If you think if you have a rodent issue in your home, you must first determine the kind of rodent that has invaded your home. Different kinds of rodents require different control strategies. However, you may not be experienced in identifying and controlling wildlife. That is why it is often best to contact an Austin pest exterminator to deal with the problem for you.
Types of Rodents that can Live in Your Home
While there are a lot of rodent species out there, not all of them will seek out your property. The following are some rodents that can live in your home:
- House mice. These small creatures have big ears and small, black eyes. They produce about 70 droppings every day. Their nests consist of finely shredded paper or other fibrous material. You can tell there are house mice in your home because of the musty smell they leave.
- Norway rats. These rats are also called sewer rats or brown rats. They can leave greasy tracks marks wherever they go. Norway rats burrow into the ground to make nests. Once they invade your house, they can be found on the ground floor or in crawl spaces.
- Roof rats. These rats may also leave greasy track marks where they travel. Often, their droppings are about a third to a half of an inch in length and have pointed ends. They are found on enclosed or elevated surfaces because of their great climbing abilities.
Keeping Rodents Out of Your Yard
Mouse Traps and repellents are available in local hardware stores and online stores. However, the best way to keep rodents out of your garden is to make the area less attractive to them. This means eliminating possible food and nesting sources. The following are some tips you can try to deter rodents from your garden before you contact a pest control expert:
- Cover your Trash bin. Ensure your outside garbage is placed in a covered container. The bin needs to have a tight-fitting, rodent, resistant lid. Also, you can consider securing the lid with chains and heavy rocks to prevent rodents from getting inside it.
- Get rid of excess vegetation. Rodents can use vegetation to make their nests, so it is important to get rid of any clutter such as shrubs, tree branches, tall weeks, and log piles in your yard.
- Clear out possible food. Do not store any kind of o of like pet food or birdseed outdoors. If you need to, keep it in tightly sealed containers. Also, pick up fruit or nuts that fall from trees off the ground.