing that distinctive ammonia smell left by their urine? If so, then it may be time to rodent-proof your home.
There are many reasons why a house mouse or the very destructive roof rat and their families may have taken an interest in your property. Some of these reasons can include the summer humidity or the availability of food. In addition to opting for the rodent control Melbourne experts recommend, it’s important to make your home as unappealing to them as possible.
Make Your Home as Uninviting to Rodents as Possible
The real reason you have rodents on your property is that they find something there very inviting. It could be an abundance of food, such as an easily accessible pantry, or a huge bowl of dog kibble that you keep full at all times.
They could also have easy access to your roof space, where they nest in your insulation. Whatever the appeal, our team of experts have a few tips that will help you make your home as unappealing to the local rodent community as possible.
1. Tip #1: Exclude them from Your Home
Professional pest controllers always label their first tip as “exclusion”. This means checking and assessing your home and identifying potential entry points. Exclude the rodents from your home by making it difficult to get in.
When you’re trying to exclude rats and mice from your home, consider the following:
- Seal open gaps: A little-known fact is that a small mouse can squeeze itself through a gap of only 6mm. Rats, on the other hand, only need 12mm to push themselves into your home. This means that you will have to inspect your home thoroughly and seal all open gaps. This includes spaces around damaged eaves and utility pipes.
- Do the steel wool trick: While many experts recommend using expanding foam to seal holes, our team also suggests packing the gaps with steel wool or copper mesh before sealing. Chewing through steel wool is painful and works well to deter rodents.
- Door sweeps: An effective way to keep rodents from squeezing through the spaces under doors is to install heavy-duty door sweeps or nylon brushes.
2. Tip #2: Seal Up All the Food
You may feel as though keeping your home clean and crumb-free isn’t keeping the rodents away. That’s because they might be attracted to open food containers or even your pet’s kibble in the corner.
The simple trick here is to keep all food in airtight containers, preferably glass or heavy-duty plastic with rubber seals. Store your bulk bags of dog food in galvanised metal bins. These should have tight-fitting lids to prevent the rats from pushing them open.
Experts also suggest not leaving open bowls of dog food on the floor overnight, as it’s one of the biggest attractions. Keep in mind that rats in your home can aggravate your and your pet’s allergies and spread disease and bacteria, so keep them away from food sources.
3. Tip #3: Invest in Professional Trapping Strategies
If rodents have already made their way into your home, the next step is speaking to your pest controller about the best types of trapping strategies. A simple trick to remember here is that rats are “thigmotactic, ” which means they prefer to move around with one side of their body touching a wall.
Experts recommend placing traps perpendicular to the wall, and have the trigger facing the baseboard. Avoid placing store-bought poisons and bait traps around the house if you have small children or pets who could get hold of them. Leave the trapping to the professionals.
4. Tip #4: Keep a Clean Yard
Before the local rat discovered the allure that is your kitchen, they were more than likely first attracted to your yard. Keep in mind that your yard doesn’t have to be a mess to attract these critters; it simply has to have what they like.
Roof rats like trees and creepers that hang onto your roof or porch, as this gives them easy access from the ground to your home. Experts recommend trimming all trees and shrubs to at least one metre away from the roof line.
The next step is to move any wood piles away from the side of your home. Wood piles should ideally be stored at least 30cm away from the house and in a dry metal box off the ground. It’s also a good idea to keep mulch and compost containers away from the kitchen entry, and also keep these in sealed, rodent-proof bins. Turn your compost regularly to make it less appealing to the rodent community.
Final Thoughts
In addition to exclusion (keeping them out) and removing all traces of food, scraps, and crumbs, it’s essential to keep your yard as clean as possible. Speak to your local pest controller for the best traps and deterrent methods, and be sure to invest in preventative maintenance.
This ensures that your property and your home are routinely checked for signs and potential threat areas. Treatments will also be done safely, without any risks to your family or pets!
