Rodents are another uninvited guest that is very common this
time of year. Rats, mice, and even squirrels are looking for a warm place to
spend the winter. With pet food, cereal, other household garbage, and heat, our
homes are very inviting to rodents.
Rodents do major damage to our homes. They will make holes
in our duct work. Talk about losing efficiency. Sending cold air through a duct
with holes in it during the hot summers in the Lowcountry has to waste some
major dollars. Rodents also chew on wires that can mess up your electricity in
your house and in the worst case that can lead to a fire. Just seeing or
hearing a rodent in your home can be quit unsettling not to mention the
disease, fecal pellets, urine and other nasty things associated with rodents.
Rodents can rapidly increase in numbers by attracting other
rodents through scent and also by having babies. If you think you have an
issue, act quickly. There are many wildlife control companies and pest
management companies in the area that will be glad to help you manage this
situation.
Exclusion is always the best way to deal with rodents;
however, they are sneaky guys and can squeeze into very tight places. They say
a mouse can enter a home through a crack the size of a dime and a rat can enter
a home through a crack the size of a quarter. Paying close attention to crawl
space doors, foundation vents, flashing, and attic vents are the easy obvious
entry points. When you do a major exclusion job, you have to get the rodents
that are already in your house out or you have just trapped them in your house.
Using baits can be tricky around homes with children and
pets; however, they can be a very effective tool. The rodent can also die in an
area (wall void, duct work, attic …) that might smell up the house for a few
days. Not real good during your holiday party!
Traps are nice because you can see what you have caught.
Snap-E traps, T-Rex, and the old wooden Victor traps are very effective. The
Snap-E trap claims to be the fastest, most humane way to kill a rodent. Glue
boards also work and are not spring loaded; however, a slower death for the
uninvited guest.
Where you place the traps and how you bait them will determine
how successful you are with the traps. Usually rodents travel along a wall –
like a roach. Rodents are aware of their surroundings, so sometimes it is best
to put a trap in an area with bait but without setting it for a day or two to
see if the rodent is coming to it. Then set it and hopefully you will catch the
rodent.
