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If you’ve never experienced a rodent infestation in your home, consider yourself lucky. When rodents get inside, they cause many problems and are difficult to remove. If you are currently experiencing a rodent infestation or want to know how to prevent one, here is what every Kingston homeowner ought to know about intrusive rodents.

Most Common Rodents To Invade Kingston Homes

There are many types of rodents, from squirrels to beavers, but most species won’t try to get into your house. The most common rodents to invade Kingston homes are rats and mice.

Rats range in size from 6-10 inches, with their tails adding an additional 5-10 inches. They range in color from brown to gray. Mice are smaller, ranging in size from 2-5 inches with tails that almost double their length. They also range from brown to gray.

The Dangers Of A Rodent Infestation

When rodents get into a house, they cause many problems. First, they damage your property and your home. Rodents must constantly chew to keep the length of their ever-growing incisors to a manageable level. When they get in your house, they’ll chew through your belongings, drywall, insulation, wiring, pipe and duct work, and more. At best, you’ll have to throw away some of your belongings. At worst, your house will end up with damage that is a fire hazard or causes a water leak leading to problems with mold and mildew.

Rodents are also dangerous to your health. When they get into your house, they leave fecal matter all over the place. If you or your food comes in contact with a contaminated surface, you can contract many dangerous illnesses including hantavirus, salmonellosis, rat-bite fever, and more. Rodents can also bring parasites into your home such as mites, fleas, and ticks. These unwanted pests that hitchhike inside on rodents can spread a host of other dangerous illnesses.

How To Prevent Rodents From Getting Into Your Kingston Home

In order to prevent a rodent infestation, you not only need to seal all potential entry points into your house, but you also need to make your home and property less attractive to these unwanted pests. You can do this by:

Looking for all possible entry points into your house and sealing them. Mice can fit through holes as small as a dime, so it’s important to seal all cracks, gaps, and holes that you find. You should also cover all vents with wire mesh.
Remove food sources around the exterior of your home. This includes pet food, bird feeders, and garbage bins.
If you have to keep your garbage bins outside, make sure they have tight-fitting lids, and store them a safe distance from your home.
Keep your yard tidy. Remove fallen branches and leaves. Keep grass and shrubbery trimmed.
Consider removing hiding areas like wood piles or rock walls.
Keep moisture levels low and eliminate areas of standing water such as pet dishes, bird baths, and clogged gutters.
Inside your house, keep food stored in airtight containers or in the refrigerator.
Clean all crumbs, spills, and messes as soon as they occur.
Don’t leave dirty dishes out on the counter or in the sink.
Take out the trash on a regular basis.
Sweep and vacuum your floors regularly.
Check often for water leaks or drippy faucets.
Remove as much clutter as possible from your house, especially belongings stored in secluded areas like attics and basements.

What To Do If Rodents Have Gotten Into Your Kingston Home

If you already have a rodent infestation, you can still enact prevention tips, but they won’t remove the rodents that are already there. DIY removal techniques are often dangerous and ineffective. To ensure that you eliminate your entire rodent infestation, you need the help of professionals. Pestmaster® Services has the experience and expertise necessary to make your rodent problem a thing of the past.

Our rodent control services will eliminate your current rodent problems and help you take steps to prevent another infestation in the future. Contact us to schedule an inspection.