Four No-Sweat Rodent Prevention Tips For Greenville Homeowners

January 7, 2021

House mice are small round-bodied rodents with dusty gray fur and white underbellies. Because of this pest’s smaller size, it only needs a gap, crack, or hole the width of a nickel to squeeze its way into a home

Living with rodents is a lot like living through a real-life nightmare. They make sleep difficult with their late-night noises. They destroy things you love and leave remnants of their destructive habits. They jump out and scare you when you are least expecting them. They even threaten people with dangerous, sometimes life-changing diseases.

The question we have for you is, what are you doing to keep these pests out of your home? To help you avoid a rodent-related nightmare in the future, here are four no-sweat prevention tips all Greenville homeowners should know.

Rodent Prevention Step Number One: Know Your Enemy

The first thing you need to know about rodent prevention is what makes rodents tick. To help you better understand these invasive pests, here are the three most common species in our area and what you need to know about each.

House Mice 

House mice are small round-bodied rodents with dusty gray fur and white underbellies. Because of this pest’s smaller size, it only needs a gap, crack, or hole the width of a nickel to squeeze its way into a home. Their size, along with a few other things, is what makes the house mouse the most common home-invading rodent.

Norway Rats 

Norway rats are larger rodents with wide rumps, brown fur, and scaly tails. Despite its larger size, this pest has no trouble invading homes and will regularly use its sharp and strong teeth to chew through walls, screens, and other objects that prevent them from coming inside.

Eastern Gray Squirrels

Eastern gray squirrels are common in our area and generally look for ways to get into homes during the colder months. As you may have observed, these furry creatures can climb trees and jump long distances with ease. They use these skills to get onto homes and invade attic spaces.

Rodent Prevention Step Number Two: Eliminate Harborage Opportunities

One thing that draws rodents onto properties and encourages them to stick around after they invade a home is harborage opportunities. Most specifically, rodents are always looking for a place to hide or make into a home.

To eliminate harborage opportunities inside your home and around your property, try these simple strategies:

1. 1. Remove clutter and debris from your yard.
   2. Organize storage areas and package up your belongings into tough plastic totes.
   3. Declutter your yard and living areas.
   4. Store firewood and building materials at least 30 feet away from your home’s exterior.
   5. Seal gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation using a caulking gun and some steel wool.
   6. Repair damage to window and door screens.
   7. Make sure all of your exterior doors have door sweeps.
   8. Keep unscreened windows and doors closed as much as possible.

Rodent Prevention Step Number Three: Limit Their Access To Food and Water

When rodents wander onto a property and or into a home, they immediately look for two things, food and water. If they can’t find these necessities, they will leave and look for them elsewhere.

To make sure rodents don’t find these things around your property, try these tips:

1. 1. Clean your home regularly.
   2. Invest in rodent-proof covers for your trash cans.
   3. Fix leaky piping and fixtures.
   4. Repair broken gutters.
   5. Store leftovers and food packaged in plastic bags or cardboard boxes in airtight containers.
   6. Avoid feeding your pets outdoors and clean out their bowls after every meal.

Rodent Prevention Step Number Four: Get A Professional Involved

Most people do not have the time, energy, or desire to handle rodents on their own. If you are looking for a simpler way to prevent or eliminate rodents, call the Greenville Pest Control experts. We have the advanced tools and equipment needed to completely remove these pests from your home, and rodent exclusion services to keep them out for good. Learn more about our Greenville, SC pest control services.

Tags: rodent control

Living with rodents is a lot like living through a real-life nightmare. They make sleep difficult with their late-night noises. They destroy things you love and leave remnants of their destructive habits. They jump out and scare you when you are least expecting them. They even threaten people with dangerous, sometimes life-changing diseases.

The question we have for you is, what are you doing to keep these pests out of your home? To help you avoid a rodent-related nightmare in the future, here are four no-sweat prevention tips all Greenville homeowners should know.

Rodent Prevention Step Number One: Know Your Enemy

The first thing you need to know about rodent prevention is what makes rodents tick. To help you better understand these invasive pests, here are the three most common species in our area and what you need to know about each.

House Mice 

House mice are small round-bodied rodents with dusty gray fur and white underbellies. Because of this pest’s smaller size, it only needs a gap, crack, or hole the width of a nickel to squeeze its way into a home. Their size, along with a few other things, is what makes the house mouse the most common home-invading rodent.

Norway Rats 

Norway rats are larger rodents with wide rumps, brown fur, and scaly tails. Despite its larger size, this pest has no trouble invading homes and will regularly use its sharp and strong teeth to chew through walls, screens, and other objects that prevent them from coming inside.

Eastern Gray Squirrels

Eastern gray squirrels are common in our area and generally look for ways to get into homes during the colder months. As you may have observed, these furry creatures can climb trees and jump long distances with ease. They use these skills to get onto homes and invade attic spaces.

Rodent Prevention Step Number Two: Eliminate Harborage Opportunities

One thing that draws rodents onto properties and encourages them to stick around after they invade a home is harborage opportunities. Most specifically, rodents are always looking for a place to hide or make into a home.

To eliminate harborage opportunities inside your home and around your property, try these simple strategies:

1. 1. Remove clutter and debris from your yard.
   2. Organize storage areas and package up your belongings into tough plastic totes.
   3. Declutter your yard and living areas.
   4. Store firewood and building materials at least 30 feet away from your home’s exterior.
   5. Seal gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation using a caulking gun and some steel wool.
   6. Repair damage to window and door screens.
   7. Make sure all of your exterior doors have door sweeps.
   8. Keep unscreened windows and doors closed as much as possible.

Rodent Prevention Step Number Three: Limit Their Access To Food and Water

When rodents wander onto a property and or into a home, they immediately look for two things, food and water. If they can’t find these necessities, they will leave and look for them elsewhere.

To make sure rodents don’t find these things around your property, try these tips:

1. 1. Clean your home regularly.
   2. Invest in rodent-proof covers for your trash cans.
   3. Fix leaky piping and fixtures.
   4. Repair broken gutters.
   5. Store leftovers and food packaged in plastic bags or cardboard boxes in airtight containers.
   6. Avoid feeding your pets outdoors and clean out their bowls after every meal.

Rodent Prevention Step Number Four: Get A Professional Involved

Most people do not have the time, energy, or desire to handle rodents on their own. If you are looking for a simpler way to prevent or eliminate rodents, call the Greenville Pest Control experts. We have the advanced tools and equipment needed to completely remove these pests from your home, and rodent exclusion services to keep them out for good. Learn more about our Greenville, SC pest control services.